Cathedral were a
doom metal band from
Coventry
Coventry ( or ) is a city in the West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its city status until the Middle Ages. The city is governed ...
, England.
The group gained attention upon release of its debut album, ''
Forest of Equilibrium
''Forest of Equilibrium'' is the debut album of the British doom metal band Cathedral, released in 1991 on Earache Records. It is considered a classic of its genre, doom metal. ''Forest of Equilibrium'' was notably inducted into Decibel magazine ...
'' (1991), which is considered a classic of the genre. However, the band's sound evolved quickly and began to adopt characteristics of 1970s metal,
hard rock and
progressive rock. After releasing ten full-length albums and touring extensively for over two decades, Cathedral broke up after the release of ''
The Last Spire
''The Last Spire'' is the tenth and final studio album by the British doom metal band Cathedral. Intended by the band as their farewell album, it was released in April 2013 on Rise Above Records and Metal Blade Records. The album was praised f ...
'' in 2013.
History
Early history (1989–1991)
In 1989,
Lee Dorrian left
Napalm Death because he was reportedly tiring of the
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
scene and did not like the
death metal direction which Napalm Death was taking.
Cathedral was formed after Lee Dorrian and Mark Griffiths (a
Carcass
Carcass or Carcase (both pronounced ) may refer to:
* Dressed carcass, the body of a livestock animal ready for butchery, after removal of skin, visceral organs, head, feet etc.
*Carrion, the decaying dead body of an animal or human being
*The s ...
roadie) met and discussed their love for bands like
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. The band helped define ...
,
Candlemass,
Pentagram
A pentagram (sometimes known as a pentalpha, pentangle, or star pentagon) is a regular five-pointed star polygon, formed from the diagonal line segments of a convex (or simple, or non-self-intersecting) regular pentagon. Drawing a circle aroun ...
,
Trouble
Trouble may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Trouble'' (1922 film), an American silent comedy-drama film directed by Albert Austin
* ''Trouble'' (1933 film), a British comedy film
* ''Trouble'' (1977 film), a Soviet drama film
* ''Trouble'' ...
, and
Witchfinder General. The band was founded in 1989 by Dorrian, Griffiths and
Garry Jennings
Garry "Gaz" Jennings is an English musician best known for his work as the guitarist for doom metal band Cathedral. In addition, he has also worked as the guitarist of thrash metal band Acid Reign, punk rock band Septic Tank and heavy metal b ...
(formerly of
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
band
Acid Reign
Acid Reign are an English thrash metal band, originally active from 1985 to 1991. The band rebooted in 2015 with just H remaining from the original line up. Along with Onslaught, Sabbat and Xentrix, Acid Reign are considered to be one of the ...
).
Dorrian was the only founding member to remain with Cathedral for its duration, although Jennings' departure ultimately proved to be temporary. Cathedral released ''The Forest of Equilibrium'' through
Earache
Ear pain, also known as earache or otalgia, is pain in the ear. Primary ear pain is pain that originates from the ear. Secondary ear pain is a type of referred pain, meaning that the source of the pain differs from the location where the pain is ...
. According to Dorrian, only
Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in polar and temperate climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Different cultures ...
or
Autopsy
An autopsy (post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death or to evaluate any dis ...
were doing something similar, sound-wise, at the time.
The Columbia years (1992–1994)
After the release of the ''Soul Sacrifice''
EP, Cathedral signed with
Columbia Records. That enabled the successful two-month ''Campaign for Musical Destruction Tour'' in the United States.
Cathedral's experience on Columbia was described by Dorrian as "surreal".
As Dorrian explained,
Cathedral's major label debut, ''The Ethereal Mirror'', was noted by Jason Birchmeier of
Allmusic for its experimentation, upbeat tempos, and groove-laden guitar riffs.
After releasing ''The Ethereal Mirror'' in 1993, Cathedral was dropped by Columbia the following year.
Back to Earache (1995–2001)
The band resumed its relationship with Earache Records, which lasted until 2001. During this time, Cathedral released four full-length albums that continued to explore faster rhythms and 1970s-hard rock-influenced guitar riffs before returning to a relatively slow cadence for ''
Endtyme'' in 2001.
Switching labels (2002–2010)
Lead vocalist Lee Dorrian performing in 2010
Cathedral signed with
Spitfire Records and released ''
The VIIth Coming''. After releasing a single album on Spitfire, Cathedral signed to
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is a record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label move ...
for their final three albums. These albums included the "inspired" and "quirky" but "uneven" ''
The Garden of Unearthly Delights'',
the double-disc ''
The Guessing Game'', which was touted as the "most psychedelic, progressive material in the band's entire catalog"
and the "true doom" of the band's farewell album, ''
The Last Spire
''The Last Spire'' is the tenth and final studio album by the British doom metal band Cathedral. Intended by the band as their farewell album, it was released in April 2013 on Rise Above Records and Metal Blade Records. The album was praised f ...
''.
''The Last Spire'' and split (2011–present)
While Cathedral had contemplated disbanding in the past, most recently after the release of ''The Garden of Unearthly Delights'' in 2006,
on 6 February 2011, Cathedral announced that they would disband after the release of ''The Last Spire''
in April 2013. Dorrian explained that "It's simply time for us to bow out. Twenty one years is a very long time and it's almost a miracle that we managed to come this far!"
Cathedral played their last show in
Perth, Western Australia during the
Soundwave 2012 tour.
