ACTIVE: 1991-
Cradle of Filth is an extreme metal band from the UK. They’ve been around since the early nineties, but I discovered them — and fell in love — with their 2000 release, Midian.
Their lyrical themes are heavily influenced by Gothic literature, poetry, mythology, and horror films. Midian, for example, got its name from Clive Barker’s novel Cabal (and the movie based on it, Nightbreed). The album even features guest narration from Doug Bradley, the actor known for his role as Pinhead in the Hellraiser saga (though he also appeared in Nightbreed).
Cradle of Filth originated as a black metal band, but once their album production reached a professional level and their sound evolved over time, their music became harder to categorize. These days, I suppose most people would agree they’re no longer black metal — most likely haven’t been since the late nineties or early 2000s. But they’re still damn good!
I’ve actually written quite a few quotes from their songs next to my pieces and (so far) once even painted their name. This took place in 2015.
CRADLE OF FILTH | pencil & fineliner on paper | 2015, 2025
CRADLE OF FILTH | spray paint on plywood | 2015