Customer Reviews

Serpent's Gold

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

 

 

Great collection on two loaded discs. If you haven't heard Cathedral's hard pounding, doom-like sound before, this isn't a bad place to start. If you listen and feel disappointed that their sound isn't doom-like enough for you, you probably have company. I think they get this label due in part to some of their sound but also since they've been around so long, way before some of the more classic doom bands E.G. Electric Wizard; Cathedral's vocalist can growl with the best but they tend to mix it with more straightforward singing (not a bad thing in my book).

Nonetheless, if you like the heavy rock sound at all, and don't mind it with an occasional sense of humor, you can't fail to appreciate Cathedral and their healthy output of material. If you are looking to own Cathedral's CD catalog, you would do well to seek out the Japanese releases as some of them (Caravan Beyond Redemption, Carnivale Bizarre, Supernatural Birth Machine, Endtyme) contain bonus tracks (Black Sunday, Karmacopia, Tuckers Ruck, Gargoylian) not on disc 2 of this compilation.

FYI, the Japanese edition of this CD set (TFCK-87373) does contain some extras in the form of: a sticker (repro of the cover), a postcard (in Japanese), and a Japansese insert that includes lyrics in both Japanese and English. It also has the big full-color booklet about Cathedral with explanations of the bonus material. It does not contain more tracks nor a different track listing however.

Simply indispensible collection...for those who love their Sabbath dirge with a dose of good ol' 70's groove, you cannot go wrong with this. TWO discs, over TWO hours of riffs, howls, and leads...DOOM for those who know how to be DOOMED. Lee Dorrian (vocals) just adds so much personality to the genre-check out "Magic Mountain"-a disco inferno topped off with goofy hand claps and tongue in cheek Dorrianisms' such as "OOOOOh!","Come on now!!!",and my favorites, "FEEL THE GROOOVE!!!" and "Dyn-o-mite!!!". It works, really. Simply stated, if "Hopkins (Witchfinder General)" doesn't have you banging your head with glee, horns in the air, you don't love the rock. How can Vincent Price snippets go wrong? Elsewhere you'll find the more "serious" side of Cathedral revealed;"Melancholy Emperor" drags you through the quigmire after the bass break, followed by "Equilibrium", an exercise in what it truly means to be heavy.
Disc two contains true rarities-all but one track are previously unreleased. These 12 tracks consist of demos, live tracks, outtakes...these will appeal to the purist as much as they will the neophyte-fun stuff on here. The booklet contains an enlightning interview with Dorrian concerning all things Cathedral, as well as an interview with guitarist Gaz concerning the details of disc 2.
If nothing else, this collection proves that bell-bottoms and metal can mix...not to mention the occasional cowbell...all together now-"VOODOO!!!FIRE!!!"

An amazing collection of the best Cathedral tracks that shows why this band are the masters of doom , powerfull , deligthfull , depressive , appealing , simply theres no other band on earth as heavy, groovy and poetic, like Cathedral, across the songs contained on this cd is like a travel, the amazing "ride" the explosive "Hopkins" , "enter the worms" , the beautifull "impressioned in flesh" . the second cd is a total surprise eleven unreleased tracks were songs like "violet breathe" with a very unnusual Zeppelin sound and "magic mountain"
an alternative version of "midnigth mountain" completes this great compilation of cds , hurry and get your copy here in Amazon.com you wont regret
HM

I had been "waiting" several years for this compilation. Cathedral has many great songs, though I find none of their albums (except the debut) good enough to buy on their own. Mainly because of the poor vocals and the "happy hippie" doomieness. I was always more into "Gothic" by Paradise Lost, the raw doom/death approach, awesome grunts and dark melody. This compilation however, certainly pleases; containing all the songs I wanted on it. Ebony Tears, Equilibrium, Ride, Midnight Mountain, Utopian Blaster, Hopkins and several other great tracks. Cathedral are obviously very influenced by Black Sabbath, many songs have the typical Iommi/Volume 4 sound. But this band does stand on its own. Heavily influenced by Black Sabbath, but doing something original with it, well sometimes. Disc 2 contains rare songs/demos, several of which are quite interesting as well. All in all, a recommended compilation of one of the leading doombands of the last 15 years. Buy Forest Of Equilibrium and this compilation as essential doom metal.