Shortly before the release of ''The Last Spire'', Dorrian told ''
Noisecreep'' that there will never be a Cathedral reunion, and called that idea "absolutely stupid." Guitarist Gaz Jennings added that chances of a Cathedral reunion are "very, very slim", and that he "just can't see" it happening in the future. He also stated that Dorrian has "moved on" and does not want to be involved in a reunion. Three out of four of the final members of Cathedral reformed the band
Septic Tank
A septic tank is an underground chamber made of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic through which domestic wastewater ( sewage) flows for basic sewage treatment. Settling and anaerobic digestion processes reduce solids and organics, but the treatm ...
after Cathedral's break up.
When asked in July 2020 by ''
Decibel'' magazine about the possibility of a Cathedral reunion, Dorrian said: "To just reform and cash in on the lucrative offers we've been getting ever since we broke up would feel a bit like we're just doing it for the cash, which is never what it was about in the first place. Never say never, I guess, but it's very doubtful. We ended it for a reason."
Musical style
Cathedral's releases have been marked by sharp shifts in style. While ''Forest of Equilibrium'' was firmly entrenched in a slow, heavy doom sound, elements of 1970s metal and groovier riffs entered its sound beginning with the ''Soul Sacrifice'' EP.
By the time that ''
The Ethereal Mirror'' was released, the band had incorporated references to 1970s music, such as the disco influences heard on "Midnight Mountain".
As Dorrian explains, the band's original sound was a product of the immediate musical environment combined with the band members' influences:
Beginning with the ''Soul Sacrifice'' EP, the band began to incorporate a diverse array of 1970s influences into its sound.
With 2001's ''Endtyme'', Cathedral re-introduced the slower, doomy elements that had not been as prevalent on its previous four albums.
''The Guessing Game'' represented another development in the band's sound, with Cathedral's progressive and psychedelic influences coming to the forefront. For Dorrian, the album's direction was a result of the fact that:
Remarking on Cathedral's penchant for evolving its sound, Dorrian said:
Members
Final line-up
*
Lee Dorrian – vocals
(1989–2013)
*
Garry Jennings
Garry "Gaz" Jennings is an English musician best known for his work as the guitarist for doom metal band Cathedral. In addition, he has also worked as the guitarist of thrash metal band Acid Reign, punk rock band Septic Tank and heavy metal b ...
– guitars
(1989–2013), bass
(1993–1994), keyboards
(1994–1996)
* Brian Dixon – drums
(1994–2013)
*
Scott Carlson
Scott Carlson is an American musician, who most notably worked as the lead vocalist and bassist of pioneering grindcore band Repulsion. Additionally, he was briefly the bassist and one of the vocalists of pioneering death metal band Death, as we ...
– bass
(2011–2013)
Former members
* Andy Baker – drums
(1989)
*
Adam Lehan
Adam Lehan is a British musician who has worked with doom metal bands Cathedral and Workshed, thrash metal bands Acid Reign, Deadline and Lord Crucifier and folk band Beneath the Oak.
History
Some of Lehan's uncles were members of the Grumbl ...
– guitars
(1989–1994)
* Mark Griffiths – bass
(1989–1993), guitars
(1989)
* Ben Mochrie – drums
(1989–1991)
* Mike Smail – drums
(1991–1992)
*
Mark Ramsey Wharton – drums
(1992–1994), keyboards
(1992)
* Leo Smee – bass
(1994–2011)
Live musicians
* Victor Griffin – guitars
(1994)
*
Joe Hasselvander
Joe Hasselvander (born December 30, 1956) is an American musician. He was the drummer of heavy metal band Raven from 1987 until 2017 and was a member of the influential doom metal band Pentagram.
Career
Hasselvander has been playing profession ...
– drums
(1994)
*
Barry Stern
Barry Stern (January 24, 1960April 1, 2005) was a heavy metal drummer from Chicago, Illinois.
History Zoetrope and Trouble (1976-1995)
From 1976 until 1988, he drummed for Zoetrope, for whom he also served as vocalist and songwriter. After r ...
– drums
(1994–1995)
* Dave Hornyak – drums
(1995)
* Max Edwards – bass
(2003–2004)
Timeline
Discography
* ''
Forest of Equilibrium
''Forest of Equilibrium'' is the debut album of the British doom metal band Cathedral, released in 1991 on Earache Records. It is considered a classic of its genre, doom metal. ''Forest of Equilibrium'' was notably inducted into Decibel magazine ...
'' (1991)
* ''
The Ethereal Mirror'' (1993)
* ''
The Carnival Bizarre'' (1995)
* ''
Supernatural Birth Machine'' (1996)
* ''
Caravan Beyond Redemption'' (1998)
* ''
Endtyme'' (2001)
* ''
The VIIth Coming'' (2002)
* ''
The Garden of Unearthly Delights'' (2005)
* ''
The Guessing Game'' (2010)
* ''
The Last Spire
''The Last Spire'' is the tenth and final studio album by the British doom metal band Cathedral. Intended by the band as their farewell album, it was released in April 2013 on Rise Above Records and Metal Blade Records. The album was praised f ...
'' (2013)
References
Bibliography
* "Doom Top Tens: The Depths of Doom" (2006). ''Terrorizer'', 144, 52–53.
External links
Cathedral discographyon Last.fm
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cathedral
English doom metal musical groups
English heavy metal musical groups
Musical groups from Coventry
Musical groups established in 1989
Musical groups disestablished in 2013
Earache Records artists
Musical quartets
Nuclear Blast artists