It takes a certain kind of fan to love Cradle of Filth. The band’s death metal sound, Marilyn Manson-style stage antics and constant line-up changes make them a difficult group to pin down, but those are the types of bands that require the most devotion.

And devoted their fans are, following the British band from its early ‘90s metal days to its current operatic-tinged albums of fury. Cradle of Filth’s most recent record, released late last year, is a concept album titled Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder. The LP’s songs detail the life and crimes of French murderer (and Joan of Arc comrade) Gilles de Rais.

With organs, choirs and thundering drums providing the tale’s soundtrack, Cradle of Filth raises the bar from amateur goth rock to slick storytelling with a side of screaming for hardcore metalheads.

So what if mainstream music lovers laugh at Cradle of Filth’s unintentionally cheesy song titles (“Painting Flowers White Never Suited My Palette,” “Dusk and Her Embrace” and “Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids” among some of the best)? These rockers bring a flair for theater that few performers have mastered.

Cradle of Filth performs at the House of Blues February 14 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $23.

By Caitlin McGarry