"My playthrough video (of "Thirteen Autumns And A Widow") from last week was met with cries of 'More!'," reveals Cradle Of Filth bassist Daniel Firth. "So I've gone and done another, this time a song that literally no-one asked for, but which really gives me the rage - 'Desire In Violent Overture' (from Cruelty And The Beast - Re-Mistressed)."

"Despite being an absolute rager, this is actually one of the more straightforward songs to play from the album - maybe a good place to start if anyone's considering using my videos as a learning tool. You might prefer to play sixteenth notes during the blast beats, and that's fine, but I personally find eighths provide a thicker tone and underpin the song a bit more solidly."

"I'm playing a Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-5, modded with Fishman Fluence Bass Soapbar pickups and strung with Newtone Strings. This is going straight into the Darkglass B7K Ultra plugin from Neural DSP."

Cradle Of Filth released Cruelty And The Beast on May 5, 1998 (with Robin Graves on bass). The band issued a Re-Mistressed version of the album on November 1, 2019.

Dani Filth comments: “Released around the same time as we were arrested at the Vatican, Cruelty And The Beast had been a painstaking labour of love, a year of intense writing amid ever growing popularity and distraction. The album’s concept of the Hungarian blood countess Elizabeth Bathory - both historically astute and fictionally correct - was to become a dangerous obsession of mine and one that saw many a first light of dawn working on the lyrics, hellbent on making the story worthy of her legend.”

Released on CD, transparent red vinyl and digitally, this elevated version of Cruelty And The Beast features new artwork from band illuminator Stuart Williamson, exclusive linear notes from Dani Filth and Cvlt Black Metal writer and documentarian, Dayal Patterson as well as a bonus track cover of Iron Maiden’s "Hallowed Be Thy Name".

Dayal adds: “Cruelty And The Beast has long been considered a milestone album in Cradle Of Filth's career, a combination of atmospheric storytelling and visceral, and surprisingly vicious, songs. This 21st anniversary edition has bolstered those songs with an added weight, improving the sound considerably with a warmer and punchier mix, making it a must hear for long-time fans and newcomers alike.”

Dani concludes, “Cruelty And The Beast remains a phenomenally important album in the band’s back catalogue and one that I am exceptionally proud of, as I am exceptionally proud of this Re-Mistressed version, 21 years on from the original release. I hope the listener - sitting there by the flame-lit hearth with his/her walnut pipe on the go - thoroughly enjoys this Cradle classic, so vividly brought back to life for the fickle world today.”