Cradle Of Filth

Cradle of Filth，這支來自英國於1991年由主唱Dani Filth領軍所組成的黑金屬樂團，以不同於一般原始黑金屬或是殘暴黑金屬的表達方式，利用Dani Filth特有尖高音式的黑腔搭配交響弦樂與陰暗氣氛的背景，詮釋著受H..P. Lovecraft深深影響Dani所寫出高文學素質的歌詞，引領著這股所謂「吸血鬼派黑金屬」的樂潮。從1991年「The Principle of Evil Made Flesh」原始殺戮般的吸血狂，到「Bitter Suites To Succubi」重交響氣氛的吸血靈皇，Cradle Of Filth熱門的情況，不僅從專輯銷售量與排行榜不難看出，而他們從Cacophonous公司到Music For Nations公司，乃至現在成為第一個加入主流唱片公司Sony Music的黑金屬樂團，更可證明Cradle Of Filth具有多大的魅力了。在新專輯發行，Cradle Of Filth為了讓樂迷能重新窺視他們從以前到現在的差別與進度，特別由Music For Nations公司發行這張雙CD精選的「Lovecraft & Witch Hearts」。 British black metal band Cradle of Filth was formed in 1991, originally comprising vocalist Dani Filth (born Daniel Lloyd Davey), guitarist Paul Ryan, his keyboardist brother Benjamin, bassist John Richard, and drummer Darren. After recording a demo dubbed Invoking the Unclean a year later, the group recruited guitarist Robin Eaglestone, who quit soon after recording a second demo, Orgiastic Pleasures; however, when Richard exited the band a short time later, Eaglestone stepped back in to assume bass duties, opening the door for guitarist Paul Allender. Following a third demo, Total Fucking Darkness, Cradle of Filth — now with new drummer Nicholas Barker — signed with the Cacophonous label, issuing their proper debut, The Principle of Evil Made Flesh, in mid-1994. The lineup changes continued when the Ryan brothers both departed to form the Blood Divine (and Allender left as well), making room for guitarists Stuart Antsis and Jared Demeter and keyboardist Damien Gregori to debut on the 1996 mini-LP Vempire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein. For the full-length Dusk and Her Embrace later that same year, Gian Pyres took Demeter's spot, and afterward, Gregori was replaced by keyboardist Les Smith; at any rate, the album substantially expanded the group's growing cult following. Cradle of Filth's next effort, Cruelty and the Beast, appeared in 1998, amid the group's steadily growing reputation for elaborate Alice Cooper/Marilyn Manson-style concert theatrics. Two years later the group returned with From the Cradle to Enslave, an EP that featured new drummer Adrian Erlandsson (formerly of Sweden's At the Gates and the Haunted), as Barker had departed to join Dimmu Borgir. The band's dizzying lineup changes continued apace as Paul Allender rejoined the group and Martin Powell (ex-Anathema and My Dying Bride) replaced Smith on keyboards for the full-length Midian, which was appropriately released on Halloween 2000. Bitter Suites to Succubi was issued on Spitfire in summer 2001. The group added a choir and orchestra to the lineup for 2003's Damnation and a Day on Red Ink, and moved to Roadrunner for 2004's Nymphetamine. Thornography followed on Roadrunner in 2006, a year that also saw the release of The Cradle of Filth Box Set. Eleven Burial Masses, a collection of live material, arrived in 2007.