Cradle of Filth, Satyricon,Septic Flesh

Tuesday's show at the House of Blues stars a pair of black metal's more notorious acts, each nearing 20 years into its career and both having mostly abandoned their abrasive tendencies for something more melodic and...accessible?

While black metal purists disavowed England's Cradle of Filth long ago, the headliners on this bill have pressed forward with a romantic, gothic metal sound. But you still won't hear the band on the radio—especially not anything from 2008's Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder, a concept album about a 15th-century French serial killer of children. Oh well. At least the band's infamous "Jesus is a C*** " (guess which C-word) T-shirt earned a reference on Showtime's Californication.

Meanwhile, Norway's Satyricon has also diverged from the straight-and-narrow black metal path in favor of a more groove-oriented style. Somehow, though, Satyricon seems to be getting a free pass from die-hard metal fans—perhaps because the band's members are buddies with ex-Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo. No one wants to cross that guy.

Greece's stupidly named Septic Flesh opens the show.