Cradle Of Filth
Vempire (EP)

Just two years after the seminal “The Principle of Evil Made Flesh,” considered by many a cornerstone of symphonic Black metal, the highly debated and criticized band Cradle of Filth released an EP endowed with rare and malignant beauty.

Soon after, the majestic “Dusk & Her Embrace” would be released, and this “Vempire,” an EP with 6 beautiful songs, already hinted at a significant evolution in the details: Dani's scream became sharper and richer with catarrhal falsettos, and the production slightly improved, giving more importance to the symphonic arrangements than to the power of the guitars. All these characteristics made “Dusk & Her Embrace” that little masterpiece of mystical and dying atmosphere. But speaking of this mini, “Vempire” contains unreleased songs often performed live: I'm talking about “Ebony Dressed for Sunset” or the sinister and majestic “Queen of Winter, Throned.” It's pointless to point out how some controversies arose already at the release of this EP: “Vempire” was labeled as filler post-“The Principle of Evil Made Flesh,” perhaps a sort of forced publication, maybe driven by agreements with labels. However, despite the inevitable controversies for this English combo, from the very beginning, the quality of the product is undeniable.

The record opens with “Ebony Dressed for Sunset,” a small, fast, and energetic song. Immediately, Dani's sinister growls and his unmistakable scream stand out. It continues immediately with a classic of the group, here revised and rearranged: “The Forest Whispers My Name” was already a marvelous and spectacular track, but in this version, it gains even more beauty. There's no need to dwell on the beauty of such a long and evocative piece: “Queen of Winter, Throned” is a varied jewel, endowed with different exciting moments. “Nocturnal Supremacy” traces more evolved stylistic elements in the subsequent “Dusk & Her Embrace,” with rhythms close to black metal. “She Mourns a Lengthening Shadow” is a small instrumental prelude to the second“must” of the record: “The Rape & Ruin of Angels,” with a considerable length (still less than “Queen of Winter, Throned”) but it flows smoothly. At times brutal and devastating, the song also features a pleasant slow section within.

Certainly a fundamental milestone to understand the evolution of the group when they were still in their early stages. An intermediate style between the classic black outbursts of the debut to the more symphonic nuances of their second album. Recommended to fans and those who might want to know more about this controversial and debated band.