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Rating: In 1991, Cathedral debuted with "Forest of Equilibrium," the quintessential doom metal album, one of the heaviest and most oppressive works humanity has ever produced. Exasperating tempos, guitars like boulders upon us, and a cavernous voice at the limits of existential exhaustion. The cheeks of Lee Dorrian, weak and desolate, on the white marble cross.
Continuing down this path would have been unsustainable, both for those playing and for those listening. And so in 1993, the group decided to give themselves a shake, as it is proper when one has reached a limit and understands that continuing to skirt that limit would become a slow drift into sterile mannerism. A necessary step, artistically inevitable, which on one hand, as always happens, loses the undeniable charm that the extreme brings with it, but on the other gives us a band in dazzling form, gleaming with renewed compositional freshness, and which courageously decides to cross the dark boundaries of doom and open towards new musical horizons.
And even if the cauldron from which the band decides to draw is still rigorously seventies, in this "The Ethereal Mirror" they don't just celebrate the overwhelming feats of Iommi and company (an indispensable point of reference). In "The Ethereal Mirror," we can encounter acidic sounds, psychedelic visions, progressive moments (considering the unpredictable evolutions of certain compositions), all elements that marry enchantingly with the crusher riffs of Garry Jennings and the hallucinating scenarios illustrated by the dark singer Dorrian. With elephantine steps, Cathedral thus venture into the colorful world of psychedelia, losing a bit of their peculiar heaviness but remaining widely lethal to our neurons, as if the mountain that had crushed us until a moment ago had now melted and flooded us with vibrant fluorescent jam. As if the dark mammoth of old was now being repainted anew by jolly hippies in the grip of lysergic visions.
The liquid notes of "Violet Vortex" open up to the new dimension of the Cathedral, but immediately reverend Jennings, like a dubious pied piper, blesses us with a majestic riff, an irresistible call for us doom-addicted rats. But it's just the beginning: it's the opener "Ride" that puts everyone in line, assaulting us with that "vam va vam va vam va vam" which will become the signature riff of the band's future production, increasingly oriented towards a granitic rock carnival. A crazy circus of freaks and assorted monstrosities, the world of Cathedral, where the guitars thrash and Dorrian's rasping voice, completely at ease in his new guise as a gritty seventies bad boy (oyeahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!), scratches with energy, yet without losing the theatrical and visionary air, that taste for excess and the grotesque, that irony mixed with agony, that place Dorrian himself among the most charismatic and original figures on the scene.
Tracks with irresistible groove like this one or like the ultra-classic "Midnight Mountain" will alternate with suffocating reminiscences of the past, coming and going throughout the platter's duration: "Enter the Worms", "Grim Luxuria", "Jaded Entity", "Ashes You Leave" bring us back to the desolate landscapes of the first indomitable album, although it is now clear that Cathedral's doom is no longer calibrated to probe the darkest recesses of the soul, but to envelop the listener in a celestial and lilac muck, a sort of sticky and sugary blob with stunning and stoned effects.
But that's not all: in the seven minutes of "Fountain of Innocence", a visionary semi-ballad enhanced by Dorrian's effected vocals, the group reveals their hand and their love (never concealed anyway) for certain fairytale-like and decadent atmospheres inherited from the seventies-made progressive tradition. In the central refrain, a Dorrian so clean materializes that we struggle to recognize him (much less imagine him as the protagonist of the grindcore revolution carried out a few years back with Napalm Death!).
But uncompromising doom enthusiasts can rest assured, because the almost nine minutes of "Phantasmagoria", written and performed under the influence of acids (according to the involved parties), take us back to the atrocities of their origins (just think of the initial crude scream): continuous tempo changes, riffs ground without interruption, the maximum expression of doom in a state of disintegration. To conclude everything, less than two minutes of "Imprisoned in Flesh", a soft acoustic lullaby where a sweet whispering Dorrian (???) closes this jewel of electrified madness mockingly.
From the subsequent "The Carnival Bizarre", Dorrian and Jennings, bolstered by a renewed and cohesive lineup, will be better able to focus their ideas, settling on a sound that's more catchy and mature, if you will, but alas more predictable.
Clarifying from the start the intrinsic insurmountability of a work like "Forest of Equilibrium" and the formal balance of the just mentioned "The Carnival Bizarre", this "The Ethereal Mirror" remains in my opinion the brightest and most grotesque diamond of the Englishmen's career, a fantastic labyrinth which will be a pleasure to get lost in for all those who continue to have a soft spot for that unforgettable season of rock that runs from '67 to '73, a happy island saturated with rosy expectations, until Brian Eno, that ogre, came to take it all away from us, dishes, heart, and sweat!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Ride (04:47)
[Jennings/Dorrian]
Lack-lustre vacuum magnetises the land,
scopeless material in ruthless demand,
concrete spectacle superficially grand,
divine animation buried in sight.
[Chorus:]
We'll rise from the ashes of stagnation,
crystal warriors of damnation.
Nullified grafters manufactured from the womb,
out of the repro-clinic into household tomb.
Drag the nothing tiring through coal-dark underground,
drive the wheels of iron round and round.
[Repeat Chorus]
Scouring eyes sear through that book of lies,
and to the truth, well our search is dignified.
Whilst the yawny drone of physical machinery
march in robot mode to terminal destiny.
