black candles dance to an overture
but I am drawn past their flickering lure
to the breathing forest that surrounds the room
where the vigliant trees push out of the whomb
I sip the blood red wine
my thoughts weight heavy with the burden of time
from knowledge drunk from the fountain of life
from chaos born out of love and the scythe
the forest beckons with her nocturnal call
to pull me close amid the baying of wolves
where the bindings of christ are downtrodden with scorn
in the dank, oderiferous earth
We embrace like two lovers at death
A monument to the trapping of breath
As restriction is bled from the veins in my neck
To drop roses on my marbled breast
I lust for the wind and the flurry of leaves
And the perfume of flesh on the murderous breeze
To learn from the dark and the voices between
This is my will
The forest whispers my name... again and again
I walk the path
To the land of the dark immortals
Where the hungry ones will cary my soul
As the wild hunt careers through the boughs
Come to me, my pale enchantress
In the moon of the woods we kiss
Artemis be near me
In the arms of the ancient oak
Where daylight hangs by a lunar noose
And the horned, hidden one is re-invoked
The principle of all evil
Evolution has been recalled
Beneath the spread of a magical aeon
I stand enthralled...
... in the whispering forest
Hailing from Suffolk, south east 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 - which all blend together to create a unique,
majestic and supremely dark atmosphere. Inspired by romantic poetry and gothic horror
movies, Cradle Of Filth tell elaborate tales of love and hate.
Cradle Of Filth was formed in the summer of 1991, with Dani (vocals), Paul (guitars),
John (bass) and Darren (drums). Dani had created the name 'Cradle Of Filth' during his
school years. In 1992, they made their first demo titled "Invoking The Unclean".
They went on to record "Orgiastic Pleasures" with the addition of Robin on guitars.
Robin, however, claimed he was 'on their path' and chose to leave but soon afterwhich
John left for university and Robin was asked to return, now as bassist. And Darren?
He left too, promptly replaced by WAS.
With a relatively stable line-up, Cradle Of Filth took the world by storm with the blistering
"Total Fucking Darkness" in December of 1993.
Cradle Of Filth signed with Cacophonous Records.
Regardless, WAS quit - replaced with Nicholas Barker of Sheffield. Also, Paul Allander
joined Paul Ryan on guitars.
"From the haunted depths of the midnight Forest, bathed in ehereal moonlight, storm
forth CRADLE OF FILTH; Black Metal at it's most severe and avant-garde. Poisoned
by vampyric perversion and seeking glory in true Satanic tradition:
TO ENTHRONE DARKNESS TRIUMPHANT!
Proudly invoking the like of Celtic Frost, Bathory, Diamanda Galas and Mercyful Fate
amongst others, we create music as it should be; dark, lascivious, haunting and
majestic; the battle-hymn of the new imperium, songs that stir the bloods; it is the time
for empowerment. Combing this with the illuminatory genius that inspired the works of
Byron, Shelley, d'Annunzio, Nietzsche, Crowley, Stoker and Baudelaire; aural nightmare
scenarios that entitle us as the Only True Black Metal Band in the UK."
..began Cacophonous Record's press introduction to their debut "The Principle Of Evil
Made Flesh" released in April 1994, which went on to sell 30 000 to 32 000 copies, yet
serious disputes with Cacophonous regarding money (amongst other things) followed.
Meanwhile, brothers Paul and Benjamin Ryan failed to get on with the band on a personal
basis and therefore, were forced to leave. Paul Allender moved on to settle with his wife
and child.
To be free from the clutches of Cacophonous Records, Cradle Of Filth were obliged to
release a further EP or mini album.
..and so, with Stuart Anstis (guitar), Brian Hipp (guitar) and Damien (keyboards) they
made plans to record "Vempire Or Dark Faerytales In Phallustein" essentially to settle the
legal dispute. Cradle Of Filth had already written new material for the up-coming
"Dusk And Her Embrace" but considered much of such to be 'too good' for this release.
Tragically, Brian was involved in a serious car accident and consequently had to fly back
to Berlin to have a serious operation on his leg. Left in the studio with session guitarist
Jared Demeter, they began to record "Vempire Or Dark Faerytales In Phallustein" with a
low budget and little time; released on Monday April 22 1996.
Finally, legal disputes with Cacophonous came to an end and Cradle Of Filth pursued a
contract with Music For Nations.
Gian Pyres (guitar) finally completed Cradle Of Filth. With time and money to play with,
the opportunity was taken to polish up their material for the "Dusk And Her Embrace"
opus. Finally, "Dusk And Her Embrace" saw the light of day on Monday 18 November 1996
through Music For Nations.
And now? Well, recently there have been legal disputes with regard to certain products
available from Cradle Of Filth Merchandising company, Vamperotica. Rob Kenyon (29) was
arrested in London whilst wearing a shirt depicting a masturbating nun and "Vestal
Masturbation" printed below. The said shirt is now illegal, yet Cradle Of Filth continue to
print the shirt, and Nicholas (drums) was arrested on the way to The Dynamo Festival
whilst wearing the shirt.
The band also contributed towards the "Slatanic Slaughter II" compilation (Black Sun
Records) with a blistering cover of Slayer's "Hell Awaits" - originally performed in 1985.
