CoC : Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast : Review

Cradle of Filth - _Cruelty and the Beast_
(Music For Nations, 1998)
by: Pedro Azevedo (8 out of 10)

So this is it. My turn to review an album by Cradle of Filth, a band almost everyone seems to either love or hate. Coincidentally, I neither love nor hate them. _Cruelty and the Beast_ is a good album, but simultaneously slightly disappointing for me. Most of the 'classic' Cradle of Filth elements are here (including Dani's well-worked lyrics, the usual imagery effort and Sarah Jezebel Deva's nice vocals), as well as plenty of quality musical sequences throughout nearly one hour. _Cruelty and the Beast_ is mostly less aggressive and especially less intense than the 'old' CoF; it's also a bit more theatrical (_CatB_ is an interesting concept album about Elizabeth Bathory, by the way) than their previous albums. The average speed is lower than before; the guitar sound is usually cleaner; and the drum sound is of strangely poor quality, tending to hurt the album. The cleaner guitar sound also sometimes becomes very thin when the keyboards are silent, which, together with the drum sound, has poor results. However, despite the production faults, _Cruelty and the Beast_ should be worthy of purchase in case you like CoF's style.

(article published 7/6/1998)

CHATS
3/16/2003	A Bromley	Cradle of Filth: Disturbing the Mainstream
11/20/2000	A Bromley	Cradle of Filth: Ressurection of the Filth
7/8/1998	A Bromley	Cradle of Filth: From Cradle to Grave...
4/9/1997	D Schinzel	Cradle of Filth: Capturing the Cradle of Creativity

ALBUMS
1/15/2011	J Carbon	6	Cradle of Filth - Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa
12/13/2008	P Williams	7	Cradle of Filth - Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder
10/31/2004	A Lineker	7.5	Cradle of Filth - Nymphetamine
6/27/2003	A Lineker	6.5	Cradle of Filth - Damnation and a Day
8/12/2001	M Noll	7.5	Cradle of Filth - Bitter Suites to Succubi
11/20/2000	A McKay	8.5	Cradle of Filth - Midian
3/5/2000	M Noll	8	Cradle of Filth - From the Cradle to Enslave
1/2/1997	B Meloon	8	Cradle of Filth - Dusk and Her Embrace
6/9/1996	B Meloon	8	Cradle of Filth - Vempire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein

GIGS
5/18/2003	J Smit	Cradle of Filth / Akercocke	Damnation and a Monday Night
8/12/1999	A Wasylyk	Cradle of Filth / Usurper / Endless / Averse Sefira	Averse Conditions Inhibit the Endless Usurp of Filth
1/16/1999	P Azevedo	Cradle of Filth / Napalm Death / Borknagar	The Smell of Napalm in the Dark
10/1/1998	M Noll	Einherjer / Old Man's Child / Gorgoroth / Cradle of Filth	Doom Descends Upon Deutschland
8/12/1997	P Azevedo	Scorpions / Megadeth / Moonspell / Cradle of Filth / Anger	Porto's Own Metalfest?
7/6/1997	P Azevedo	Cradle of Filth / In Velvet Clouds / Web	Filth