Cruelty and the Beast

Untitled

Cruelty and the Beast (1998) is Cradle of Filth's fourth release and third full-length album. 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. Orchestral and symphonic keyboard elements are given more emphasis than previously, giving the music a darker and more morbid approach, and the album was well received on its release. Its production has come in for some criticism however; particularly the sound quality of the drumming. Drummer Nicholas Barker would quit the band the following year to join Dimmu Borgir. Sarah Jezebel Deva revealed in a fan chatroom, "the production is absolute rubbish. When I first heard it I had tears in my eyes. I had spent 25 hours working in the studio on that album and it sounded like I had my head in a toilet. You couldn't hear most of my vocals. The songs are amazing but the mix was an outrage. Most of us felt the album was ruined".

The track "Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids" has remained a staple of the band's live setlist since the album's release.

Track listing

1. "Once Upon Atrocity" – 1:42
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" – 2:20
6. "Desire in Violent Overture" – 4:16
7. "The Twisted Nails of Faith" – 6:50
8. "Báthory Aria" – 11:02
   1. "Benighted Like Usher"
   2. "A Murder of Ravens in Fugue"
   3. "Eyes That Witnessed Madness"
9. "Portrait of the Dead Countess" – 2:52
10. "Lustmord and Wargasm (The Lick of Carnivorous Winds)" – 7:30

All music by Cradle of Filth
All lyrics by Dani Filth

Limited Editions

This album was also released in a limited edition with "Celtic Cross" packaging, and in a two-disc edition with five extra tracks:

1. "Lustmord and Wargasm II (The Relicking of Cadaverous Wounds)"
2. "Black Metal" (Venom Cover) – 2:10
3. "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Iron Maiden Cover) – 7:08
4. "Sodomy and Lust" (Sodom Cover) – 4:44
5. "Twisting Further Nails (The Cruci-Fiction Mix)" – 5:32

Credits

• Dani Filth – vocals
• Robin Eaglestone – bass
• Stuart Antsis – guitar
• Gian Pyres – guitar
• Les Smith – keyboards
• Nicholas Barker – drums
• Sarah Jezebel Deva – backing vocals
• Danielle Cneajna Cottington – backing Vocals
• Ingrid Pitt – Elizabeth Báthory narration