Cradle Of Filth Biography
British black metal band Cradle of Filth was formed in 1991, originally comprising vocalist Dani 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. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Popular Biographies:
Oceansize Biography: Oceansize were one of numerous British bands crafting epic, moody soundscapes in the post-Radiohead era. However, they couldn't be pigeonholed as a Coldplay/Travis clone; their influences ran the...
Royden Biography: Rockaway, NJ's Royden formed following the breakup of My Cousin Ray, a local band vocalist Treebo, drummer Nick, and bassist Kerry had previously been playing in together. Demos recorded near the end...
Bim sherman Biography: One of reggae's most enduring cult figures, Bim Sherman was also among the most highly-regarded singers of his generation, with his sweet, wistful and unmistakable voice acclaimed by scholars as one...
Voodoo glow skulls Biography: Deep in the heart of California's Inland Empire, the Hispanic-tinged ska-punk band Voodoo Glow Skulls formed in the late '80s. Originally a hardcore group, the quartet was comprised of the brothers...
Spagna Biography: Italian pop singer Spagna, also known as Ivana Spagna, started climbing local charts in 1986 after releasing "Easy Lady." A year later, the artist achieved her first smash, the catchy song...
Twisted tower dire Biography: Hailing from Chantilly, VA, Twisted Tower Dire proudly wave the flag of classic heavy metal, their heroic fantasy anthems inspired by original masters like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and so forth,...
Alturas Biography: The musical traditions of Bolivia and the Andean Mountains are resurrected through the music of Bolivia-formed and southern California-based quintet Alturas. The group, however, has consistently...
Fragments of unbecoming Biography: Common heavy metal knowledge holds that Germans specialize in power metal (arguably invented by Teutonic titans Helloween) while the Swedes hold the best cards when it comes to melodic death metal...