Cruelty and the Beast
Studio album by
Cradle of Filth
Released5 May 1998
RecordedDEP International Studios/Abattoir Studios, Birmingham, England, January–March 1998
GenreExtreme metal
Length58:47
LabelMusic for Nations (Europe)
Mayhem (US)
ProducerJan Peter Genkel and Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth chronology
Dusk... and Her Embrace
(1996)		 Cruelty and the Beast
(1998)		 From the Cradle to Enslave
(1999)
Singles from Cruelty and the Beast
  1. "Twisted Nails of Faith"
    Released: 1998
Alternative covers
Celtic Cross edition
Alternative cover
Koch Records' 2001 two-disc edition

Cruelty and the Beast is the third studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It is a concept album based on the legend of the Hungarian "blood countess" Elizabeth Báthory and features guest narration by actress Ingrid Pitt in-character as Báthory, a role she first played in the Hammer Horror film Countess Dracula in 1971. It was released on 5 May 1998 by record label Music for Nations.

The album, while positively received, was noted for its poor production by fans, critics and members of the band alike. A remixed and remastered edition, titled Cruelty and the Beast – Re-Mistressed, was released in November 2019.[1]

In November 2021, during an AMA with Dani Filth on reddit, it was revealed that the track, "Bathory Aria" was the track Dani was most proud of out of the band's entire catalog.

Recording and production

This was the last Cradle of Filth album to feature guitarist and songwriter Stuart Anstis and drummer Nicholas Barker, the first to feature guitarist Gian Pyres and the only full-length album to feature keyboardist Lecter

The production and mixing for Cruelty and the Beast has attracted some criticism, particularly for the sound quality of the drumming.[2] 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."[3] 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.[3] In an interview with Scars and Guitars in 2020, Barker stated he cried when he heard the mix and demanded that the album release be postponed. Barker also stated that the main songwriters, Stuart Anstis, Les Smith and himself wanted either Andy Sneap or Peter Tagtgren to record the album and were overridden by the label.[4]

Release

Released on 5 May 1998 by record label Music for Nations, Cruelty and the Beast reached number 48 in the UK Albums Chart.[5]

The album was reissued in a two-disc Special Edition by Koch in 2001 and by The End in 2012.[6]

A completely remixed and remastered re-release of the album was planned for its 20th anniversary in late 2018.[7] Producer Scott Atkins confirmed on his Instagram page on 9 October 2018 that the remix had been completed:

"Vinyl test pressings have arrived and all the mixes sent off. It’s been an endeavour. Lots of restoration work needed to be done, noise reduction, hum and hiss, crosstalk and bleed. No additional recording has taken place, myself and Dani wanted it faithful to the original just sonically better. The songs are really killer and finally have some real weight to them, which the original sorely lacked."[8]

The following May, however, Atkins updated that unspecified "legal issues" continued to delay the release.[8] With these issues apparently ironed out, a November 2019 release date for the newly titled Cruelty and the Beast: Remistressed was announced in late August 2019.[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Chronicles of Chaos8/10[2]

The album ranked tenth in Kerrang!'s list of the top ten "essential black metal" albums in 2000.[10]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Dani Filth; all music is composed by Cradle of Filth (Filth, Stuart Anstis, Gian Pyres, Robin Eaglestone, Les Smith and Nicholas Barker)

No.TitleLength
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" (narration by Ingrid Pitt)6:50
8."Bathory Aria"
  1. "Benighted Like Usher"
  2. "A Murder of Ravens in Fugue"
  3. "Eyes That Witnessed Madness (narration by Ingrid Pitt)"
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.TitleLength
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"
  1. "Benighted Like Usher"
  2. "A Murder of Ravens in Fugue"
  3. "Eyes That Witnessed Madness"
11:02
9."Lustmord and Wargasm (The Relicking of Cadaverous Wounds)"7:48
10."Black Metal" (Venom cover)3:22
11."Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Iron Maiden cover. Sub-titled "Shallow Be My Grave" on this edition only.)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.TitleLength
1."Lustmord and Wargasm (The Relicking of Cadaverous Wounds)"7:58
2."Black Metal" (Venom cover)3:27
3."Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Iron Maiden cover)7:10
4."Sodomy & Lust" (Sodom cover)4:47
5."Twisting Further Nails (The Cruci-Fiction Mix)"5:33
Cruelty and the Beast: Re-Mistressed (2019)[11]
No.TitleLength
1."Once Upon Atrocity" (instrumental)1:45
2."Thirteen Autumns and a Widow"7:14
3."Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids"7:18
4."Beneath The Howling Stars"7:37
5."Venus in Fear" (instrumental)2:20
6."Desire in Violent Overture"4:16
7."The Twisted Nails of Faith"6:49
8."Bathory Aria"
  1. "Benighted Like Usher"
  2. "A Murder of Ravens in Fugue"
  3. "Eyes That Witnessed Madness"
11:00
9."Portrait of the Dead Countess" (instrumental)2:51
10."Lustmord and Wargasm (The Lick of Carnivorous Winds)"7:31
11."Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Iron Maiden cover)7:13

Personnel

Cradle of Filth
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 – Production and additional engineering
  • Mark Harwood – orchestral recordings at Springvale Studios, Ipswich
  • Stu Williamson – sleeve photography
  • Louisa Morando - cover art model

Charts

Year Chart Position
1998 Finnish Albums Chart 13[12]
Austrian Albums Chart 24[13]
French Albums Chart 34[14]
GfK Dutch Chart 37[15]
German Albums Chart 47[16]
UK Albums Chart 48[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "CRADLE OF FILTH's 'Cruelty and the Beast' To Be Reissued in November". Blabbermouth.net. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  2. 1 2 Azevedo, Pedro (6 July 1998). "CoC : Cradle of Filth – Cruelty and the Beast : Review". Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  3. 1 2 Jezebel Diva, Sarah. "Cruelty and the Beast special edition in To Eve the Art of Witchcraft Forum". Cradleoffilthonline.yuku.com. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Scars and Guitars - Nick Barker (Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Lock Up, Old Man's Child, Brujeria)". Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Cradle of Filth | Full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Woodley, Laura (20 June 2012). "Cradle of Filth to Release Eight Album Reissues – Cradle of Filth". theorderofthedragon.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "CRADLE OF FILTH's DANI FILTH On Upcoming 'Cruelty And The Beast' Reissue: 'It Sounds Fantastic'". Blabbermouth.net. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Login • Instagram". Instagram.com. Retrieved 21 December 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  9. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Cruelty and the Beast – Cradle of Filth : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Rocklist.net...Kerrang! Page 2". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "Cruelty and the Beast - Re-Mistressed". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  12. ↑ "Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast (album)". Finnishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast (album)". Austriancharts.at (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  14. ↑ "Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast (album)". Lescharts.com (in French). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast (album)". GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "Album – Cradle of Filth, Cruelty and the Beast". Charts.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
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