Their first album, The Principle of Evil Made Flesh, released in 1994, found its way into Metal Hammer's lists of top ten black metal albums of the last twenty years. This, despite the fact that the album was a shadow of the COF to come. Indeed, the band has found its way onto many metal top ten charts over their lifetime.
In total, the band has released seven studio albums and three EPs. They have also contributed to film soundtracks, covered many other artists (including Heaven 17's "Temptation" and Cliff Richard's "Devil Woman") and there are plenty of bootlegs to quench the thirst.
Cradle of Filth's fluctuating line-up has been no barrier to the welcome the band have found amongst black/goth metal fans, though their theatrical - and often controversial - commercialization ventures have sometimes raised purist eyebrows. The stronghold has always been the snarling front man and lyricist, Dani Filth.
2009 has been a busy year for the band. Following the release of Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder, the band toured intensively with appearances in North America, Europe and Australia. It is also at this time that more line-up changes emerged. Perhaps more significantly, the apparent departure of long-time backing vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva. Also, Rosie Smith vacated her role as live keyboardist. For this reason, ex-Abigail Williams Ashley Ellylon was offered a spot as live keyboardist on the European and Australian leg of the tour. These line-up changes are yet to be officially confirmed by the band, yet the parties involved (Sarah, Rosie, and Ashley) have all spoken informally on the matter.
