Album: Cruelty and the Beast by Cradle of Filth (1998)
Genre: Symphonic Metal | Style: Metal
Record Label: Nuclear Blast
Format: Album

Description: 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.

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

The two-disc Special Edition was reissued in 2012 by The End Records.

Artist Background: Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band that formed in Suffolk, England in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal and other extreme metal styles. Their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily influenced by gothic literature, poetry, mythology and horror films. The band has broken free from its original niche by courting mainstream publicity (often to the chagrin of its early fanbase). Thi... Part of the Suffolk, England music scene. Emerged in the 1990s era. Associated with Symphonic Metal movement. Known for Metal style.

Music Scene: Part of the Suffolk, England music scene. Emerged in the 1990s era. Associated with Symphonic Metal movement. Known for Metal style.

Tags: Symphonic Metal, Metal, 1990s, Album, Nuclear Blast

Additional Context: Rating score: 10. Based on 1 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


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.

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

The two-disc Special Edition was reissued in 2012 by The End Records.

Cruelty and the Beast

Cradle of Filth

Track List

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