text: 1998–2006 During the recording of the EP From the Cradle to Enslave, the band went through several drummer changes – in early 1999, Barker left to join Dimmu Borgir; he was initially replaced by former member Was Sarginson, followed briefly by Dave Kunt (real name Dave Hirschheimer), and finally by Adrian Erlandsson in the summer. In July 1999, after the EP was recorded, Pyres left Cradle of Filth. By October, Stuart Anstis and Les Smith had also parted ways with the group; the former was reportedly sacked, while the latter left. Stuart Anstis passed away in August 2022 at the age of 48. Shortly after their departures, a new lineup was announced including returning guitarists Paul Allender and Pyres. After initially touring with Mark Newby-Robson on keyboards, the band brought in Martin Powell as Smith's permanent replacement.
  After the band released Midian in 2000, Bitter Suites to Succubi in 2001 and Live Bait for the Dead in 2002, their next lineup change came in July 2001 when long-term bassist Robin Graves left for "personal reasons". He was replaced by Dave Pybus, initially on a temporary basis but later permanently. Pyres left the group for a second time in August 2002. After the recording of Damnation and a Day, he was replaced by James McIlroy (sometimes credited as "Germs Warfare").