The Gospel of Filth

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The Gospel of Filth
Gospel of Filth.jpg
Author Gavin Baddeley & Dani Filth
Cover artistStu Williamson
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SubjectCradle of Filth and its influences
GenreReference
PublisherFAB Press
Publication date
March 2010
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Pages512
ISBN 978-1-903254-50-9

The Gospel of Filth (variously subtitled "A Black Metal Bible" and "A Bible of Decadence & Darkness") is a book by Dani Filth and Gavin Baddeley, documenting the history of the band Cradle of Filth and its cultural influences. The official synopsis describes it as a "wide-ranging and witty dissection of the uncanny and unholy". Taking music as its obvious entry point, the book also covers films, literature, comics and even computer games.

Dani Filth explained the concept behind the book as follows:

Each chapter, while loosely based around the band, our ideals and aesthetics, explores the ideas behind an album we've done. It's thoroughly researched and mostly written by Gavin Baddeley, a reverend in the Church of Satan. It's morbid but retains a level of tomfoolery; you can read it and chuckle. [1]

Various editions – some limited – have been published both in hardcover and paperback. [2] [3]

Chapters

No.TitleLength
1."Invoking the Unclean: Esoteric England" (Explores the "darker" parts of English history and culture.) 
2."The Principle of Evil Made Flesh: The Femme Fatale" (Artists who have "celebrated the association of femininity and wickedness".) 
3."V Empire: Childhood Nightmares" (The dark heritage of fairy tales.) 
4."Dusk and Her Embrace: The Gothic Aesthetic" (Cradle of Filth's gothic influences, from Lord Byron to the Batcave club.) 
5."Cruelty and the Beast: Criminal Chic" (Charismatic criminals, from Cain to the modern serial killer.) 
6."Midian: Horror" (Horror and monsters as entertainment.) 
7."Damnation and a Day: Satanism" ("The development of Satanism, both as a covert philosophy and a pop culture phenomenon.") 
8."Nymphetamine: Sex and Drugs" (A history of sex and drugs in relation to rock and roll.) 
9."Harder, Darker, Faster: Arockalypse Now" (A history of heavy metal.) 
10."Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder: The Black Arts" (An exploration of black magic.) 
11."Live Bait for the Dead: Tour Bus Confessional" (Dani Filth's stories of Cradle of Filth on tour - included in special editions only.) 

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cradle of Filth</span> English extreme metal band

Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved originally from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic metal and other metal genres. Their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily influenced by Gothic literature, poetry, mythology and horror films. The band consists of its founding member, vocalist Dani Filth, drummer Martin 'Marthus' Škaroupka, bassist Daniel Firth, guitarists Marek 'Ashok' Šmerda and Donny Burbage, and keyboardist Zoe Marie Federoff.

<i>Damnation and a Day</i> 2003 studio album by Cradle of Filth

Damnation and a Day is the fifth studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It was released on 10 March 2003 and is Cradle of Filth's only album on a major label, Sony Records, after which they transferred to Roadrunner. It features the one hundred and one-piece Budapest Film Orchestra including the forty-piece Budapest Film Choir. The album is partly based on John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost.

<i>The Principle of Evil Made Flesh</i> 1994 studio album by Cradle of Filth

The Principle of Evil Made Flesh is the debut studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It was released on 24 February 1994 through Cacophonous Records, following three demos released between 1991 and 1993. The album's sound is significantly more raw than on subsequent releases, and frontman Dani Filth's vocals differ from his later style and technique. The album is a then-unusual hybrid of gothic metal and black metal. This would be the only album featuring guitarist Paul Ryan and keyboardist Benjamin Ryan; guitarist Paul Allender also left the band at this point, but returned five years later for Midian.

<i>Dusk and Her Embrace</i> 1996 album by Cradle of Filth

Dusk... and Her Embrace is the second studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It was released on August 28, 1996. and is their first release on the label Music for Nations.

<i>Cruelty and the Beast</i> 1998 studio album by Cradle of Filth

Cruelty and the Beast is the third studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It is a concept album based on the legend of the Hungarian "blood countess" Elizabeth Báthory and features guest narration by actress Ingrid Pitt in-character as Báthory, a role she first played in the Hammer Horror film Countess Dracula in 1971. It was released on 5 May 1998 by record label Music for Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dani Filth</span> British heavy metal vocalist

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<i>Nymphetamine</i> 2004 studio album by Cradle of Filth

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<i>Midian</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Cradle of Filth

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<i>Bitter Suites to Succubi</i> 2001 EP by Cradle of Filth

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Gavin Baddeley is an ordained Reverend in the Church of Satan, and an experienced journalist who has worked for The Observer and Metal Hammer. He is the occult authority for the BBC and Channel 4, has addressed Cambridge University, and has been profiled in The Independent and The London Evening Standard. He made an appearance in the documentary film Metal: A Headbanger's Journey.

<i>Thornography</i> 2006 studio album by Cradle of Filth

Thornography is the seventh studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It was released on 17 October 2006, by record label Roadrunner. It was produced by former Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano, engineered by Dan Turner and mixed by Andy Sneap, and once again features narration by Doug Bradley. It is Cradle of Filth's second album as a five-piece, as keyboardist Martin Powell left the band in 2005. This would also be the band's final album to feature drummer Adrian Erlandsson, and the only full-length to feature guitarist Charles Hedger.

<i>V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein</i> 1996 EP by Cradle of Filth

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cradle of Filth discography</span>

Cradle of Filth was formed in Suffolk, England, in 1991. The band's original members consisted of vocalist Dani Filth, guitarist Paul Ryan, keyboardist Ben Ryan, bassist John Pritchard and drummer Darren Gardner. With this line-up, Cradle of Filth recorded a demo in 1992, titled Invoking the Unclean. Soon after, they recorded their second demo, Orgiastic Pleasures Foul with new guitarist Robin Eaglestone and new drummer Was Sarginson. Robin left the band shortly afterwards, but following the departure of John Pritchard, Eaglestone returned to take his place as bassist. Guitarist Paul Allender joined the band at the same time. Following these changes, another demo was recorded, titled Total Fucking Darkness. Sarginson left the band soon after, paving the way for the entry of drummer Nicholas Barker.

<i>Godspeed on the Devils Thunder</i> 2008 studio album by Cradle of Filth

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<i>Hammer of the Witches</i> 2015 studio album by Cradle of Filth

Hammer of the Witches is the eleventh studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It was released on 10 July 2015 and is their first release under record label Nuclear Blast. Hammer of the Witches features the band's new line-up following the departure of Paul Allender and James McIlroy, which includes new guitarists Marek 'Ashok' Šmerda and Richard Shaw and new keyboardist and female vocalist Lindsay Schoolcraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devilment</span> British metal band

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References