Nymphetamine
Encyclopedia
Nymphetamine is the sixth album by English extreme metal
band Cradle of Filth
, released on September 28, 2004. Nymphetamine marks the first recorded appearance of guitarist James McIlroy
(as "Germs Warfare") on a Cradle of Filth album. He would later record guitar for the band's 2010 release Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa
. Nymphetamine is also the band's final album to feature keyboardist Martin Powell
.
", and Dani Filth
explained the track itself as referring to "a drug
-like addiction
to the woman in question, with her insidious vampire
qualities literally bringing her lover back from the brink of the spiritual grave, only to bury him further on the strength of a whim. The album is written in the style of Edgar Allan Poe
's works, and leaves one thinking that, despite the character's inner agonies, he is really a welcome submissive who readily enjoys the terrible highs and lows of his relationship with this alluring and filthy, depreciative succubus
."
The title track was nominated for a 2005 Grammy award
in the Best Metal Performance category. It appears on the album twice; in a three-part, nine minute version -"Nymphetamine (Overdose)" - and again in a shortened five minute version - "Nymphetamine Fix" - as a bonus track. A video was released for the "Fix" version, and this track also appears on the soundtrack for the film Resident Evil: Apocalypse
(without its suffix).
"Coffin Fodder" is mentioned in episode four of the UK comedy The IT Crowd
, as "track 4" on a gift-wrapped CD given by the goth character Richmond to a grieving widow at a funeral: "Coffin Fodder" is track 9 on the actual album.
"Mother of Abominations" begins with the chant of the phrase "Ia! Ia! Cthulhu fhtagn!", which is a reference to H. P. Lovecraft
's fiction, specifically the body of work encompassing the Cthulhu Mythos
. The song lyrics are a reference to Babalon
, a Goddess
made famous by the works of Aleister Crowley
.
The album features guest appearances by ex Theatre of Tragedy
and current Leaves' Eyes
vocalist Liv Kristine
, and Doug Bradley
, who starred as the cenobite
Pinhead
in the Hellraiser
series and also collaborated on Midian.
A special edition of the album was released in 2005, with an extra disc featuring two new songs, an alternate version of the title track, three cover songs
, a guest appearance by King Diamond
and a CD-ROM
of the "Nymphetamine" promo video. The same year saw the song "Mother of Abominations" used on the Alone in the Dark
soundtrack.
Nymphetamine debuted at #89 on the Billboard Top 200 chart selling 13,818 copies.
, all music composed by Cradle of Filth
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
band Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk 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, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
, released on September 28, 2004. Nymphetamine marks the first recorded appearance of guitarist James McIlroy
James McIlroy (musician)
James McIlroy was born in Kings Lynn Norfolk, grew up in Belgium before returning to England in 1996. He started his professional playing career in 2002.-Career:...
(as "Germs Warfare") on a Cradle of Filth album. He would later record guitar for the band's 2010 release Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa
Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa
Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa is the ninth studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It was released on November 1, 2010 by Peaceville Records...
. Nymphetamine is also the band's final album to feature keyboardist Martin Powell
Martin Powell
Martin Powell is an English musician. In 1991, Powell auditioned for the position of bass-playing in the band My Dying Bride, but was turned down as the band had just filled the position...
.
History
The title is a portmanteau of "nymphomania" and "amphetamineAmphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
", and Dani Filth
Dani Filth
Dani Filth is the lyricist, vocalist and founding member of the metal band Cradle of Filth.-Personal life:...
explained the track itself as referring to "a drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
-like addiction
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
to the woman in question, with her insidious vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
qualities literally bringing her lover back from the brink of the spiritual grave, only to bury him further on the strength of a whim. The album is written in the style of Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
's works, and leaves one thinking that, despite the character's inner agonies, he is really a welcome submissive who readily enjoys the terrible highs and lows of his relationship with this alluring and filthy, depreciative succubus
Succubus
In folklore traced back to medieval legend, a succubus is a female demon appearing in dreams who takes the form of a human woman in order to seduce men, usually through sexual intercourse. The male counterpart is the incubus...
."
The title track was nominated for a 2005 Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in the Best Metal Performance category. It appears on the album twice; in a three-part, nine minute version -"Nymphetamine (Overdose)" - and again in a shortened five minute version - "Nymphetamine Fix" - as a bonus track. A video was released for the "Fix" version, and this track also appears on the soundtrack for the film Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Resident Evil: Apocalypse is a Canadian-British 2004 science fiction action horror film directed by Alexander Witt, from a screenplay written by producer Paul W.S. Anderson...
(without its suffix).
"Coffin Fodder" is mentioned in episode four of the UK comedy The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd is a British sitcom by Channel 4, written by Graham Linehan, produced by Ash Atalla and starring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson and Matt Berry...
, as "track 4" on a gift-wrapped CD given by the goth character Richmond to a grieving widow at a funeral: "Coffin Fodder" is track 9 on the actual album.
"Mother of Abominations" begins with the chant of the phrase "Ia! Ia! Cthulhu fhtagn!", which is a reference to H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
's fiction, specifically the body of work encompassing the Cthulhu Mythos
Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
. The song lyrics are a reference to Babalon
Babalon
Babalon—also known as The Scarlet Woman, The Great Mother, or the Mother of Abominations—is a goddess found in the mystical system of Thelema, which was established in 1904 with English author and occultist Aleister Crowley's writing of The Book of the Law...
, a Goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
made famous by the works of Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
.
