Cradle of Filth
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Cradle of Filth, formed in 1991, is a conglomeration of black metal and gothic metal, although their music has been somewhat difficult to classify, and as such is highly subject to opinion. The group has progressed from a rawer, more traditional black metal sound to a fully orchestrated symphonic metal feel. Their music has often touched on gothic metal overtones, and has been both ridiculed and praised by critics. Most black metal fans criticise the group as coverage by Kerrang and MTV have brought them a much more mainstream and commercial image. Thus some black metal fans deem them "sell outs", while hardcore fans remain. Thus, ascertaining a definitive classification of what "kind" of rock genre Cradle of Filth represents is difficult, at best.
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Basic info
- Genre: symphonic black metal, gothic metal, Vampyric Metal, extreme metal
- Country: United Kingdom
- Status: Active
- Time: 1991-
Characteristics of the works of Cradle of Filth include complex and lengthy song structures and orchestrations. A noteworthy feature of their music is the use of vocals as a rhythmical instrument, akin to rap music (although sounding very different): timing of syllables and usage of rhymes convey rhythm rather than melody. The lyrics have certainly been influenced by the works of Marquis de Sade and they are - albeit vulgar - of a high level, considering either the use of vocabulary or expressive or poetic qualities, especially for a heavy metal band.
A common theme to the lyrics, music videos or album cover illustrations is moral decadence, often placed in the baroque era. Cradle of Filth succeed in combining the aforementioned arts of "higher" quality to a "lower" level such as splatter movie esthetics or banal, rude use of vocabulary.
Current tour
Cradle of Filth's current tour is entitled "Swansong for a Nation" (US/Canada for November-December 2004). It began just after Hallowe'en (October 31, 2004). The set list is as follows (length: ):
- Satyriasis (Intro)
- Gilded Cunt
- Nemesis
- The Principle of Evil Made Flesh
- Tortured Soul Asylum
- Mannequin
- Funeral in Carpathia
- Her Ghost in the Fog
- Nymphetamine
- The Forest Whispers my Name
- The Promise of Fever
- Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
- From the Cradle to Enslave
Biography
After the band's formation and a period of rapid line-up fluctuation as four demos were recorded, Cradle of Filth signed to Cacophonous and released The Principle of Evil Made Flesh in 1994. After further member changes, the band released Dusk and Her Embrace, a critically acclaimed album that greatly expanded the band's fanbase throughout Europe and among black metal fans elsewhere. As the band became known for increasingly theatrical stage shows, Cruelty and the Beast was released to even greater acclaim, though sales were poor. The following year the band continued primarily on the touring route but did put out a DVD, PanDaemonAeon, and an accompanying EP, From the Cradle to Enslave, featuring the music from the production. One of the best-known and favourite songs the band has ever produced was the title track of the EP, "From the Cradle to Enslave."
Cradle produced their fourth full-length studio album the following year: Midian, named after the biblical city of monsters, was fittingly released on Hallowe'en night, October 31, 2000. Their style at this point was probably their most defined, with Paul Allender joining the lineup on guitars, but their music was by no means mainstream, with titles such as "Lord Abortion," and yet another cult favourite, "Her Ghost in the Fog," which was featured in the soundtrack of the movie Ginger Snaps. Their music at this point was hard, but highly melodic and as usual, incredibly verbose and eloquent.
Following the moderate success of Midian they released a "transition mini-album," as lead singer and frontman Dani Filth later referred to it, Bitter Suites to Succubi. Besides the obvious pun, the album was a mixture of four new songs, re-recordings of three songs from The Principle of Evil Made Flesh, two instrumental tracks, and a cover of The Sisters of Mercy's "No Time To Cry." Though stylistically it is similar to Midian the album is regarded as a failure by most critics, yet many fans believe it to be their best release.
More line-up shifts followed. In 2003 they signed with Sony Music, and produced their fifth full-length studio album, 2003's Damnation and a Day, which was much less melodic black metal than symphonic metal with black undertones, or what is referred to as black symphonic metal. Though it disappointed some fans, this concept album, showing the events of the bible through the eyes of the devil, featured a 40 piece orchestra and 32 piece choir, and even more complex songs, both stylistically and lyrically. It also produced at least two videos on MTV2 - videos and MTV2 appearances being a rarity for Cradle of Filth.
Some claim that the band is no longer playing "true" black metal music. Whilst this is for the most part true, they still have black metal undertones in their music, and after leaving Sony near the beginning of 2004, claim their most recent album Nymphetamine (released summer 2004) as their return to actual black metal. Dani Filth says that it is half-way between Cruelty and the Beast and Dusk and Her Embrace.
