Album Details

• Artist: Cradle Of Filth
• Album: Nymphetamine
• Label: Roadrunner
• Year of Release: 2004
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2012-12-11

As fascinating evolution as you'll find in metal, more than a decade into their career and England's Cradle of Filth released another notably different album in 2004's Nymphetamine. Without a consistent theme tying it together, combined with a wide breadth of styles and influences, Nymphetamine plays like a grab-bag of CoF's past works and present monstrosities, with results varying from subpar to superb.


No two tracks really tie together, but the lyrical themes and subject matter all typically delve into classic Cradle of Filth terrotory. That is, the dark, hidden places and thoughts that nightmares are made of. After a solid intro piece, "Gilded Cunt" aggressively kicks the album into gear, shredding with a death metal grind and dripping with spite. "Nemesis" is a mid-paced monster of a track, filling quite a few minutes with infectious melodies and an anthemic pulse in it's wicked veins. "Gabrielle" falls a bit flat to my ears, never really unfurling from it's slower, more reserved beginnings. "Absinthe With Faust" is a different story, quite effectively offering heavy counterpoints to it's quieter interludes. "Nymphetamine (Overdose)" is, basically, a jewel bookended by a so-so intro-outro piece. The heart of this song reappears later by itself in "Nymphetamine (Fix)", and is truly the album's pinnacle, with guest vocalist Liv Kristine trading poetic verse with Dani Filth, with mesmerizing results. The remaining half of the album is hit-or-miss, with standouts including "Medusa And Hemlock", "English Fire" and "Swansong for a Raven".

While my initial reaction to this mixed bag of terrifying tricks was lukewarm and apprehensive, time has allowed the variety of Nymphetamine to really grow on me. It doesn't quite reach the peaks of some of their previous efforts, but it is a worthwhile collection of mostly outstanding tracks that offer a fine overveiw of Cradle of Filth at their best. 

User Reviews and Comments

Review:

on 2012-02-21 gutterseed Said:

I'm not into evil sounds, but this album is just plain creepy. I think the song Devil Woman cover was freakin awesome. Cradle of Filth is not one of my favorite bands, but to be fair to Hate Squad I wanted something to compare my awful review of Hate Squad for.
The album sounds like a brick wall would if it could talk. The album screams of brain tumors and could probably make a churchgoer soil their pants in public.
If I could join a death metal band, I would join cradle of filth, because just being on stage with them would probably lead to me turning into a full fledged vampire, and vampires get chicks. It seems to me the album has it all, speed, precision, participation of all band members, and even though I'm not a fan, I could at least make it through this album.
I can understand about 1/8 of this albums lyrics, They are definately intense and easy to listen to. I can't get over the range the singer has. It totally sounds like someone's kicked him in the nuts when he hits the high notes. They seem crazy enough to actually be that willing to hit those high notes. This album is really fun.
Rating: 7/10