An extremely controversial symphonic black metal Band from Britain, formed 91-92. Central themes of satanism, religion, vampirism, womanization, and just general evil.

They are controversial not only because of their satanic and often violent or anti-Christian lyrics, but more over because it is a huge argument whether or not they constitute "real" black metal. A lot of black metallers who like Norse black metal claim that Cradle of Filth is horrible, but fans of Cradle of Filth don't really care WHAT you call it, they just like what they hear.

Front man Dani Filth announced early 2004 that a new full-length album, Nymphetamine, will be released this June from Roadrunner Records. This is after their last album under their first major label, Sony Music.

Cradle of Filth has risen to be one of the most internationally popular black metal/metal bands in the world.
The real name of Dani Filth, the lead singer of Cradle of Filth, is Daniel Davey... what cruel parents.
by Matthew J. Shipton March 4, 2004
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Symphonic Black metal. Very good shit, wonderful lyrics. Disturbing videos. Don't take themselves too seriously, almost certainly because they're British, and thats how we do things over here. This only improves them in my opinion, but is probably one of the reasons why loads of goths hate them, since mosts goths take everything way too seriously, and also because they're popular and the majority of goths seem to have some strange thing about hating anything popular. I love em, and complaining about the lyrics is stupid because all their albums have cover slips with the lyrics in them, so read that if you can't hear what they're saying, and NEVER try listening to Arch Enemy.
"Two thousand fattened years like maniacs,
have despoiled our common grave,
now what necrophagous second coming backs,
From the Cradle to Enslave."
by KharBevNor December 15, 2003
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Hmmm... they're a great band, they're under a fair bit of scrutiny by those that are more concerned about genre than music. Alternative or not, black metal or not. At the same time some of their listeners have a vandetta towards Marilyn Manson. In the end it all comes down to personal taste though.
To add to what has already started:

MM fan: Cr4dl3 0f f1l+h sux0rs (sic)
CoF fan: 'They're the shizzle!' - Shoots MM fan
Black metaller: 'You're not black metal!' - shoots cradle fan
Random Person: Shoots that person for being a twat.

...And so the cycle continues.
by don't you respond to me June 4, 2004
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A rising Black Metal act from the heart of England, they combine soaring melodies with chugging riffs and a solid barricade of double bass drums. Atmospheric and inspirational, Cradle Of Filth have been around since 1992 and are set on the verge of world domination.
Cradle Of Filth are approximately 10,000,000 times better than Marilyn Manson.
by Sinéad September 25, 2003
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Cradle of Filth is a British rock band, formed around 1991-92. There is a fair bit of controversy surrounding over whether they fit the category of "black metal" or not. black metal fans say they aren't black metal because they do not sound like bands such as , Darkthrone, etc. Cradle of Filth fans either say A. Who cares the music's good or B. They are black metal because they fit the definition.

It is my opinion they are gothic metal. However, it is also my opinion that people should not judge and artist based on their popularity/genre and just enjoy the music.
Many underground rock fans likes The Darkness before "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" made it big. After it did, they all rejected it as "mainstream crap." They had to come from somewhere, didn't they? It wasn't the mainstream.
by Objectivity is good July 16, 2005
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Ok, let's get something clear here. Cradle of Filth are NOT black metal. They're symphonic, watered down metal with black metal elements, nothing more. Real black metal is Darkthrone, Burzum, Immortal, Mayhem, old Emperor.
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cradle of filth are a good metal band - they have there own sound unlike anything else, i would not call them black metal cuz there more black metal than anything else, there vocals dani filth has a amazing voice, he can do normal melodic singing but he prefers the screeches,
cradle of filth revolves around dani filth. No one really knows anything about the band besides dani. The teenage fan base (usually the feminine) see dani as a sex object. but really with none of the other band members there would be no cradle.
There best albums are "Midian", "bitter suites to succubi", "dusk and her embrace", and "damnation and a day" (in my general opinion)
there latest album "nymphetamine" is also very good. but its alot more melodic than any of there other albums, i enjoy listening to it, but the other fans slag it off.

cradle of filth rock! i love there music!
by Dimmu-666-borgir November 21, 2005
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