Cradle Of Filth "V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (EP)"

V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein is an EP by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth, and the first release following their 1994 debut studio album The Principle of Evil Made Flesh. It was released on 22 April 1996, and was the band's final release for Cacophonous Records.

V Empire was hastily written and recorded for Cacophonous Records as a contractual obligation before the band jumped ship to Music for Nations. As such, it is the first of two albums released in 1996, the other being Dusk... and Her Embrace. Half of the band was replaced for this recording, with Stuart Anstis replacing guitarists Paul Allender and Paul Ryan and Damien Gregori replacing keyboardist Benjamin Ryan. All the guitars on V Empire were performed by Anstis. The name "Jared Demeter" listed as a second guitarist in the liner notes included in the booklet of the EP is just a made-up name to give the impression that there were two guitarists on the EP. Also, all keyboard duties on V Empire were handled by Keith Appleton. V Empire is the first recording to feature backing vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva.

V Empire sees a step up in production from the band's debut and introduces the fast, highly technical instrumentation that would be the hallmark of the band's next few releases.[1] It includes a re-recorded version of "The Forest Whispers My Name" from the band's first album, The Principle of Evil Made Flesh.

The Gospel of Filth, a definitive history of the band and its influences, written by Gavin Baddeley and Dani Filth and published in 2010, refers to this record throughout as V Empire. Due to the typographic sizing and spacing of the record's cover art, however, it has been widely read as Vempire in the years since its release. References like AllMusic and Discogs continue to retain the latter spelling, while some recent interviews appear to indicate that the band also pronounce it "Vempire" in conversation.

V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein was released on 22 April 1996. It was reissued in 2012 by record label The End.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Dani Filth; all music is composed by Cradle of Filth (Filth, Stuart Anstis, Robin Graves, Damien Gregori, Nicholas Barker).

1. "Ebony Dressed for Sunset" 2:49
2. "The Forest Whispers My Name" 4:41
3. "Queen of Winter, Throned" 10:27
4. "Nocturnal Supremacy" 5:53
5. "She Mourns a Lengthening Shadow" (instrumental) 3:42
6. "The Rape and Ruin of Angels (Hosannas in Extremis)" 8:52

Total length: 36:24

Distributed in Germany by Nuclear Blast / East West.

Distributed in the U.K. by Draconis.

Comes with a 12-page booklet.

Recording information:

Recorded in winter 1995/1996 at Academy Studios, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, UK.

Mastered at The Exchange.

Stuart Anstis recorded all guitars for this release. The name "Jared Demeter" is credited in the liner notes to make it seem like two guitarists played on the EP.

From the liner notes of the booklet: "Jared Demeter appears as session musician on this recording courtesy of December Moon." Although December Moon is a real band that were based in Suffolk, they of course never included any member of the name "Jared Demeter".