review by: Jez Andrews

Yes, yes, I know. Most of you Maelstrom readers will have developed a hatred for Cradle of Filth, the biggest commercial success the black metal scene has ever witnessed. Indeed, there will doubtless be many among you who believe that they never had a real place in the black metal scene to begin with. But at the end of the day, they still played a very important role in the pages of extreme metal history. I mean, just imagine how many youngsters were drawn into the more abrasive elements of the scene after the relative accessibility of Dusk and Her Embrace and Cruelty and the Beast. Hey, you'll find them on MY CD shelves, along with De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, Pure Holocaust and Wrath of the Tyrant. Putting aside their decision to dabble in atrocious dance remixes, I still have a great respect for them as artists, and I haven't yet met a black metal fan who didn't at least appreciate their first two albums. So, ten years on from the demo days and with six full length studio albums under their belts, Cradle of Filth bring us their first official live effort...

Live Bait for the Dead is a 2CD set, the first of which being a live set from Nottingham Rock City. It comprises of a surprisingly good mix of old and new material, especially notable for giving the treble-heavy "Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids" the gutsy sound it so well deserved. Nice to see five out of the thirteen songs taken from the Cacophonous days. The stage banter from Dani Filth is cheeky as ever ('Disease ridden as it is, this is still fucking England...'). There's a very strong sound to be heard here, with even the new tracks being given some power and majesty. "Summer Dying Fast" is as great as ever, but the crowning glory is closing number "Queen of Winter, Throned," always my favourite.

CD #2 houses an impressive video of Cradle of Filth's cover of "No Time To Cry," as well as a selection of previously unreleased studio tracks. The Polished Coffin mix of "Born in a Burial Gown" sounds a lot stronger than the original album version, as does the remix of the re-worked "No Time to Cry" (nice chunky drums). Techno track "Deleted Scenes of a Snuff Princess" and yet another From The Cradle... mix represent the more tragic side to the story, and territory into which I refuse to venture. Once again, the closing track, a cover of Twisted Sister's "The Fire Still Burns" saves the day.

Well recommended for Cradle fans and closet ex-Cradle fans alike, but don't let the bastards rip you off...