Special report by Mark Gromen

February 28th, the Trocadero, smack in the middle of Philadelphia's Chinatown neighbourhood. It's the final night of a nearly two-month long, transcontinental trek proves North America can sustain blackened/goth metal. Probably not much of a surprise for CRADLE OF FILTH, what with a common ancestry and our long-standing love of make-up (COOPER/KISS/W.A.S.P./CRÜE etc.), but for Norway's SATYRICON, lacking any cultural, linguistic or ideological connection to North America (or more specifically the USA), must be heart-warming (if black metallers have such emotions) to know your vision is financially viable and transcends borders. Actually, Philly was one of the first cities on the Rebel Extravaganza tour, nine years ago and Satyr remembers. 'The Wolfpack' led to the introduction of drummer Frost, who played a brief solo before heading into 'Now, Diabolical'. In slicked back hair, the the frontman looked like an androgynous cross between a Nazi-era cabaret Marlena Dietrich and a young DAVID BOWIE, playfully toying with his trident/pitchfork mic stand. 'Black Crow On A Tombstone' and a "war song from Norway", aka 'Commando', during which the blond female keyboardist had little to do, twirling her hair, but it was the shortest of the lot, apart from the mainman. Satyr strapped on a white guitar for the 'Fuel For Hatred' finale. He promised a headlining tour in the fall.

Playing headliner games, the Brits made people wait an exaggerated stretch. Guess they weren't that interested in going home. A series of photos were displayed on a backdrop behind the band throughout the night, some topless women amongst them. Opening with the 'Godspeed' speech, aka 'In Grandeur And Frankincense Devilment Stirs' and 'Shat Out Of Hell' from the new album, the musicians stood at stage edge, while diminutive Dani Filth perched on a centrally located riser, between the female keyboardist Rosie Smith and drummer Martin Škaroupka. 'Gilded Cunt' had the large contingent of females singing loudly. In mesh and studs, the singer has an annoying (for photographers, at least) habit of singing with head tilted skyward, making shots of his face hard to come by. His stage banter was punctuated by his sense of humor: "Cradle of Milk, if me mum is around..." 'Dusk And Her Embrace' was up early, as was newbie, 'The 13th Caesar'. Smith began 'Nymphetamine', before Filth took over. The packed (sold-out?) crowd sent Cradle home with plesant memories!

A BraveWords.com Photo Gallery can be found here.