Helmed by mastermind Dani Filth, theatrical U.K. maniacs Cradle of Filth brought black metal to the mainstream in the '90s. Though inspired by the raging intensity of classic Scandinavian black metal, Cradle of Filth soon moved beyond the raw lo-fi sound that defined the scene, developing a symphonic and gothic style that was the perfect fit for their epic concept albums about murderers, vampires, and other nasty creatures of the night. And despite many lineup changes, Filth and his sinister crew have continued preaching their blasphemous gospel to black-metal fans around the globe.