Cradle Of Filth - Cruelty And The Beast CD

01. Once Upon Atrocity
02. Thirteen Autums and Aa Widow
03. Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
04. Beneath the Howling Stars
05. Venus in Fear
06. Desire in Violent Overture
07. The Twisted Nails of Faith
08. Bathory Aria
09. Portrait of the Dead Countess
10. Lustmord and Wargasm (The Lick Of Carnivorous Winds)
11. Hallowed Be Thy Name (Iron Maiden cover)

It's an album that should really require no introduction, at least for anyone that has paid attention to the world of heavy metal over the last 25 years. "Cruelty and the Beast" was originally released in 1998 and was an obvious landmark in the evolution of a seminal extreme metal band. Whether you're a fan of Dani Filth's macabre theatricality or not, CRADLE OF FILTH became a big deal when "Cruelty…" was first released, and they remain a pretty big deal 21 years on, in part thanks to the clarity and cohesion of Dani's vision on what was a truly great record first time around. Okay, so everybody knows that the big downside to the original version of "Cruelty…" was that the drums sounded like someone whacking a biscuit tin with a wooden spoon and that nothing sounded quite as heavy or as brutal as these epic, ornate songs demanded, but a benchmark '90s metal album it remains.