CATHEDRAL
"Endtyme"
(Earache)
"The VIIth Coming" (Spitfire)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Having never really delved into the doom metal, I didn't know what to expect when first listening to Cathedral's "The VIIth Coming." I guess I thought I'd hear some kind of slow, dark sound with moaning, demonic vocals and music that was so far down-tuned it sounded more like noise from the bowels of hell than rock'n'roll.
I was in for a pleasant surprise. Oh, Cathedral's down-tuned, all right, but the band plays a unique kind of rock'n'roll that always leaves you guessing. You never know which direction they're going to go next. And, though the songs do plod along at times, there are other songs where raving lead guitar riffs shred through the dark undergrowth of sound and burn their way to the top. The vocals are never undecipherable growls but surprisingly clear and effective. And, although some songs were heavy and, yes, "doomy," others were surprisingly spry, such as "Nocturnal Fist," which rocked with a pretty fast tempo. Speaking of tempos, virtually every song is different in that department, giving the CD a very full, very rich, very varied sound.
Cathedral have just jumped to the top of my list of bands to find out more of. "The VIIth Coming" has won me over, and now the search for previous releases begins!
For more information, check out http://www.cathedralcoven.com.
Reviewed by Christopher J. Kelter
For whatever reason, Cathedral still remain largely unknown to fans
outside of the doom genre. Three years after well-received "Caravan Beyond Redemption" comes Cathedral's
"Endtyme." "Endtyme" continues the Black Sabbath-styled journey into a world where
doom isn't just a genre tag, it is a creed to live by.
The songs on "Endtyme" trudge along in their doom-laden style as though a stake had been driven
through their musical heart. However, the material is still faster (relatively speaking) than previous
Cathedral efforts. It's hard to believe that vocalist Lee Dorrian actually spent
time in the earliest version of Napalm Death, but his vocals with Cathedral are still gruff yet is taking its doom-laden
style to new heights.
The sorrowful patience and deliberate pacing of "Endtyme" is a wonder to behold. Cathedral's
music is no longer purely steeped in the Black Sabbath tradition, but has enveloped a sound that
saturates the magical doom-ness that they are perfecting one CD at a time.
Aural highlights are aplenty on "Endtyme". My favorite track is "Alchemist Of Sorrows" which ups the ante in terms of the pacing and actually has an Ozzy-like vocal melody. The chanting and static at the end of "Whores To Oblivion" is disorienting and you will be convinced your speakers are disintegrating to mere dust. The melancholy "Astral Queen" recalls Black Sabbath's "Spirit Caravan" while the disc ending "Templar's Arise!" is drenched in molten lead serving as the perfect conclusion.
Fans of doom can't go wrong with "Endtyme." Fans of any heavy music
genre would be wise to consider adding Cathedral to their collection.
"Endtyme" was produced by Billy Anderson.
Cathedral is Lee Dorrian on vocals, Gary Jennings on guitar, Leo Smee on bass, and Brian Dixon on drums.
For more information visit http://www.earache.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the
cover makes you wanna hurl.
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