More people have left CRADLE OF FILTH than the vast majority of bands, metal or otherwise. The latest in this long list of ex-CRADLE members is the bands founding guitarist, Paul Allender, who exited the band for the second time in April, after just over 15 years in the band, a period which saw the band produce some of their most brilliant and lauded over works. Instead of slipping into the ether, however, he has formed a band, WHITE EMPRESS, and proceeded to produce a self-titled EP as their debut record. It is clear that it is heavily influenced by CRADLE's work, featuring some of the trademark guitar sounds and prominent symphonic keyboards. However, it is far more fresh and interesting than the last CRADLE OF FILTH album, the abysmally generic and average "The Manticore and Other Horrors", and it certainly is likely to win over many of hardcore CRADLE fans, myself included. Moreover, it features far more to it than CRADLE OF FILTH-esque songs in its arsenal. The band features former members and session musicians from such well known acts as COAL CHAMBER, LUNA MORTIS and DAMNATION ANGELS. As a result, the music on this album is very eclectic, and is likely to appeal to fans of most forms of Heavy Metal.

All four of the tracks on this EP are great. It bursts into life with the epic and grandiose sounding "Erased and Rewritten", a tune which is essentially Industrial Metal with a symphonic edge. The track "Obsession with the Empress" is interesting, as it couples much of Allender's trademark guitar licks with an element of trance, and doesn't alienate the listener like many lesser metal bands who have tried and failed to mix Electronic music and Extreme Metal. It also harkens back to CRADLE's heyday, bearing some similarities to their music around the time of "Midian". The song "Exile (The Empress Returns)" serves as the single for this EP, and is suitably catchy and anthemic. If there is any way that I think this band could improve on, it is that they need to step away from the obvious influence that CRADLE OF FILTH have had on the song writing.

If you like CRADLE OF FILTH, in particular the "Cruelty and the Beast/ Midian/ Damnation and a Day" era, then by all means check these guys out. But they have far more facets to them than the classic CRADLE OF FILTH sound which hopefully they will explore and progress on.