Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 127
 Weak production ruins album. April 12, 2009
SkyNet
I decided that I would review all of Cradle Of Filth's album's on here, atleast the ones I own which are most. I can say right now that this one will have the lowest rating. I know alot of people pretend to like the "old stuff" from any band to sound like they are more of a hardcore fan than the next guy. I think this concept is stupid and lame and I am honest about what I like or love or hate. I'm not saying everyone does this but I know most do. So basically, I'm sure some of you out there honestly like, maybe even love this album.
First of all, the production of this album is crap. This sounds like it was recorded on a tape recorder. I could do a better job with my 250 dollar 8-track recorder. This in itself can totally ruin an album which it sure didn't help my opinion of it. The music is "ok" but the music just kind of runs together and starts to sound like "noise" and Dani's vocals are still undeveloped in my opinion or maybe it's just the crappy quality of the recording. The exceptions to this are "The Graveyard By Moonlight", "Malice Through The Looking Glass", and the title track, "Dusk And Her Embrace". Everything else on here I could go the rest of my life without hearing and it wouldn't bother me. I think that with the release of "Cruelty and the Beast", they began to become the true COF that they are today. Any album previous to the aforementioned album was just a stepping stone to something better. I personally wouldn't recommend this considering only 3 songs are worth a listen but then again some people might actually like this stuff. I don't.
 a MUST have if you are a COF fan August 4, 2008
Diana M. Lutz (Pittsburgh, PA USA)
One of the best COF album. Dany screams are spine chilling, music and lyrics are incredible. This album is for the hard core fans who love "classic Cradle".
GENIUS,,,,,,pure genius! March 6, 2008
Bloodpool11 (NYC, USA)
to me, this is one of the best black metal albums ever made...right up there with albums such as Emperor's anthems to the welkin at dusk and darkthrones a blaze in the northern sky. Every song here is brutal and beautiful you will feel like you are in the album cover, in a dark cold hunting forest. Danis lyrics are his best here extremely poetic, some of the best lyrics i've ever read, all drumming and guitar work is spot on from the riffing to the ballads,the production might be argued by some but i think its the best out of all their albums, it really captures the mood and atmosphere of their songs. This is the finest moment in cradle of filth's career, i always come back to this album after owning it for years. a true timeless masterpiece. I dont know what else to say, just listen to this album if you're a black metal fan, or just a metal fan,...i wont go into detail explaining every song(you need to listen for yourself) or read some of my fellow reviewr's reviews here...........BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!!..........5 STARS!!!!!
Beauty Slept And Angels Wept For Her Immortal Soul... January 27, 2007
Sephiroth912 (In Your Head)
Once I was introduced to Cradle via Nymphetamine and Damnation and a Day, I decided to listen to their old, original albums. The difference between these eras is great, though their new material still sounds great, if you're not a person who feels a band should have a single style and play only that style. Now, having listened to this album, it has become one of my all-time favorite albums, along with Cradle's Midian and Within Temptation's Mother Earth (if you haven't heard of them, it's because they have yet to release an album stateside).
What makes the album succeed is the incredible drumming and the guitars are amazing, especially in Funeral in Carpathia. Dani's vocals are probably at their best here, though many may find the screaming annoying, it realy takes talent to be able to do that. You probably can't do it yourself if you tried, especially at the constant rate he does. It also weaves an elaborate story of a mighty vampiric (vampyric, if you want to be technical about it) being, who in his revival following a war between Christians and Pagans, kills one who appears to go by the names "Elizabeth," "Beauty," and, in my view, "Day/Dawn," because her soul becomes Dusk beyond death. Then, Dusk and the being appear to fall in love, to the point where Dusk and the being's souls are trapped away, where the story thus ends. This is just the way I view it, as many concept albums can be interpreted in many various ways.
Breakdown, song by song:
1. Humana Inspired to Nightmare: Great instrumental, most of Cradle's are, as always. (4/5)
2. Heaven Torn Asunder: Starts slow but really kicks up and becomes a great song to start off the story, though some of the song's lyrics are not for the easily offende (i.e. "From this ransacked celestial temple, I held the prophet's severed head unto all nations")
3. Funeral in Carpathia: Great drumming, excellent vocals from both Dani and I believe Sara (I don't remember if she was with Cradle on this album) and perfect guitars really make this song everything it was meant to be and more. Personal favorite and one of Cradle's best. (5/5)
4. A Gothic Romance (Red Roses For The Devil's Wh*re): Another favorite of mine. As described in the spotlight review, it really is a great example of the combination of beauty and brutality that Cradle really tries to be. Another slow starter, it really picks up into one of my favorite songs to headbang to. (5/5)
5. Malice Through the Looking Glass: This song has a generally slow tone to it and, in a much darker and more screechy way, sounds like an older version of Nymphetamine Fix. It sounds actually very good, which leads me to feel Cradle should have a slower track like these on all future albums (Cruelty and the Beast had Bathory Aria, though that doesn't seem to be incredibly popular among fans, though I personally love the song) as they make them very well. (5/5)
6. Dusk and Her Embrace: The album's title track starts off wild and just takes of on a wild ride. A fan favorite, and a staple at concerts. (5/5)
7. The Graveyard By Moonlight: Another great instrumental. It sounds very entrancing and very eerie at the same time. (4.5/5)
8. Beauty Slept in Sodom: A bit softer sounding with very deep and somewhat confusing lyrics. (4/5)
9. Haunted Shores: A perfect closer for an excellent album. The intro is great and stays heavy and intense right until the end, with what seems to be the Vampire's last words. (5/5)
Final Word: A great album from a great artist. Newcomers to Cradle should start with this, as well as probably Nymphetamine (to understand the change in sound the band has undergone) and Midian, which is popular among many Cradle fans. If you're even more serious, I recommend the bands albums prior to this one, The Principle of Evil Made Flesh and the V Empire EP.
***** 5 Stars Out Of 5 *****
A masterpiece! October 26, 2006
Tiziana Rubatto (Moss Beach, CA, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I don't know why I haven't written a review for this album before!
Dusk and her embrace is, for me, the masterpiece in COF history!
All the songs are awesome!
My fav song is Funeral in Carpathia... my god! I could listen to it again and again!! The lyrics are great, Nicholas was at his best at the drums... too bad he left for DimmuBorgir!!
Love every single songs!!!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 127
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