CATHEDRAL — The Ethereal Mirror (review)

CATHEDRAL — The Ethereal Mirror album cover Album · 1993 · Stoner Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
Unitron
This album completely changed my definitions of what doom metal could be (to the point of not even knowing if this is doom at all, but who cares). Doom metal is usually all about sounding dark, lethargic, and/or depressed right? Cathedral said 'fuck it', here's a bit of ominousness, but lets have some fuckin' fun.

Never have I heard another band come from the genre with this much exuberance, energy, personality, infectious hooks up the ass, grooves, and a special goofy charm that only Lee Dorian can pull off. Listening to the singles of Ride and Midnight Mountain make me wonder how the hell these guys didn't make it big. The riffs are massive, and the songwriting is honed to create the perfect metallic bop. Even songs like Enter the Worms, Fountain of Innocence, and Grim Luxuria balance out lumbering doom with huge grooves that bring a party.

Frontman Lee Dorian really commands the stage, he sounds like a party animal who doesn't know when to quit. His vocal style is so unique, with this weird and charismatic tone that brings light to every song no matter how dark the guitar riffs sound. Even when he's not 'OH YEEEAAAAH' and 'GROOVIN' ALL NIGHT', he's singing the chorus of Grim Luxuria the same way. It's absolutely fantastic.

Rather than filing this with Candlemass and Saint Vitus, this is probably better thrown together with grunge and groove metal (At least that's what I typically pair it with).
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Tupan wrote:
more than 2 years ago
There's no other band as Cathedral. Menacing and fun at the same time, like you said in your review.
Vim Fuego wrote:
more than 2 years ago
The first two albums basically set the blueprint for the rest of Cathedral's career. Every album after them is varying mixtures of Forest of Equilibrium and The Ethereal Mirror.
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I actually mostly find the first two albums great, and the rest a bit more meh..., but that´s my subjective view :-)
Unitron wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I like the debut too, but it lacks the groove and hooks that I love Cathedral for. For me, the 1992-1995 era of the band was the best.
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I agree...it´s an absolutely brilliant album. My personal favorite is still the debut album, but this one is a close second...

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