Customer Reviews

Kingdom of Ends

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's interesting that the previous three reviewers of this album all posted very brief 5-star reviews and then disappeared, never to be heard from again. I smell something fishy.

Anyway, Kingdom of Ends was the 1992 debut album by the progressive rock group Cathedral. This is not the doom metal band of the same name, nor is it the British prog band from the early 70's. This particular Cathedral was a DC-area band that was active in the early 90's. The band's sound is greatly influenced by Marillion and early Genesis, though I hear a fair amount of It Bites and later Yes in their sound. The band manages to avoid the self-indulgent instrumental excesses that often plague this genre (only one track on Kingdom of Ends hits the 10-minute mark), instead opting for a more ethereal and fey sound that fans of the Fish-era Marillion albums will no doubt find familiar. It's almost new-agey at times, and while that's an interesting enough approach, I can't help but wish they'd rock out a bit. A few power chords never hurt anyone, right?

Ultimately, Kingdom of Ends is a solid enough progressive rock album, but Cathedral really isn't offering up anything we haven't heard before. The truth is, if I'm in the mood for this kind of music I'm far more likely to take Misplaced Childhood (Marillion) or Once Around the World (It Bites) off the shelf.

Hello Cleveland! If all of the progressive rock bands were to be put into a vat and stirred around a bit, this band would rise to the top above the foamy mucky muck and say "Lookie here". I'm convinced.

This is what progressive rock is all about. Every song on "Kingdom Of Ends" is atmospheric and engaging. The song "Ten Generation Smile" takes the listener on a lyrical trip. Please don't believe me or listen to a word I'm saying. Check it out!

I've done better keyboards in my sleep. The rest of the band is bloody excellent. Jon Anderson would be a fool not to work with the remaining band members of Cathedral.