Cradle of Filth + Devildriver
Cradle of Filth and Devildriver live at Astor Theatre, Perth | 16 July 2026
The Astor was graced with the metalhead of community of Perth, who were ready to rock out at Cradle of Filth’s Perth stop on their Australian tour. Playing alongside co-headliner DevilDriver, it was an intense night comprising of magnificent metal mayhem where social sensibilities were well and truly left at the door.
Punters were eager to get around the merch stand. With a long queue snaking its way out into the main concert hall. Seeing the several offensive t-shirts sporting phrases like ‘WANKER.’ and ‘JESUS IS A CUNT.’ was half the fun of attending the show. With many jokers winning the night for humour.
DevilDriver were incredibly fun. Frontman Dez Fafara was oozing humour and charisma, and making the punters feel at home. Sharing stories about Perth being ‘his city’, Fafara shared about surfing on one of Perth’s beaches and admonishing some jet ski riders who were scared of sharks. Triumphantly claiming he regularly surfed with great whites. A lofty claim only made the set feel more bombastic, and even if exaggerated. But undeniably full of heart.
There was a fight which broke out on the upper level between two punters. With several members of security rushing up to kick out the two metal fans playing fisticuffs. One punter in the moment of chaos positioned himself to the edge of the upper level. In full view of the crowd below tore of his shirt and passionately thrashed in front of everyone. Only to be also pulled away by security moments later.
DevilDriver were pretty intent on laying down the rules following the altercation. With Fafara shouting loudly on the mic that whilst punters could ‘kick each other’s asses’, punters had to ‘take care of each other’. Signifying the clear line, and boundaries the band were there to set with fights at shows.
DeviDriver’s set was musically wild. There were endless death circles in the crowd. Blinding flashing lights. Wild guitar power chords and solos. There was a metal cover of AWOLNATION’s ‘Sail’, which Fafara used as rallying cry for those with ADHD, announcing it as a ‘superpower’.
With the band admitting they had been ‘raised in punk’. Fafara requested punters to go hard in the final song, as there were no encores. Allowing punters joyfully holding their middle-fingers into the air in cheekily, defiant solidarity.
Things took a gothic turn, with Cradle of Filth bandmembers clad in various layers of face paint, leather and various other metallic spikes that cannot be named. Frontman Dani Filth spoke to the crowd in a gravelly, mock condescending tone which got punters riled up. It was incredibly dramatic at times, and a little bit panto. But it was undeniably pure, heavy metal fun.
There was an amusing moment with filth jokingly announcing he was 25 years old. Despite the band quite obviously playing for 30 years. A believable statement to make when signifiers of age are hiding behind thick, haunting face paint.
Their set was melodramatic, and included thunderous guitars and theatre. There were fun moments where the one of the found people emerged onto the stage in a cape and what looked like a phantom of the opera mask. With what appeared to be a conversation between him and Dani Filth, who wittingly slapped crewmembers hand away.
The rapturous gig came to a close with the band disappearing for several minutes. With punters stomping the floor loudly in a demand for more metal music. Until they re-emerged to an encore of c-word bonanzas ‘Cunted Cunt’, ‘Cruelty Brought Thee Cunt’ and ‘Her Cunt in the Fog’ (as renamed on the set list). Ending in a blinding haze or wild metal, and joyfully rude music.
Review by Joe Wilson
Photography by Ava Thomson
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