2025: We Don’t Do Recaps, We Do Opinions

We’re not doing the usual year-end “wrapped.” No countdowns, no stats, no pretending we had an editorial calendar. You know us - we talk about what actually matters to us, and this year one thing stood out more than anything else.

If we had to choose a “winner” for 2025, it’s Cradle of Filth. Hands down. And for two completely different reasons: one musical, one physical.

The Musical Reason

Cradle of Filth occupy a weirdly important corner of my brain. The Principle of Evil Made Flesh was the second metal album I ever bought as a teenager, before I even knew who Metallica were. (First was Wolfheart by Moonspell.) That album was my doorway into extreme metal. The rough edges, the heaviness, the goth atmosphere… it rewired my musical taste permanently.

Then came Vempire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein, Dusk… and Her Embrace, and Cruelty and the Beast. Cradle were unstoppable. But at some point, completely subjective here, nothing profound to say, I drifted off. Some of the later albums didn’t hit me the same way. I missed the raw death-metal roots and that unpolished intensity the early records had.

And then Screaming of the Valkyries arrived.

This was, by far, the most-played album at BBV HQ this year. It feels alive. The production has grit. The performances feel human, not programmed. And stylistically? It’s like a love letter to an entire universe of metal. You hear flashes of Slayer, Maiden, Priest, old-school death metal… but most importantly, it’s unmistakably Cradle of Filth.

There’s plenty of band drama floating around, but honestly? We don’t care. The album rips. That’s what matters.

The only downside? The vinyl release. It’s on Napalm Records, and look, Napalm has one of the best rosters around. But their physical releases can be… let’s say inconsistent. This one could’ve been better.

The Physical Reason

Thankfully, that gap got filled by one of the standout vinyl events of the year.

Darkness Shall Rise blessed us with new vinyl editions of:

• The Principle of Evil Made Flesh

• Vempire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein

• Dusk… and Her Embrace – The Original Sin

Not only are these some of our all-time favorite Cradle releases (especially Principle and Vempire), but DSR absolutely nailed every part of the physical package. The jacket stock, the artwork reproduction, the variants, the mastering, everything feels premium and intentional.

These weren’t just great, they were our top-selling releases of the year. Clearly, you all heard the difference too.

What’s Next?

Honestly? No idea yet. There are quite a few releases this year worth talking about. We'll write about them, hopefully before the year ends. 

As always - thanks for your continued support! 
Amit