Just as Hammer Films is English in its very essence, so is CRADLE OF FILTH.
The band is based in the same part of Suffolk that spawned Matthew Hopkins,
the Witchfinder General responsible for the deaths of nearly 400 people 
during the 17th Century. They strongly believe that the atmosphere and 
folklore of the British Isles is essential to who they are and to the music
they make. It's difficult to disagree. After all, Bram Stoker was just a 
civil servant until he moved to England.



CRADLE OF FILTH can only be  described as Black Gothic Romantic Metal. 
Crushing guitars, thumping bass, pounding drums and swathes of keyboards 
accompany the wealth of evil vocals - from high pitched shrieking to deep 
growling to beautiful female interludes, all blending together to create a 
unique, majestic and supremely  dark atmosphere. Inspired by gothic poetry 
and horror movies, CRADLE OF FILTH tell elaborate tales of love and 
hate.



Formed in 1991, with Dani (vocals), Paul Ryan (guitars), John Richard 
(bass), Ben Ryan (keyboards) and Darren (drums). CRADLE OF FILTH 
recorded two demos, Invoking The Unclean and Orgiastic Pleasures 
with the addition of Robin on guitar. Soon after which, Robin claimed 
he was "on their path" and chose to leave, but was asked to return as 
bassist when John left. Paul Allender joined Paul Ryan on guitars.  
Then they came up with the often-bootlegged demo Total Fucking 
Darkness which resulted in them getting signed to Cacophonous Records 
at the end of 1993. Dani describing it as “The only important demo we 
did.”  When they were signed Daren left and was replaced by Nicholas.  
Debut album The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh was released in April 
1994 and was amazingly successful, it sold 30 000 to 32 000 copies.  
Metal fans soon realised that CRADLE OF FILTH were something 
special. No other band could claim musical influences such as Celtic Frost, 
Bathory and Diamanda Galas while citing authors including Lord Byron, 
Sheridan LeFanu, Friedrich Nietzsche, Bram Stoker and Charles Baudelaire, 
But things went seriously wrong between CRADLE OF FILTH and their 
record label regarding money (among other things). Brothers Paul and 
Benjamin Ryan failed to get on with the band  on a personal level and were 
forced to leave. Paul Allender and the Ryan brothers moved on to The Blood 
Divine. 



To be free from the label's clutches, CRADLE OF FILTH were obliged to 
release something more. With Stuart (guitar), Damien (keyboards) and 
temporary guitarist Jared Demeter filling gaps in the line-up, the band 
recorded Vempire or Dark Faerytales In Phallustein - an extra long EP 
of 36 mins made up of a revamped track, an instrumental, and four tracks 
originally intended for the up-coming full-length album.



Signing with Music For Nations, material for Dusk And Her Embrace was t
hen polished up with Gian on guitar also. It finally saw the light of day on 
Monday 18th, November 1996. Extensive international touring kept the 
momentum going while CRADLE OF FILTH wrote more music, watched 
more films and read more books. Although previously the band had described t
hemselves as "supreme vampyric evil" and their music as "gothic black metal", 
months of gigging combined with the fresh blood of another line-up change 
made CRADLE OF FILTH realise that they were growing out of glib labels. 
1997 saw the recruitment of new keyboard player Lecter, as  well as further 
legal disputes regarding items available from the  band's merchandising 
company Vamperotica. The long awaited  Cruelty And The Beast, an 
intensely heavy and provocative concept album based on the life and  
crimes of Elizabeth Bathory, was finally released in May '98.