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It's universally agreed that the originators of the doom metal genre are Black Sabbath, but there were several bandsofthe'80s/early '90sthatkeptthe style alive (during Sabbath's "lean years"), such as Saint Vitus, Trouble,Candlemass,and,especially, the U.K.-based Cathedral.WhensingerLee Dorrian jumped ship from grindcore godfathers NapalmDeathduring thelate '80s, he sought to form a new outfit that would focusontheplodding sounds of Sabbath, rather thanthe all-out assaultof his former band. As a result, Cathedral was formed in early 1990, withalineupconsisting of Dorrian,guitaristsMarkGriffith ...read more
It's universally agreed that the originators of the doom metal genre are Black Sabbath, but there were several bandsofthe'80s/early '90sthatkeptthe style alive (during Sabbath's "lean years"), such as Saint Vitus, Trouble,Candlemass,and,especially, the U.K.-based Cathedral.WhensingerLee Dorrian jumped ship from grindcore godfathers NapalmDeathduring thelate '80s, he sought to form a new outfit that would focusontheplodding sounds of Sabbath, rather thanthe all-out assaultof his former band. As a result, Cathedral was formed in early 1990, withalineupconsisting of Dorrian,guitaristsMarkGriffiths and Gary Jennings, plus drummer Andy Baker. Almost immediately, however,thenewgroupexperiencedsomepersonnel fluctuation (a sign of things to come). Baker was replaced by Ben Mochrieafteronlyseveralrehearsals,Griffithsswitched over to the bass, and a second guitarist was added, Adam Lehan. 1991 saw the release of a self-produceddemo, InMemoriam, issued via Dorrian's own label, Rise Above Records (the album would be reissued on CD almosttenyearslater,withanexpanded track listing).
Cathedral were signed by renowned U.K. metal label Earache shortly thereafter, resulting in the release of their full-lengthdebut,ForestofEquilibrium, in 1991. With many figuring that grindcore would become the next globally preferred sub-genre ofheavy metal, U.S.majorlabelsbegan signing such outfits as Entombed, Carcass, and Napalm Death. As a resultoftheir tiesto the genre, Cathedral signed onwithColumbiaRecords, even though they displayed little resemblance musicallytotheaforementioned acts. Lineup instability failed to derailCathedral,as theydelivered arguably the finest album oftheircareer,The Ethereal Mirror, in 1993. A year later, Cathedral got to open a Europeantour fortheirheroes, BlackSabbath(albeit theTony Martin-fronted version).
By this time, Dorrian and Jennings were the only members left in attendance from their early days, but moreimportantly,thegroup wasdroppedbyColumbia after only a single album. The group has persevered nonetheless -- returningback totheEarache label, and throughout theremainderofthe '90s and early 21st century issued such strong releases as1995'sTheCarnival Bizarre, 1996's Supernatural Birth Machine,1998'sCaravanBeyond Redemption, and 2001's Endtyme.In2002Cathedral signed on with Spitfire in time for the release of their seventh full-lengthoverall, TheVIIth Coming.Thebandsigned to Nuclear Blast in 2004, and two years later released The Garden of Unearthly Delights. In2010thebandreleaseditsninth album (and first double album), The Guessing Game. Despite all of their ups and downs, Cathedralcanbecreditedwithopening the doorfor other subsequent doom bands, as countless groups (who had obviously studiedDorrianandcompany)cropped up duringthe mid- to late '90s:Orange Goblin, Electric Wizard, Spiritual Beggars, and more.
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