Vicky
If you’re reading this, it means you’re probably either very curious to find out who Cradle of Filth are, or you’re here to eventually correct me, stating things such as: “you are not trve enough.” Before we dig into the (sort of traumatizing) history of the Cradle, I think it would be alright for me to let you know how I, your laid-back Symphonic Metal fan, first started listening to them. It was a warm summer day, in 2025… No, let’s take it from scratch.
Long story short, I started listening to Cradle of Filth after about five or so years of YouTube, Spotify, and friends begging me to get into “Nymphetamine Overdose,” because it’s just such a great song. It really is, no argument there. But who is Cradle of Filth? What’s its deal? Well, the band was founded back in 1990 in Suffolk, England, by Daniel Lloyd Davey (better known as Dani Filth) as Burial. They became Cradle of Filth a year later. Its style has ranged from Symphonic Black Metal to Thrash, Gothic Metal, and almost everything in between. These days they play a mix of Symphonic/Black Metal with Gothic and even Punk influences. Note: listen to Dani’s voice on “Nymphetamine” (either version). I dare you to tell me he didn’t belong in The Clash.
Cradle of Filth is especially known for its shocking horror imagery and controversial takes (I won’t mention them here, so you can actually start listening to the band without being scared off). With more than 15 records, eight live albums, three demos, and numerous singles and EPs, the band has built quite a legacy. It has definitely left a mark on the face of Heavy Metal as a whole. With its violent overtones (those who know, know), it remains iconic despite all the dramas behind the scenes. By the way, to Dani: we’re still waiting for that song with Ed Sheeran—please make it happen sometime soon!
Now comes the “great disasters” portion of the article. While browsing reasons why so many members left the band, I found quite a bit of chaos. Nick Barker stated in an interview with Oo Cities, after departing from the group: “I was simply not satisfied enough with certain elements in the band.” Sarah Jezebel Deva left, according to Wikipedia, “after a series of altercations” with Dani Filth. Lindsay Schoolcraft told Loudwire that leaving Cradle of Filth “was the best thing to do for my well-being and mental health.” Overall, more than 40 musicians have come and gone as members of the band, and allegations of low pay and a toxic work environment have loomed over it since the beginning.
But what about the most recent departures? We’re talking about Zoe Marie Federoff-Šmerda and her husband, Marek Šmerda (Ashok). They recently issued a long statement via social media, revealing that members of Cradle of Filth are underpaid, that management has been stealing money from musicians, that they’re getting no pay for basically writing all the music in the albums, and that Zoe even suffered a miscarriage while on tour. Possibly the harshest commentary from the Šmerda couple was: “We hold the frontman responsible for hiring this management. […] He might not get his hands dirty, but in the end, he directs them.” After about a week of numerous statements from the Šmerda couple, Dani finally shared his point of view. Zoe then responded via social media: “It’s an untrue statement from multiple angles and our lawyer’s response is coming. That’s all for now.”
So, what did Dani really say? To summarize: he began by apologizing for releasing his statement so late, as he was on tour with Cradle of Filth. He explained that a controversial contract aimed at restricting musicians was only a draft, not an official agreement. On the issue of musicians working with other bands, he pointed out that both current and former members have always had side projects, and he has no problem with it as long as scheduling allows.
He then shared some personal claims about Zoe, saying she had a drinking problem, which according to him led to her miscarriage and heated arguments with Ashok that he allegedly overheard during their South American tour. That tour was also when Zoe decided to leave and Ashok was “fired”. Dani added that he wanted to use the Šmerda family’s statements as an opportunity to improve communication within the band and work toward crafting better contracts. He also acknowledged the issues with management and even mentioned that he had recently been in touch with Sarah Jezebel Deva.
Anyway, his statement is quite long, but interesting. Find it here. We are still unsure whether everything Dani said is in fact completely true or not, but it’s a good read for now. To conclude this extremely long article (when did 800 words go by so quickly?) I’m very curious to find out – whose side are you on, Dani’s or Zoe’s? Let us know.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 