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Rating: Lee Dorrian: synonymous with quality and consistency. First his adventure with Napalm Death and then with Cathedral elevated him to a cult figure in the global metal scene, particularly the Anglo-Saxon one.
In both bands, he left a significant mark, so much so that some consider him one of the early inventors of grindcore with Napalm Death, while others recognize him for an important contribution to expanding the doom genre with Cathedral. Personally, I've always preferred the doom side of Dorrian, who with albums like "Forest of Equilibrium," "The Ethereal Mirror," and "The Carnival Bizarre" has defined significant contours of the slower and more monolithic branch of metal.
Yet, the career of the English band is not devoid of works that haven't convinced: "Supernatural Birth Machine," the album preceding "Caravan Beyond Redemption," didn't particularly impress, which is why the comeback of Dorrian and company was awaited with a certain dose of curiosity. When on December 6, 1998, CBR came to light, the long shadows of the previous chapter were immediately swept away, thanks to the power and authenticity of the fifth studio album by Cathedral.
What stands out from the outset is the departure from the pressing doom of their beginnings, in favor of a more heavy metal oriented approach with notable stoner rock nuances, primarily due to Gaz Jennings’ guitar. These "new" nuances are already perceived in the metallic swirl of the opener "Voodoo Fire," which references the unmistakable Kyuss as a nod to a raw but absolutely impactful stoner rock. The subsequent track "The Unnatural World" also hits the mark fully with a compact and absolutely perfect sound structure on which stands a anthemic chorus that wonderfully fits the album's atmosphere, never too heavy as in the past, but at the same time never in search of easy catchy solutions. Cathedral hit hard and do so with a reason, as demonstrated by "Satanikus Robotikus" and "Captain Clegg," the latter with a compelling and at times irreverent rhythm.
It is indisputable that previous works possessed something more in terms of quality, but "Caravan Beyond Redemption" still manages to hold its own, despite partially diverging from the band's origins. The presence of songs like "Kaleidoscope of Desire" and "The Omega Man" demonstrate that the will to change also brings the possibility of making mistakes, which is why this album doesn't reach the heights of other Cathedral works. In the end, however, we are faced with a varied record, delivering decent punches to the gut and solutions that are never boring: some tracks are superior to others, but overall "Caravan Beyond Redemption" turns out to be a great album, with an important length. A platter that can very well stand in the long history of Cathedral.
1. "Voodoo Fire" (6:11)
2. "The Unnatural World" (4:04)
3. "Satanikus Robotikus" (5:01)
4. "Freedom" (5:05)
5. "Captain Clegg" (6:06)
6. "Earth Messiah" (5:17)
7. "The Caravan" (3:00)
8. "Revolution" (7:08)
9. "Kaleidoscope Of Desire" (4:45)
10. "Heavy Load" (6:08)
11. "The Omega Man" (5:58)
12. "Dust Of Paradise" (14:03)
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Voodoo Fire (06:11)
Magic lady of the Snake Cult stands, high on the Voodoo Mountain
Society does the Congo Dance, to the Serpent Queen's chanting
Baby - Feel the demons burning
Hypnotized Hostile World. To her presence is falling!
Flame on - Soul Possession and Sacrifice
Voodoo Fire's setting your world alight
Voodoo Fire
As far as away as Jupiter and way beyond its 13 Moons
Solar System of Lucifer in a ritual of Cosmic Doom
Baby - Papa Nebo is calling
Zombie rise to the voodoo cries. From your mortal tomb awaken
Flame on - Soul Possession and Sacrifice
Voodoo Fire's setting your world alight - all right
Cultes Des Mortes - Resurrect him
Raise the King of the Dead
Baron Samedi - A Serpent Orgy
Welcomes you - King of the Dead!
Jungle Magic is spreading fast in a global manifestation
Necromantic system bows to a black mass of invocation
Tell me - The secrets of the future
To stop the flames of this burning world, resurrect our dead creator
Voodoo Fire
03 Satanikus Robotikus (05:01)
Supergod of Evil - Casting his spell on the Earth
Beware of clockwork devils spreading the word
Don't let them robots fool you - About their man in the sky
Cos in their quest to rule our world, we are witches at the trial
Seek!
Destroy!
Kill!
God's Satanik Robots - Control your brainwashed mind
They're selling you eternal life through a T.V. Screen
Their Crucifix is a Dollar Sign in disguise
They're sending you to the Heavens - But first you pay for the flight
You live beneath a Pentagram- Send your cash to The Lord of the Flies
Seek!
Destroy!
Kill!
God's Satanik Robots - Control your brainwashed mind
Wars of Science Fiction - Now become reality
As Ultraman versus Robochrist our time is nigh
So use your Robot Detector - shoot right through their disguise Deactivate
their master plan, we gotta see those tyrants die
04 Freedom (05:05)
Listen while I tell ya - Each and Everyone
About the state our planet's in and what should be done
Wheels of Freedom turning backwards on themselves
Liberty is burning - in this Hell, this Cosmic Cell
Freedom for the people - Humanity and all Mankind
Liberate your Soul and Mind - It's waiting for you all to find
But getting it together is what I'm talking about
Ain't got time to argue - Just time to turn it out
Look into the future - Just tell me what you see
If we don't love each other - There'll be no harmony
Freedom for the people - Humanity and all Mankind
Liberate your Soul and Mind - It's waiting for you all to find
Free wheel keep turning - Open up your mind
Star-spangled stairway - That you're waiting to climb
It's just a bummer - they're fascist rules
Police and Politicians - Pushing on you
Father of Creation - Master of this Tomb
Universal Messiah - Motherfucking King of Doom
We don't ask forgiveness - For our sins against you Lord
We want retribution - For the Twisted ways you've taught
12 Dust of Paradise (14:03)
Walking away behind the mirror of nighttime.
I'm coming home.
Sailing to you aboard a ship of phantoms.
Am I the only one?
Is this a dream, is it a nightmare?
What can I do?
Slipping away, I'm falling from this lifeline,
I'm coming home to you.
Back from Hell again
I can take you there....
I've fought with an ancient beast that lived inside me
I'm coming home
A casket of stars surrounds this blackened and lost soul
Am I the only one?
Again and Again, Yeah one more last time
I'm coming home
Walking into a golden mirror of sunshine
I'm coming home to you
Farewell last sunrise
You can take me
Where the solemn angel rides
Through the Dust of Paradise
Walk with me through the Dust of Paradise - My friend
See my world, Where the Ghosts of life are sent again
Release your soul from this mortal coil of life - My friend
See yourself in the Mirror of Beginning again........
The End ?!?!?
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