Written by [user id=4365] on 08.04.2010 at 13:21

Very nice review. Personally this is one of the best things i've heard this year, if not the best. It's amazing how they graze through so many styles and still sound professional and fun. I can't think of many bands that could pull this off, there's definitely some new and original ground being covered here to the point where it feels like I've never listened to metal before. It's not a feeling I get very often.

Groovy, proggy, folky, psyched out genius.

Written by Angelic Storm on 22.12.2010 at 11:51

Completely agreee with you. Cathedral have never been a one dimensional band, with the exception of the first album. There's always been some added spice and quirky variety on their albums. But even for them, this album is very adventurous. I love how they manage to incoporate so many influences and styles on the album, yet still hang on to enough of their signature style for it to be nothing but pure Cathedral. As for the lyrics, I love them! There's lots of charm and whimsy mixed in with Lee's social commentary, which gives it a feeling of whacked out 70's psychadelia just with a dash of realism and despair at the state of our society. (Which I also have to add I'm in complete agreement with him about)

I think the review is very good, even though I'd personally give the album a higher rating, and it is my album of the year. A totally wonderful, and captivating musical journey that I never want to end. xD

Written by [user id=4365] on 22.12.2010 at 13:22
Virtual high five! This album still blows my mind even though I first heard it at the start of the year. We shall stand against the haters of this record!

Written by Angelic Storm on 22.12.2010 at 14:09

Hehee! *virtual high fives back*

I only heard this album yesterday for the first time, although Ive been a huge Cathedral fan for a long time. I was going to listen to it around the time it first came out, but for some reason, didnt. And then it fell off my radar. Im kicking myself even more now that I didnt listen to it months ago, because it is a mindblowing album of sheer genius. To be fair, I can understand why some might not like it, as it is very far out and adventurous. But I instantly fell in love with it. <3 It might just be my fave Cathedral album, and one of the best albums Ive ever listened to. "The Running Man" is the only slightly weak track on the album, but if it was shortened, itd have been as great as the other songs. Just a little repetitive for it's length, in my opinion. Everything else though, is just awesome, and the album manages to be savage, beautiful, fun, dark, creative, and wonderfully weird all at once. Its very rare, especially these days that Id use the word "genius" to describe any album, but for this album, it seems like the only apt word for it. lol

Im definitely with you all the way on this one! xD

Written by [user id=4365] on 22.12.2010 at 14:55

Written by Angelic Storm on 22.12.2010 at 14:09

Hehee! *virtual high fives back*

I only heard this album yesterday for the first time, although Ive been a huge Cathedral fan for a long time. I was going to listen to it around the time it first came out, but for some reason, didnt. And then it fell off my radar. Im kicking myself even more now that I didnt listen to it months ago, because it is a mindblowing album of sheer genius. To be fair, I can understand why some might not like it, as it is very far out and adventurous. But I instantly fell in love with it. <3 It might just be my fave Cathedral album, and one of the best albums Ive ever listened to. "The Running Man" is the only slightly weak track on the album, but if it was shortened, itd have been as great as the other songs. Just a little repetitive for it's length, in my opinion. Everything else though, is just awesome, and the album manages to be savage, beautiful, fun, dark, creative, and wonderfully weird all at once. Its very rare, especially these days that Id use the word "genius" to describe any album, but for this album, it seems like the only apt word for it. lol

Im definitely with you all the way on this one! xD

I was starting to wonder if I was the only one who saw this record in this way but clearly I'm not. I certainly don't blame people who didn't like it, whenever a band changes sound it causes problems and if long time fans don't like the change then it makes it doubly hard to get around it. I like older Cathedral but I think their new sound is much more interesting and creative, especially seeing as their sound hasn't really evolved much in the past few albums. The sound on this record seems highly innovative to me, the way it draws upon a variety of sources as well as its own quirkyness and while a couple of the later tracks on the second disc (the one you mentioned for example) might be stretching it a little considering the length and eclectic nature of it as a whole it's really a minor dent ;]

Written by [user id=4365] on 22.12.2010 at 14:55
I was starting to wonder if I was the only one who saw this record in this way but clearly I'm not. I certainly don't blame people who didn't like it, whenever a band changes sound it causes problems and if long time fans don't like the change then it makes it doubly hard to get around it. I like older Cathedral but I think their new sound is much more interesting and creative, especially seeing as their sound hasn't really evolved much in the past few albums. The sound on this record seems highly innovative to me, the way it draws upon a variety of sources as well as its own quirkyness and while a couple of the later tracks on the second disc (the one you mentioned for example) might be stretching it a little considering the length and eclectic nature of it as a whole it's really a minor dent ;]

Written by BitterCOld on 23.12.2010 at 19:55

I don't hate it when they "jump ship" (i love Ulver's recent as much as their black metal past) - i just don't think this is particularly amazing. its "good" largely because of the eccentricities. but as i said, it's not even that "new" - the Hopkins and Cosmic Requiem EPs released 15 years ago have out there stuff on them, so that "jump ship" factor isn't particularly anything to me - i've heard it before.

Written by Angelic Storm on 23.12.2010 at 20:01

But deciding to incorporate those out there influences wholesale on a full-length album is new

Written by Angelic Storm on 23.12.2010 at 20:01


It isnt new, no. But deciding to incorporate those out there influences wholesale on a full-length album is new. I also disagree that its good because of its eccentricities. Although we're now coming down to personal tastes again... lol

Being eccentric and out there for its own sake wouldnt do anything for me at all. Id much rather have another "Ethereal Mirror", than an album with loads of eccentricities that sound out of place and dont work. Why I love the album so much, is that for all its weirdness, nothing sounds forced, or out of place. It all sounds totally natural, and the album flows wonderfully.

Written by BitterCOld on 23.12.2010 at 20:09
ultimately it does come down to tastes and this one isn't particularly mine. Cathedral was a band i discovered early in their career - shortly after "Forest", so i've always had a soft spot for them and given them a little more "benefit of the doubt" than i would other bands... but as time has gone on, they've devolved from "must buy" band the moment i see something new to one i might check out... and that is regardless as to which direction they take.

to my ears, the album is good, but nothing astonishing. different direction, but ultimately about on par with anything they've done post-Carnival Bizarre.