CATHEDRAL „The Garden Of Unearthly Delights”

Music: Doom/Groove
Country: UK
Website: http://www.cathedral.rockers.co.uk
Duration: 70


Cool Songs: Tree Of Life & Death, North Berwick Witch Trials, Corpsecycle, Oro, The Manslayer, The Garden

The further Lee Dorrian and Cathedral take their career, the more they turn into mid period Celtic Frost. Cathedral might be everyone’s favourite UK Doom Metal act, but ever since 2002’s ‘VIIth Coming’ the Tom G.Warrior flavour has been a rather notable part of their work. Of course, this may not be the case 100% of the time; Cathedral are way too varied in their ideas to stick to one style – something that this new disc with fabulous ease – still, Gaz Jennings and Lee Dorian know a good ‘Frost’ riff when they hear one and the homage they unleashed on ‘VIIth Coming’ continues unabated on full length number eight.

Three years on since the straight forward, but nonetheless excellent ‘7th Coming’ the initial impact of ‘The Garden of Unearthly Delights’ is the aesthetics. Having used a couple of different cover artists for their past two albums, Cathedral have once again returned to the work of Dave Patchett. Immediately recognisable, the cover art is also a hint to the ‘delights’ within. Whilst not a ‘retro’ album per se, it is clear that ‘The Garden…’ has much more to do with the likes of ‘Carnival Bizarre’ and ‘Ethereal Mirror’ than the slower paced Endtyme’ or ‘Forest of Equilibrium’. In this sense, there is that quirky stoner rock, psychedelic doom ethic that so enamoured those middle period efforts.

I wasn’t at all disappointed in ‘VIIth Coming’, it still had that unique edge and unmistakable character about it – lots of energy and varied tempos, yet on reflection, it was a decidedly more accessible, straightforward and measured affair. ‘The Garden…’ finds Lee Dorrian’s rediscovering a crazy, bizarre unrestrained song writing style that results in not only their most varied album yet, but also one of the most energetic, heavy groove oriented releases of their career. There’s not a whole lot of ‘doom’ (as a definition) on this new disc. For the most part, Gaz Jennings peels of mountains of thick, deep riffage and leads that work in glorious syncopated unison with the throbbing mid to up tempo backing rhythm (Leo Smee – bass fuzz and Brian Dixon – drums). The slower moments are more of a freaky, psychedelic orientation than anything that represents pure glacier paced doom. The combination is superbly executed too – here’s an album that’s 70 minutes long, has a monolithic 27 minute epic as its final moment and those acutely left of centre Lee Dorrian vocal histrionics – yet it remains highly involving throughout, further highlighting the wealth of song writing ideas that it employs. There was a time around ‘Supernatural Birth Machine’ and ‘Caravan Beyond Redemption’ where Dorrian’s song writing suffered a severe case of writers block. Some Ten years on from them, he has been able to reignite, rediscover his talent and deliver one of their finest releases ever.

Produced by Warren Ryker (Down, Crowbar) ‘The Garden..’ sounds fantastic – a great 70’s spirit infuses the whole thing, Jennings riffs get the full heavy ‘Celtic Frost’ groove treatment and Dorrian himself commits another masterful performance on the mike. Sure, he’s not universally loved as a vocalist, but those who do appreciate his ‘individual’ style will be well pleased with his efforts on this. I’m also stoked in the fact that he’s still singing about Burning witches and other dark worldly topics. As for what to make of the 27 minute epic ‘The Garden’ you’ll just have to hear it for yourself – its metal & doom meets 70’s prog with strange, bizarre down time segments that could prove quite hallucinogenic under the right chemically induced condition. Bottom line: Cathedral sound remarkably fresh on this newie and whilst this doesn’t ask much of the listener in accepting any radical stylistic changes, ‘The Garden of Unearthly Delights’ rocks hard. You like Cathedral, I can’t see any reason why you’d be disappointed in this one.

note: 8.5

Tracklist

Dearth AD
Tree Of Life & Death
North Berwick Witch Trials
Upon Azrael’s Wings
Corpsecycle
Fields Of Zagara
Oro, The Manslayer
Beneath A Funereal Sun
The Garden
Proga – Europa

Line-up

Lee Dorian – Vocals
Garry Jennings – Guitars
Leo Smee – Bass
Brian Dixon – Drums