CRADLE OF FILTH: CRUELTY AND THE BEAST

SCORE: 91/100

'Cruelty and the Beast' is best described as unapologetic in its sheer brutality, there's something so strikingly dark and intense about this album, something that sets it apart from other metal albums in terms of both quality and style.

Cradle Of Filth is a band that I'm somewhat surprised about liking as much as I do - I have never been a fan of metal music that is made up of only/all screams, not until recently. My discovery of Cradle Of Filth led me to find joy in something highly unexpected for my standards, and this album sticks out a lot due to its artwork alone. It's a gorgeous showcase of the talent that the band has while establishing their style and creating a metal album with a striking atmosphere from the moment it starts.

The album makes itself known through harsh melodies, symphonic soundscapes, and guttural singing that is enough to make anyone's head spin. It's a highly intense album, with long songs that ride out and tell a narrative through terror, 'Cruelty and the Beast' almost specializes in atmospheric storytelling, with narration and a clear theme, the album does things I've never seen any other album do quite like this.

All-consuming and brutal at its core, 'Cruelty and the Beast' is a striking metal album that feels like a diamond in the rough. It's an undeniable hidden gem, and it's a near-must for any fans of the genre. It manages to be something so different while still feeling the ways that a metal album *should* feel, and it keeps the pace going throughout delightfully well.

It's an agonizingly beautiful album, and it's one that is best heard from start to finish - in order. It's raw and it's almost disturbingly grim, with every element that an extreme metal band strives to have coming through with ease on the albums' long tracks. It's a wild ride from the very start, and it manages to be one of the most impressive metal albums you can possibly get your hands on.

Despite its length, 'Cruelty and the Beast' goes by very nicely. The songs feel like they need to be as long as they are, and the striking cinematic style of the metal presented here is something you'll truly want to stick around for to marvel at it for as long as you can.


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