Cradle of Filth

Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band that formed in Suffolk, England in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal and other extreme metal styles. Their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily influenced by gothic literature, poetry, mythology and horror films. The band has broken free from its original niche by courting mainstream publicity (often to the chagrin of its early fanbase). This increased accessibility has brought coverage from the likes of Kerrang! and MTV, along with frequent main stage appearances at major festivals such as Ozzfest, Download, and even the mainstream Sziget Festival. This has given the band a more "commercial" image. They have sometimes been perceived as satanic by casual observers, even though their outright lyrical references to satanism are few and far between. Their use of satanic imagery has arguably always been more for shock value, rather than any seriously held beliefs.