Nymphetamine is the sixth studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. Recorded between February and July 2004, it was released on 28 September by record label Roadrunner. Nymphetamine marks the first recorded appearance of guitarist James McIlroy 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.
Content
The title is a portmanteau of "nymphette" and "amphetamine", and Dani Filth explained it 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. This is very Edgar Allan Poe in style, 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 succubus." and reached number 92 in the UK Albums Chart. By early 2007 Nymphetamine has sold 147,000 copies in the United States alone, making it the most successful Cradle album to date. It has also been certified Gold in Europe by Independent Music Companies Association. Since its release, Nymphetamine has sold more than one million copies worldwide.
A music video for the "Fix" version of "Nymphetamine" was filmed by Dani Jacobs.
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.
Critical reception
AllMusic's review was favourable, calling the album "extremely entertaining".
Legacy
"Mother of Abominations" appeared on the soundtrack to the 2005 horror film Alone in the Dark. "Coffin Fodder" is mentioned in episode four of the UK comedy television series The IT Crowd, as track four on a gift-wrapped CD given by the goth character Richmond to a grieving widow at a funeral. "Nemesis" is featured in episode six of season five of the US comedy television series Viva La Bam (in which Dani Filth and the band make a guest appearance). "Nymphetamine" (in its short, "Fix" version) appeared on the soundtrack to Resident Evil: Apocalypse.
Track listing
Personnel
; Cradle of Filth
- Dani Filth – lead vocals
- Paul Allender – guitars
- James McIlroy (as "Germs Warfare") – guitars
- Martin Powell (as "Martin Foul") – keyboards, additional guitars, choral arrangements
- Dave Pybus (as "Herr Pubis") – bass
- Adrian Erlandsson – drums
; Additional personnel
- Sarah Jezebel Deva – backing vocals
- Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull – vocals on "Nymphetamine" tracks
- King Diamond – backing vocals on "Devil Woman"
- Doug Bradley – narration on "Satyriasis" and "Swansong for a Raven"; Cthulhu chant on "Mother of Abominations"
- Kim Porter, Tessa Bonner, Deborah Roberts, Gregory Skidmore, Tim Sager, Nicholas Todd – chorus
; Technical
- Rob Caggiano – production
- Dan Turner – engineering
- Steve Carter, Will Bartle – additional engineering and editing
- Colin Richardson – mixing
- Daniel Presley – orchestral arrangements and mixing
- Alexander Krull – recording of Liv Kristine's vocals
Charts
{| class="wikitable" width="350px"
!align="center"|Year
!align="center"|Chart
!align="center"|Position
|-
|align="center"; rowspan="14"|2004
|align="center"|Swedish Albums Chart
|align="center"|23
|-
|align="center"|German Albums Chart
|align="center"|25
|-
|align="center"|GfK Dutch Chart
|align="center"|29
|-
|align="center"|Finnish Albums Chart
|align="center"|32
|-
|align="center"|French Albums Chart
|align="center"|44
|-
|align="center"|Australian Albums Chart
|align="center"|53
|-
|align="center"|Austrian Albums Chart
|align="center"|56
|-
|align="center"|Canadian Albums Chart
|align="center"|57
|-
|align="center"|Ultratop Belgian Chart (Flanders)
|align="center"|59
|-
|align="center"|Swiss Albums Chart
|align="center"|64
|-
|align="center"|Ultratop Belgian Chart (Wallonia)
|align="center"|84
|-
|align="center"|Billboard 200 (USA)
|align="center"|89
|}