Reviews: Cradle of Filth

gothic/atmospheric Black Metal

Dusk and Her Embrace - 1997

All I can say is wow! This album has everything, poetic lyrics, demonic vocals, talented musicians, operatic vocals, awesome synth music, goth inspired atmosphere, and everything! This album would have to be labeled as one of my favorites. Everything is perfect, the atmosphere carries you away to gothic landscapes of ruined castles, sad forests, and romance. The songs are extremely well composed and I think even a classical music enthusiast would appreciate the CD (of course except for the vocals, which can only be enjoyed by someone into extreme metal). The lyrics are fantastic, (of course you have to read them) they are poems with excellent stories and meaning. The music can go from slow, and very much pretty, to blast beats and almost chaotic climaxes of Metal! The best songs in my opinion are, “Heaven Torn Asunder,” “A Gothic Romance (Red Roses For the Devil’s Whore),” “Malice Through the Looking Glass,” and “Beauty Slept in Sodom.” I strongly recommend the album, to any music lover!

Cruelty and the Beast (w/special limited edition bonus CD) - 1998

In this album Cradle of Filth seem to have simplified their music, quite a bit since 1997’s “Dusk and Her Embrace,” they seem to have gone more heavy metal, and less gothic. Over all the album is excellent pumped with energy and as always excellent lyrics, and atmosphere, but the problem lies in it’s simple, and repetitious guitars and drums. It is an enjoyable and entertaining listen and it does come off to me as a great concept album with it’s lyrical poetry surrounding Elizabeth Bathory. My favorites on the album were “Beneath the Howling Stars,” “Bathory Aria,” and “Lustmord and Wargasm (the lick of carnivorous winds).” The bonus CD which contained covers of Venom, Sodom, and Iron Maiden were excellent, especially the Iron Maiden cover, although the techno re-mix of “Twisting Further Nails” just plain sucks! I would recommend this CD to all CoF fans, and those that did not think “Dusk and…” was hard, or heavy enough, I’d also recommend this album to those into dark “vampyric” heavy metal.