Top 10 Cradle of Filth Songs

Photo: Selbymay, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Cradle of Filth songs list looks at a band are often associated with unique artwork, and an extreme approach to heavy metal that has often been labeled as, “sick and offensive.” However, one of the band members, Dani Filth, advised the band’s listeners and critics alike to find the meaning of the literature and artwork that the band uses to appreciate what the band is all about. The English band, which was formed in 1991 is currently composed of five members who include, Dani Firth who is the founding member, Daniel Firth, Richard Shaw, Anabell Iratni, and Ashok Smerdax. Initially, the band’s music was predominantly black metal, but the band moved to a cleaner style of gothic, symphonic metal.

Their music is mainly influenced by gothic literature, mythology, and horror films. The band’s mainstream publicity has also evolved which has led to interviews with the likes of MTV and Kerrang! The band has also made appearances at some major festivals such as Ozzfest and Sziget Festival. Since the band’s inception, the band has featured more than 20 different lineups and released its first three demos in 1992 which include “Goetia,” the only remaining track from the band’s first album.

The band would later sign a new deal with Cacophonous Records with which they released their first album The Principle of Evil Made Flesh. The band would later leave the record label acrimoniously citing financial and contractual mismanagement. The band’s genre has always been a topic of discussion with their status as a black metal band being contested by many. Our list of the top 10 Cradle of Filth songs features some of their early tunes as well as some of their latest songs. Let’s get down to some of their greatest songs ever.

# 10 – From the Cradle to Enslave

Cradle of Filth is one of the few gothic metal bands that had a major impact as far as my love for rock is concerned. Anytime I listen to “From the Cradle to Enslave,” I remember this as the song that made me fall in love with the band back in the late 90s. The song is a perfect blend of Cradle of Filth’s signature black metal to their latter experimental style. In the track, Danny Firth’s lyricism and his voice are nothing short of incredible. The song is also quite catchy, and the melodic mayhem is infectious.

# 9 – Summer Dying Fast

More than 20 years later after the song was released, and this song still gives me chills. “Summer Dying Fast” is the 12th track from the band’s debut studio album The Principle of Evil Made Flesh which was released in 1994. The song is about dead people rising up and waging war against humans.

# 8 – Babylon A.D.

The video of this song starts with a cleaning lady and the camera perspective on Danny Firth is just unique. His vocals are also amazing, and the riffs could send shivers down the spine of any heavy metal wannabe fan. “Babylon A.D. was released in 2003, and it is a song that talks about the mother of abominations from the mythical system by Aleister Crowley.

# 7 – Hallowed Be Thy Name

Continuing with our Cradle Of Filth songs list we turn to a great cover version of an Iron Maiden classic entitled “Hallowed Be Thy Name.” Cradle Of Filth were known for doing many great cover versions of metal classics. We loved their covers because they most certainly made their cover songs their own. The song was released on the album entitled Cruelty and the Beast. The album was released in 1998. This is one of the most famous metal songs of all time. The song was written by Steve Harris. It was originally released by Iron Maiden in 1982.

# 6 – Bathory Aria

“Bathory Aria” is made up of three parts and is a culmination of the story of Elizabeth Bathory on blood countess. The track features some narrations from Ingrid Pitt’s character. Cruelty and the Beast is the band’s most popular album and was ranked 10th in Kerrang!’s most essential black metal albums in 2000.

# 5 – The Death of Love

Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder was produced as the band’s first four-piece albums rather than their usual six-man crew. The album is based on a man called Gilles who helps a lady by the name of Joan but after her death, the man slowly slips into insanity. The female vocals in the song are beautiful and compliment Danny Firth’s vocals well.

# 4 – Under Huntress Moon

“Under Huntress Moon,” is the eleventh track from Cradle of Filth’s seventh studio album Thornography. Although the album does not rank high among the best albums from the band, this song does stand out from the rest. The song was one of the reasons why the album sold really well across the US. According to Danny Firth, the band likes to perform the song as the end of set track, which works well for them.

# 3 – Midnight Shadows Crawl: Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder

Cradle of Filth are responsible for some of the most innovative and symphonic black metal ever seen. This particular album was quite significant to the band since it marked their departure from Roadrunner Records. The song contains a long title which signifies the change of trajectory to a darker one.

# 2 – Lilith Immaculate

Cradle of Filth’s most songs were not intended to be commercial sell-outs. For this reason, they often made songs that were beyond who they really are, and most of their songs are dark and amazing. “Lilith Immaculate,” a track from the band’s 2010 album Darkly Darkly, Venus Aversa, is a huge crowd favorite. The song features some great lyrics, crazy female vocals, and a storytelling style that is beautiful, gothic, and old school. According to Danny Firth, the band once played the song Philippines in front of a crowd of 35000 people and the crowd was pretty excited as the band received their fireworks.

# 1 – Nymphetamine Fix

The number one song in our list of the top ten Cradle of Filth songs is the track “Nymphetamine Fix.” The song is a classic and is well written instrumentally and vocally. The song is about attractive girls who have an amazing sex appeal and the drug “amphetamine” which is highly addictive due to the way it affects the nervous system. The word “nymphet” is borrowed from Vladimir Nabokov’s novel, “Lolita.”