Say what you will about Cradle of Filth. "They're not black metal." "Their face paint is ridiculous." "Dani Filth's screeching vocals are annoying as hell." "They've sold out now that they're on Roadrunner Records."

Is all this true? For the most part, yes, but that hasn't stopped them from being one of, if not the best goth-metal band on the scene. And they have created an absolute masterpiece with Nymphetamine. Hell, this album was amazing even without the bonus disc, which is also outstanding.

When I listen to Cradle of Filth, it's like listening to a horror movie. Every song seems to have some kind of theme or story, along with the albums as a whole. The music takes you on a thrill ride of madness and mayhem, with beautiful passages to just straight pulverizing, complicated pieces of metal, sinister vocals in what seems like five or six different styles, dynamic guitars and fast, brutal percussion. There are also horror themes, spoken word, pianos, keyboards, female vocals, deep growls and high pitched wails. All of this and more is here on Nymphetamine.

This album is not a black metal record by any means, but it probably is the best goth metal album ever recorded. Simpler is sometimes better. Songs are stripped down from previous recordings and are more structured. The production is crystal clear and the band has never sounded this good. From the vicious choruses and riffs on "Gilded Cunt" to the vocals on the title track by Liv Kristine (formerly of Theatre of Tragedy), the haunting spoken words and pianos on "Gabriel," beautiful passages on "Absinthe With Faust" and the sheer aggression of "Mother of Abdominations," this is a classic release. Every track is memorable and it's obvious that a lot of time and effort was put into every part of every song. If you're a fan of heavier material and you have an open mind, then Nymphetamine is for you. You will undoubtedly find yourself grasped and sucked into this release from start to finish.

As if the original release wasn't outstanding enough, the bonus disc adds more to this masterpiece. The cover of "Mr. Crowley" is the best Ozzy cover I've ever heard, done quite differently but still staying true to the original. We also get covers of "Devilwoman" (Cliff Richard) and "Bestial Lust" (Bathory), both well done in true COF style. The B-sides are "Prey" and "Soft White Throat," which fit in well with the rest of Nymphetamine. But the real gem here is the alternate version of "Nymphetamine" (Overdose), which features the band’s longtime backing singer Sarah Jezebel. I actually found I liked it better than the album version. If every band would include bonus discs this damn good, we'd all be a lot better off.

Take a moment and forget about labels, gimmicks and anything else that may hinder your opinion about Cradle of Filth. They are one thing for sure and that is metal. Period.