CATHEDRAL — Cosmic Requiem (review)

EP · 1994 · Stoner Metal

4/5 · 2024-09-29
UMUR

"Cosmic Requiem" is an EP release by UK doom metal act Cathedral. The EP was released through Columbia Records in August 1994. It bridges the gap between the band´s second and third full-length studio albums "The Ethereal Mirror (1993)" and "The Carnival Bizarre (1995)". "Cosmic Requiem" is actually a re-release of the "Statik Majik" EP from April 1994 featuring a slightly different tracklist. It features the 3 tracks from the vinyl version of "Statik Majik", but replaces the "Statik Majik" CD bonus track "Midnight Mountain" with "A Funeral Request - Rebirth". "A Funeral Request - Rebirth" was originally feautured as a bonus track on the Japanese version of "The Ethereal Mirror (1993)" (and on some reissues of the album). The first studio version of the track, which was originally titled "A Funeral Request (Ethereal Architect)" is however found on the band´s debut full-length studio album "Forest of Equilibrium (1991)". Needless to say that if you already own "Statik Majik" you´d best consider twice if "A Funeral Request - Rebirth" is enough value for you to purchase "Cosmic Requiem" too. Given the choice I´d recommend a purchase of "Cosmic Requiem" over "Statik Majik" though, as "Midnight Mountain" already appears on "The Ethereal Mirror (1993)".

While "Cosmic Requiem" is an EP release and only features 4 tracks, it´s actually an album length release with a total playing time of 43:00 minutes. The long playing time is in large part due to the 22:42 minutes long "The Voyage of the Homeless Sapien", which was by far the longest and most progressive structured track in the band´s discography at that point. It wasn´t until 2005 that the band released an even longer track in "The Garden" (26:58 minutes long) from "The Garden of Unearthly Delights".

Stylistically the material on "Statik Majik" is doom metal with strong psychadelic stoner doom leanings. Anyone familiar with the sound of the material on "The Ethereal Mirror (1993)" won´t be surprised by the overall musical direction on "Cosmic Requiem", although Cathedral definitely pushes the boundaries of thier sound to the maximum on this release. While "Statik Majik" and "Cosmic Requiem" share 3 tracks, the tracklist order is not the same on the two releases. "Cosmic Funeral" which was placed as track number 3 (the CD version of that release) is placed as track number 1 on the latter. "Cosmic Funeral" opens as a slow and doomy track and then changes into a darkly psychedelic stoner doom track featuring eerie synths and heavy riffs, and Lee Dorrian performing weird vocals and lyrics. "Hypnos 164" follows and is one part twisted and dark doom metal and one part psychedelic and oddball stoner doom, with Dorrian performing even more weird and freakish vocals and lyrics.

Track number 3 is "A Funeral Request - Rebirth". The original version from "Forest of Equilibrium (1991)" is a slow, dark, and relatively groove laden doom metal track, while this version is a little more upbeat and the grooves are more in focus. Dorrian sings in a higher register than on the original and it´s a reinterpretation of the track, which overall is quite different from the original. I much prefer the original version, but this version is worth a listen too.

Although all mentioned tracks are high quality material, it´s the 22:42 minutes long "The Voyage of the Homeless Sapien" which is the real attraction here. A strongly psychedelic flavored and progressive structured stoner/doom metal track, featuring many different sections, atmospheres, and textures. If you hadn´t noticed before (and you should have), it shows in abundance how adventurous Cathedral are.

"Cosmic Requiem" features a dark and heavy sounding production job, and the organic and raw sound suits the material well. You can hear all details in the mix, but it´s still heavy and dark sounding enough to satisfy a doom metal fan. Upon conclusion it´s one the most different and unique sounding releases in the band´s discography (in close competition with the "Hopkins (The Witchfinder General)" EP from 1996), and it´s through and through a high quality release fully deserving a 4 star (80%) rating.