Cathedral (band)

Cathedral were a British doom metal band from Coventry, England.<ref name="MusicMight">Template:Cite web</ref> The group gained attention upon release of its debut album, Forest of Equilibrium (1991), which is considered a classic of the genre.<ref>"True Doom," 2006, p. 52.</ref> 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 in 2013.

History

Early history (1989–1991)

In July 1989, Lee Dorrian left Napalm Death because he was reportedly tiring of the punk scene and did not like the death metal direction which Napalm Death was taking.<ref name="Quietus GG interview">Template:Cite web</ref> Cathedral was formed after Lee Dorrian and Mark Griffiths (a Carcass roadie) met and discussed their love for bands like Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Pentagram, Trouble, and Witchfinder General. The band was founded in 1989 by Dorrian, Griffiths and Garry Jennings (formerly of thrash metal band Acid Reign).<ref name="MusicMight"/> 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. According to Dorrian, only Winter or Autopsy were doing something similar, sound-wise, at the time.<ref name="Quietus 2">Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="Decibel tour">Template:Cite web</ref> Cathedral's experience on Columbia was described by Dorrian as "surreal".<ref name=noisecreep /> As Dorrian explained,

Cathedral toured the US with Carcass, Napalm Death and Brutal Truth on the Campaign for Musical Destruction tour in 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="allmusic tem">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="allmusic endtyme">Template:Cite web</ref>

Switching labels (2002–2010)

File:LeeDorrian.jpg

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 for their final three albums. These albums included the "inspired" and "quirky" but "uneven" The Garden of Unearthly Delights,<ref name="allmusic tgoud">Template:Cite web</ref> the double-disc The Guessing Game, which was touted as the "most psychedelic, progressive material in the band's entire catalog"<ref name="allmusic tgg">Template:Cite web</ref> and the "true doom" of the band's farewell album, The Last Spire.<ref name="sts tls">Template:Cite web</ref>

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,<ref name="Quietus GG interview" /> on 6 February 2011, Cathedral announced that they would disband after the release of The Last Spire<ref name="quietus end">Template:Cite web</ref> 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!"<ref name=disband>Template:Cite web</ref> Cathedral played their last show in Perth, Western Australia during the Soundwave 2012 tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Shortly before the release of The Last Spire, Dorrian told Noisecreep that there would never be a Cathedral reunion, and called that idea "absolutely stupid."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Guitarist Gaz Jennings added that chances of a Cathedral reunion were "very, very slim", and that he "just can't see" it happening in the future. He also stated that Dorrian has "moved on" and did not want to be involved in a reunion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Three out of four of the final members of Cathedral reformed the band Septic Tank after Cathedral's break up.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="Allmusic Soul Sacrifice">Template:Cite web</ref> 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".<ref name="Allmusic Ethereal Mirror">Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="Terrorizer Discography">Template:Cite web</ref> 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 – guitars (1989–2013), bass (1993–1994), keyboards (1994–1996)
• Brian Dixon – drums (1994–2013)
• Scott Carlson – bass (2011–2013)

Former members

• Andy Baker – drums (1989)<ref name="Adam Lehan – Cathedral Early Years">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Adam Lehan – guitars (1989–1994)
• Mark Griffiths – bass (1989–1993), guitars (1989)<ref name="Adam Lehan – Cathedral Early Years" />
• Ben Mochrie – drums (1989–1991)
• Mike Smail – drums (1991–1992)
• Mark Ramsey Wharton – drums, flute (1992–1994), keyboards (1992)
• Leo Smee – bass, keyboards, flute (1994–2011)

Live musicians

• Victor Griffin – guitars (1994)
• Joe Hasselvander – drums (1994)
• Barry Stern – drums (1994–1995)
• Dave Hornyak – drums (1995)
• Max Edwards – bass (2003–2004)

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:24 PlotArea = left:90 bottom:60 top:0 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1989 till:04/30/2013 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1989 ScaleMinor = increment:2 start:1990

Colors =

 id:Vocals   value:red    legend:Vocals
 id:Guitar   value:green  legend:Guitars
 id:Bass     value:blue   legend:Bass
 id:Drums    value:orange legend:Drums
 id:Keyboard value:purple legend:Keyboards
 id:Studio   value:black  legend:Studio_albums

LineData =

 layer:back color:Studio
 at:12/06/1991
 at:02/01/1993
 at:10/03/1995
 at:11/12/1996
 at:12/06/1998
 at:01/15/2001
 at:11/02/2002
 at:09/26/2005
 at:03/26/2010
 at:04/29/2013

BarData =

 bar:Lee   text:"Lee Dorian"
 bar:Garry text:"Garry Jennings"
 bar:Adam  text:"Adam Lehan"
 bar:Mark1 text:"Mark Griffiths"
 bar:Leo   text:"Leo Smee"
 bar:Scott text:"Scott Carlson"
 bar:Andy  text:"Andy Baker"
 bar:Ben   text:"Ben Mochrie"
 bar:Mike  text:"Mike Smail"
 bar:Mark2 text:"Mark Wharton
 bar:Brian text:"Brian Dixon"

PlotData=

 width:12 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Lee     from:01/01/1989 till:end        color:Vocals
 bar:Garry   from:01/01/1989 till:end color:Guitar
 bar:Garry   from:01/10/1993 till:07/01/1994 color:Bass width:3
 bar:Garry   from:07/01/1994 till:12/01/1996 color:Keyboard width:3
 bar:Mark1   from:01/01/1989 till:01/10/1993 color:Bass
 bar:Mark1   from:01/01/1989 till:06/01/1989 color:Guitar   width:3
 bar:Adam    from:06/01/1989 till:07/01/1994 color:Guitar
 bar:Leo     from:07/01/1994 till:03/01/2011 color:Bass
 bar:Scott   from:03/01/2011 till:end        color:Bass
 bar:Andy    from:01/01/1989 till:06/01/1989 color:Drums
 bar:Ben     from:06/01/1989 till:02/01/1991 color:Drums
 bar:Mike    from:02/01/1991 till:03/01/1992 color:Drums
 bar:Mark2   from:03/01/1992 till:07/01/1994 color:Drums
 bar:Mark2   from:03/01/1992 till:07/01/1994 color:Keyboard width:3
 bar:Brian   from:07/01/1994 till:end        color:Drums

</timeline>

Discography

• Forest of Equilibrium (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 (2013)

Bibliography

• "Doom Top Tens: The Depths of Doom" (2006). Terrorizer, 144, 52–53.

External links

• Template:Allmusic
• Cathedral discography on Last.fm