Cruelty and the Beast
| Cruelty and the Beast | ||||
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| Studio album by Cradle of Filth | ||||
| Released | 5 May 1998 | |||
| Recorded | DEP International Studios/Abattoir Studios, Birmingham, England, January–March 1998 | |||
| Genre | Extreme metal | |||
| Length | 61:48 | |||
| Label | Music for Nations (Europe) Mayhem (US) |
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| Producer | Jan Peter Genkel and Cradle of Filth | |||
| Cradle of Filth chronology | ||||
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| Alternative covers | ||||
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Celtic Cross edition
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Koch Records' 2001 two-disc edition
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Cruelty and the Beast is the third studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It was released on 5 May 1998, through Music for Nations. It is a concept album based on the legend of the Hungarian "blood countess" Elizabeth Báthory. The album features guest narration on certain passages by Ingrid Pitt in-character as Báthory, a role she first played in the Hammer film Countess Dracula in 1971.
The album was reissued in a two-disc Special Edition by Koch Records in 2001 and by The End Records in 2012.[1]
Contents
Background
This was the last Cradle of Filth full-length album to feature guitarist and songwriter Stuart Anstis, keyboardist Lecter and drummer Nicholas Barker.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Chronicles of Chaos | 8/10[3] |
Production
The production and mixing for Cruelty and the Beast has attracted some criticism, particularly for the sound quality of the drumming[3] and the mixing of the female vocals and guitars.[citation needed] Sarah Jezebel Deva revealed on the band's official messageboards: "[The production is] absolute rubbish. I remember when I first heard it — Dani played it — I walked out with tears in my eyes. I had spent twenty-five hours working in the studio on that album and it sounded like I had my head in a toilet [...] most of my vocals you couldn't hear."[4] After walking out of the room after Dani played it to her, she claimed to have bumped into drummer Nicholas Barker, who also expressed his dissatisfaction.[4]
Accolades
The album ranked tenth in Kerrang!'s list of the top ten "essential black metal" albums in 2000.[5]
Track listing
All lyrics written by Dani Filth, all music composed by Cradle of Filth (Filth, Stuart Anstis, Gian Pyres, Robin Eaglestone, Les Smith and Nicholas Barker).
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Once Upon Atrocity" (instrumental) | 1:43 |
| 2. | "Thirteen Autumns and a Widow" | 7:14 |
| 3. | "Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids" | 7:18 |
| 4. | "Beneath the Howling Stars" | 7:42 |
| 5. | "Venus in Fear" (instrumental) | 2:20 |
| 6. | "Desire in Violent Overture" | 4:16 |
| 7. | "The Twisted Nails of Faith" | 6:50 |
| 8. | "Bathory Aria"
|
11:02 |
| 9. | "Portrait of the Dead Countess" (instrumental) | 2:52 |
| 10. | "Lustmord and Wargasm (The Lick of Carnivorous Winds)" | 7:30 |
| Celtic Cross edition | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Once Upon Atrocity" (instrumental) | 1:43 |
| 2. | "Thirteen Autumns and a Widow" | 7:14 |
| 3. | "Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids" | 7:18 |
| 4. | "Beneath The Howling Stars" | 7:42 |
| 5. | "Venus in Fear" (instrumental) | 2:20 |
| 6. | "Desire in Violent Overture" | 4:16 |
| 7. | "The Twisted Nails of Faith" | 6:51 |
| 8. | "Bathory Aria: Benighted Like Usher – A Murder of Ravens in Fugue – Eyes That Witnessed Madness" | 11:04 |
| 9. | "Lustmord and Wargasm (The Relicking of Cadaverous Wounds)" | 7:48 |
| 10. | "Black Metal" (Venom cover) | 3:22 |
| 11. | "Hallowed Be Thy Name (Shallow Be My Grave)" (Iron Maiden cover) | 7:07 |
| 12. | "Sodomy and Lust" (Sodom cover) | 4:44 |
| 13. | "Twisting Further Nails (The Cruci-Fiction Mix)" | 5:32 |
| Koch Records' 2001 two-disc edition bonus disc | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Lustmord and Wargasm (The Relicking of Cadaverous Wounds)" | 7:58 |
| 2. | "Black Metal" (Venom cover) | 3:27 |
| 3. | "Hallowed Be Thy Name (Shallow Be My Grave)" (Iron Maiden cover) | 7:10 |
| 4. | "Sodomy & Lust" (Sodom cover) | 4:47 |
| 5. | "Twisting Further Nails (The Cruci-Fiction Mix)" | 5:33 |
Personnel
Cradle of Filth
- Dani Filth – lead vocals
- Stuart Anstis – guitars
- Gian Pyres – guitars
- Robin Graves – bass
- Lecter – keyboards
- Nicholas Barker – drums
- Sarah Jezebel Deva - backing vocals
Guest/session musicians
- Danielle Cneajna Cottington – backing vocals
- Ingrid Pitt – Lady Bathory's narration on "The Twisted Nails of Faith" and Bathory Aria's "Eyes That Witnessed Madness"
Production
- Jan Peter Genkel - producer
- Dan Spriggs - engineer
- Mike Exeter - additional engineering
- Mark Harwood - orchestral recordings at Springvale Studios, Ipswich
- Stu Williamson - photography
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Finnish Albums Chart[6] | 13 |
| Austrian Albums Chart[7] | 24 | |
| French Albums Chart[8] | 34 | |
| GfK Dutch Chart[9] | 37 | |
| German Albums Chart[10] | 47 | |
| UK Albums Chart[11] | 48 |
References
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External links
- Cruelty and the Beast at Discogs (list of releases)
