Cradle of Filth released “Cruelty and the Beast” in 1998, following their explosive album “Dusk in Her Embrace”

To begin with, the album has great artwork on the cover as well as inside. COF have displayed the countess Elisabeth Bathory in a bathtub of blood of the cover, with artwork and lyrics inside the booklet. There is a limited edition of the album that features “Cruelty and the Beast” on one disk and covers of Iron Maiden’s “Hallowed be thy Name” and Venom’s “Black Metal (among others)”

The title track “Cruelty brought thee Orchids” has some of the most finely written lyrics on the album (written by Stuart). One of my favorite songs, “Bathory Aria”, is a midtempo doom song with an awesome piano introduction. “Beneath the Howling Stars” has some of the greatest bass lines on the whole album. In this album, Dani restrains vocally more than on “Dusk and Her Embrace,” but still blows you away.

This is a great concept album. Through Dani Filth’s enchanting vocals and the bands awesome music, Cradle Of Filth told the story of the famous Countess Elisabeth Bathory. Let me break down the history of the blood countess. The story of Elisabeth Bathory might sound fictional when you first hear it, but in fact, it is very true (how could anyone make up something like it ?). The Countess’ story began when she (the countess) slapped one of her servant maidens one day. She must have slapped her pretty hard because some of the maidens’ blood got on the Countess' face. After wiping the blood from her face, the countess thought that she looked younger. From there, the Countess’ obsession to look young and youthful turned into a bloody massacre. From the time the first drop of blood landed on the countess’ face until her conviction and death under “castle arrest,” she had killed hundreds of young girls. Cradle of Filth did a rocking job on this album, which is one of a kind.

Jennifer- *Devil to the Metal*