Interestingly, it has been in hot debate since near the time Cradle of Filth became popular as to if they are true "black metal" or not. Comparing Cradle to most Norwegian black metal, they are completely different; this has led to them being deemed "melodic black metal," and generally the Norwegian black metal community shuns them as well as bands such as Dimmu Borgir that were brought into popularity following the pseudo-mainstream success of Cradle. Regardless of how "pure" their black metal sound is, most fans disregard the whole debate, as does Dani Filth. In his words, when asked to describe what kind of metal he thinks Cradle of Filth is, "Cradle of Filth is Cradle of Filth." Drummer Adrian Erlandsson describes Cradle of Filth as "Extreme Metal" and also disregards Cradle of Filth falling into the category of black metal due to the fact they sound nothing like bands such as Darkthrone, Immortal, Bathory, etc.
Trivia
- Dani Filth's real name is Daniel Lloyd Davey. The name "Dani" is a Hebrew word, meaning "bereft of God." He has a long-time girlfriend (Toni) and a daughter (Luna), as well as three cats. His favourite band is The Misfits.
- Sarah Jezebel Deva, though she has been with the band since the start, has never been considered a band member.
- One highlight of their career includes a show during which a man jumped on stage with an eight-inch carving knife, intending to stab Dani (spoke of briefly on the Nawrdwar interview).
- The torture room in From the Cradle to Enslave music video is a homage to Terry Gilliam's movie Brazil.
- Dani had a column in the British metal magazine Metal Hammer called Dani's Inferno.
Band members
Current band members
- Dani Filth (Daniel Lloyd Davey) - Vocals - (1991-)
- Sarah Jezebel Deva - Female Backing Vocals - (1991-)
- Adrian Erlandsson - Drums - (2000-) (ex-At the Gates, ex-The Haunted, Terror)
- Paul Allender - Guitars - (1991-1996, 2000-) (The Blood Divine)
- Dave Pybus - Bass - (2002-) (ex-Anathema, Dreambreed)
- James McKillboy - Guitars - (2004-)
Former band members
- Martin Powell - Keyboards - (2000-2005) (ex-My Dying Bride, ex-Anathema, ex-Cryptal Darkness)
- Gian Pyres - Guitars
- Brian Hipp - Guitars
- Stuart Anstis - Guitars (1996-2000)
- Paul Ryan - Guitars
- Darren White - Drums
- Was Sarginson - Drums
- Nicholas Howard Barker - Drums
- John Richard - Bass
- Robin Eaglestone - Bass
- Benjamin Ryan - Keyboards
- Les "Lecter" Smith - Keyboards
- Damien Gregori - Keyboards
- Dave Hirschheimer-Drums
- Jared Demeter-Guitars
- Jeff Acres-Guitars
- Mark Newby-Robson-Keyboards
Discography
Studio releases
- The Principle of Evil Made Flesh - (1994)
- V Empire or Dark Fairytales in Phallustein (EP) - (1996)
- Dusk and Her Embrace - (1996)
- Cruelty and the Beast - (1998)
- From the Cradle to Enslave (EP) - (1999)
- Midian - (2000)
- Damnation and a Day - (2003)
- Nymphetamine - (2004)
Live and other releases
- A Pungent And Sexual Miasma (split with Malediction) - (1992)
- Invoking the Unclean (Demo) - (1992)
- Orgiastic Pleasures (Demo) - (1992)
- The Black Goddess Rises (Demo) - (1992)
- Total Fucking Darkness (Demo) - (1993)
- Sodomizing The Virgin Vamps (Total Fucking Darkness demo + live tracks) - (1997)
- PanDaemonAeon (VHS/DVD) - (1998)
- RareDaemonAeon (Compilation/Covers) - (2001)
- Bitter Suites To Succubi (compilation) - (2001)
- Lovecraft & Witch Hearts (Compilation) - (2002)
- Heavy Left Handed & Candid (VHS/DVD) - (2002)
- Live Bait For The Dead (Live) - (2002)
- Babylon AD (So Glad For The Madness) (DVD) - (2003)
- Mannequin (DVD) - (2003)
- Nymphetamine Special Edition-(2005))
External links
- Cradle Of Filth Official Homepage (http://www.cradleoffilth.com)
- The Tomb of R'lyeh - A complete Cradle of Filth discography (http://www.tombofrlyeh.com)da:Cradle of Filth
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