The album features guest appearances by ex Theatre of Tragedy
Theatre of Tragedy
Theatre of Tragedy was a Norwegian band from Stavanger, active between 1993 and 2010. They are best known for their earlier albums, which provided a great deal of influence to the gothic metal genre.-Biography:...
and current Leaves' Eyes
Leaves' Eyes
Leaves' Eyes is a German-Norwegian symphonic metal band from Stavanger, Norway and Ludwigsburg, Germany. They were formed in 2003 by Liv Kristine, the former lead singer of Theatre of Tragedy and the entire line-up of Atrocity...
vocalist Liv Kristine
Liv Kristine
Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull , better known as Liv Kristine, is the former vocalist for the band Theatre of Tragedy and current vocalist for the band Leaves' Eyes.- Career :...
, and Doug Bradley
Doug Bradley
Douglas William "Doug" Bradley is an English actor best known for his roles in the Hellraiser film series.- Early life :Bradley was born in Liverpool, England...
, who starred as the cenobite
Cenobite (Hellraiser)
The Cenobites are extradimensional beings who appear in the works of Clive Barker, including the novella The Hellbound Heart and the nine Hellraiser films...
Pinhead
Pinhead (Hellraiser)
Pinhead is a fictional character from the Hellraiser series. Created by Clive Barker and portrayed by Doug Bradley, Pinhead is a prominent figure in the series, mostly featured as the main antagonist....
in the Hellraiser
Hellraiser
Hellraiser is a 1987 British and American horror film based upon the novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. Hellraiser explores themes of sadomasochism and morality under duress and fear. The film spawned a series of sequels...
series and also collaborated on Midian.
A special edition of the album was released in 2005, with an extra disc featuring two new songs, an alternate version of the title track, three cover songs
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
, a guest appearance by King Diamond
King Diamond
Kim Bendix Petersen , better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Grammy Award nominated Danish heavy metal musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his extensive vocal range, in particular his usage of falsetto. He is the lead vocalist for both Mercyful Fate and the eponymous King Diamond...
and a CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
of the "Nymphetamine" promo video. The same year saw the song "Mother of Abominations" used on the Alone in the Dark
Alone in the Dark (2005 film)
Alone in the Dark is a 2005 horror film, loosely based on Infogrames' popular video game series of the same name. It is directed by Uwe Boll, and stars Christian Slater as supernatural detective Edward Carnby and Tara Reid as the scientist assisting him...
soundtrack.
Nymphetamine debuted at #89 on the Billboard Top 200 chart selling 13,818 copies.
Track listing
All lyrics written by Dani FilthDani Filth
Dani Filth is the lyricist, vocalist and founding member of the metal band Cradle of Filth.-Personal life:...
, all music composed by Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk 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, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
Credits
- Dani FilthDani FilthDani Filth is the lyricist, vocalist and founding member of the metal band Cradle of Filth.-Personal life:...
- vocals - Paul AllenderPaul AllenderPaul Allender is the lead guitarist of the British extreme metal band Cradle of Filth.-Early life:...
- guitar - James McIlroyJames McIlroy (musician)James McIlroy was born in Kings Lynn Norfolk, grew up in Belgium before returning to England in 1996. He started his professional playing career in 2002.-Career:...
(credited as "Germs Warfare") - guitar - Martin PowellMartin PowellMartin Powell is an English musician. In 1991, Powell auditioned for the position of bass-playing in the band My Dying Bride, but was turned down as the band had just filled the position...
(credited as "Martin Foul") - keyboards, guitar - Dave PybusDave PybusDave Pybus .Pybus's first band was called Anul Death which later changed its name to Darkened.From 1990-1994 Dave worked at Peaceville Records as a graphic designer...
(credited as "Herr Pubis") - bass guitar - Adrian ErlandssonAdrian ErlandssonAdrian Erlandsson is a prolific Swedish heavy metal drummer, who currently plays in Brujeria, Netherbird, with his wife in Nemhain and in Yorkshire doom metal band Paradise Lost...
- drums - Sarah Jezebel DevaSarah Jezebel DevaSarah Jane , better known by her stage name Sarah Jezebel Deva, is a British vocalist. She was the female vocalist in Cradle of Filth for 14 years and also fronts her own band, Angtoria. In 2009, Deva started her self-titled solo project. The debut album A Sign of Sublime was released in February...
- backing vocals - Doug BradleyDoug BradleyDouglas William "Doug" Bradley is an English actor best known for his roles in the Hellraiser film series.- Early life :Bradley was born in Liverpool, England...
- narration on tracks 1 & 12 - Colin RichardsonColin RichardsonColin Richardson is a British record producer, mixer and recording engineer. He has worked on over 100 albums, and is most frequently associated with heavy metal and its subgenres such as:*Anathema*As I Lay Dying*Behemoth*Bullet for My Valentine...
- mixing - Liv KristineLiv KristineLiv Kristine Espenæs Krull , better known as Liv Kristine, is the former vocalist for the band Theatre of Tragedy and current vocalist for the band Leaves' Eyes.- Career :...
- vocals on Nymphetamine - King DiamondKing DiamondKim Bendix Petersen , better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Grammy Award nominated Danish heavy metal musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his extensive vocal range, in particular his usage of falsetto. He is the lead vocalist for both Mercyful Fate and the eponymous King Diamond...
- background vocals on Devil Woman - Dan Turner- Engineer/Producer (various tracks)
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
162 |
| 2004 | Australian ARIA Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
56 |
| 2004 | Canadian Album Chart | 57 |
| 2004 | German Album Chart | 25 |
| 2004 | Finnish Album Chart | 32 |
| 2004 | Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
89 |