Cradle of Filth will be releasing a new album later this year titled Hammer of the Wicthes, which features a pagan Cernunnos, the Horned God in Wiccan polytheistic culture, surrounded by naked beauties wearing oak leaves as a crown around their heads. The album art is by Arthur Berzinsh, a contemporary artist from Latvia. The single “Deflowering the Maidenhead, Displeasuring the Goddess” is available to listen to on YouTube.

“‘Deflowering the Maidenhead, Displeasuring the Goddess’ is based on the ancient belief of the world personified as Mother Goddess, concerning itself with her self-preservative measures when assailed by her final abuse by the human race. Violated, poisoned and unknowingly left for dead, Gaia’s is a pre-emptive, violent and justified retribution; without tears for creed or culture. Nature versus Mankind. A total renewal of species. The song spirals onward at a frenetic, apocalyptic pace to climax and was originally one of guitarist Ashok’s contributions to the album, along with ‘The Vampyre at My Side.’” said Dani Filth, front man to the band Cradle of Filth

While the album is about witches seeking revenge for the deaths at the hands of people, the original album title is in reference to the ‘Malleus Maleficarum,’ a medieval document of guidelines regarding the persecution and torture of witches. Hence why the song “Deflowering the Maidenhead, Displeauring the Goddess” is a reference to the retribution that Gaia bestows upon the human race that left her for dead. The album comes out in July of this year, but some singles from the album have been released along side “Displeasuring the Goddess”, such as “Right Wing of the Garden Triptych.” The album is available through pre-order on Nuclear Blast’s website.

The song starts out with growling guitars, pounding drums, and screams of death as the image of Gaia suffering at the hands of her creations persecute her for being a pagan Goddess. The creature Cernunnos is the figure of the wild and unimaginable embrace of freedom. Gaia is seeking freedom and retribution for the deeds done to her. She did create humans after all. The lyrics refer to the misdeeds and selfish gains that the Christian judges enact by removing all things pagan and sacrilegious, much like the witches who were tortured for practicing the old ways. In return, the pagan and sacrilegious come back to seek revenge on those who wrongfully destroyed them. This song would be the impediment of a crusade for what should be tolerated versus what should be destroyed and left behind, only to be given a new name and a new identity. Listening to this song, makes one think differently about past and present cultures that one must acknowledge gave inspiration towards each other. Either way, I definitely do not want to end up on Gaia’s bad side.