The Gospel of Filth
The Gospel of Filth (variously subtitled "A Black Metal Bible" and "A Bible of Decadence & Darkness") is a book by Dani Filth and Gavin Baddeley, documenting the history of the band Cradle of Filth and its cultural influences. The official synopsis describes it as a "wide-ranging and witty dissection of the uncanny and unholy". Taking music as its obvious entry point, the book also covers films, literature, comics and even computer games.
 | |
| Author | Gavin Baddeley & Dani Filth |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Stu Williamson |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Cradle of Filth and its influences |
| Genre | Reference |
| Publisher | FAB Press |
Publication date | March 2010 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 512 |
| ISBN | 978-1-903254-50-9 |
Dani Filth explained the concept behind the book as follows:
Each chapter, while loosely based around the band, our ideals and aesthetics, explores the ideas behind an album we've done. It's thoroughly researched and mostly written by Gavin Baddeley, a reverend in the Church of Satan. It's morbid but retains a level of tomfoolery; you can read it and chuckle.[1]
Various editions – some limited – have been published both in hardcover and paperback.[2] [3]
Chapters
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Invoking the Unclean: Esoteric England" (Explores the "darker" parts of English history and culture.) | |
| 2. | "The Principle of Evil Made Flesh: The Femme Fatale" (Artists who have "celebrated the association of femininity and wickedness".) | |
| 3. | "V Empire: Childhood Nightmares" (The dark heritage of fairy tales.) | |
| 4. | "Dusk and Her Embrace: The Gothic Aesthetic" (Cradle of Filth's gothic influences, from Lord Byron to the Batcave club.) | |
| 5. | "Cruelty and the Beast: Criminal Chic" (Charismatic criminals, from Cain to the modern serial killer.) | |
| 6. | "Midian: Horror" (Horror and monsters as entertainment.) | |
| 7. | "Damnation and a Day: Satanism" ("The development of Satanism, both as a covert philosophy and a pop culture phenomenon.") | |
| 8. | "Nymphetamine: Sex and Drugs" (A history of sex and drugs in relation to rock and roll.) | |
| 9. | "Harder, Darker, Faster: Arockalypse Now" (A history of heavy metal.) | |
| 10. | "Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder: The Black Arts" (An exploration of black magic.) | |
| 11. | "Live Bait for the Dead: Tour Bus Confessional" (Dani Filth's stories of Cradle of Filth on tour - included in special editions only.) |