Microscopic observance, forsaken innerland,
spiritual inertia, absorbed in bland,
well our significance shan't sink in their charade,
'cos through their drab pantomime I say we're gonna ride!
[Repeat Chorus.]
03 Enter the Worms (06:05)
[Jehan/Dorrian/Bianco] Adorned daggers, ruby hilted swords, unfailing crucifixes, striking mortal cords, huge violent serpents in volumes rolled, all holy poisons poured in cups of gold. Ooh these instruments so blessed and old, here lay death's sceptre - truth untold without mercy or [Chorus:] Love, forgiveness - exile me, blades of goodness set me free, madness my destiny, alone forever exile me. Sharp swords, bright lightings set brave souls free, past God's blind eyes through infinity, of all these vessels transformed to clay, rich ashes blown to dust - swept away! Now take me steel to the gift of skies, deliver me from weakness from this flesh that rides. Without pity or; [Repeat Chorus.] Ooh to think how pleasant your touch would be, in that all my lovely limbs would fall away, and drop to nothing in their soft decay. Unto my frail heart, the worms shall find a door, enter the weary pulp - into the core! As all of my flesh lay soft on the floor, released this soul from me, forevermore! Into the loud tide screaming silent words, out of this dreary world in screeching awe, without earthly [Repeat Chorus.]
04 Midnight Mountain (04:55)
Sliding down the mountain, as dusk passes to day.
The antidote of elation, now lifeless masses wake.
Jaws of suxiety open, the luring vampire of agility,
a fatal invitation, sight hazing from me.
Oh midnight mountain, I require, inner relocation,
back to pinnacles high.
Drowning in empty faces, sinking in banal,
I crave the isolation of eventide when perception climbs,
I just need the injection, a dose to boost my flight,
a sonic blast of moonlight, nucleus ignites.
Oh midnight mountain, now I'm revived,
stimulus transcending, back to pinnacles high,
Screaming at doleful skies, absorbing all my sighs,
responding to my cries,
downcast a thunder of reprise,
won't let the next sunrise, signal my landslide,
from ecstatic highs, I'm on top of their demise.
09 Phantasmagoria (08:44)
[Dorrian/Jehan/Jennings & Bianco]
[Rowntree's Ad Lid into LSD.]
[Here are four different versions of the lyrics of 'Phantasmagoria' that were]
[send by fellow Cathedral nuts. Phantasmagoria means a 'constantly shifting]
[complex succession of things seen or imagined', according to my Franklin]
[dictionary. The lyrics themselves seem to be about the nightmarish appearence]
[of some jellied master as far as I can pick them out. Having four different]
[versions already indicates that it is everything but easy to make out what is]
[being sung here. In addition to this it seems to me that Lee is changing the]
[consonants in the words every now and then (I wonder if this has anything to]
[do with the consume of this funny tobacco stuff...). Well, anyways, here it]
[goes. Questions, remarks, and additions are welcome.]
[Robert]
Hear the calling,
Any other way.
A faint slithering....
A form blooming,
A vision or nightmare?
Shadows motioning.
Bled hollow/holler (?)
Agents so hateless (?)
Eyes all grown ordained (?)
Reflections frozen,
Smiles so darkless,
And for the days contained.
Oooh it's creeping closer,
Oh it's here again.
CHORUS
Break - your wealth - has fallen,
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
??? (seriously don't know here : o ) )
Drenching down the halls.
Bleeding angels...?...of heaven,
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
Awake...in blood and see,
That sin has come to call!
???
???
And hunger for the blade.
A wriggle purple,
Anguish and mourning,
Squelching for the chain (?)
I sunkered, greend lips mulching,
Hunger trickling.
Into the gates - The Jelly Master
Wobbling, Jiggiling.
Smooth and soft,
I'm all sweet.
???...just too brave for meeah!
Shredding, rotting in the face of death (?)
???
A vacuum slide ---Awake Again!
And all my heart,
Absolved in filth.
A rested anguish - sorrow and woe
Into nothingness (?) - so low
Paint earth this groaning, oh! (?)
Mottled rapids ??? ...drowning snow (?)
All lonely on the word alone (?)
Towards DoomWards -
Here I go!
Oh so low
Roaming through,
This liquid maze.
Slithering path,
Ancient pay/pave (?)
To the stinging place,
The loving phaze. (?)
Jiggling master,
Take me on my way.
All but butterflies here,
This wriggling haze.
Beyond decay (?) ???
???
To nothingness and nether-peace...
??? - I scream and roar.
(goodnight master)
[Justin]
Daylight crawling
And, the other way-
A faint slithering...
A form looming,
A vision of nightmare,
Shadows motioning.
Led harder (?)
Vengeance so ageless
A rising ??
[sounds like "scrotal king"]
Reflection frozen
In smiles so dauntless
Another dirge contained!
Oooh, it's creeping closer...
It's here again!
[Chorus:]
(Rip your will apart)
?? farther!....yeah yeah
(For this frown, this heart)
Traipsing down the halls
(Bleeding angel bleed)
?? heaven... oh yeah oh yeah!
(wake in blood and see)
? has come to crawl.
Rotting ??
[sounds like "showness"]
???
A hunger for the blade
A regal purple
Anguish and mourning
Waltzing in the jade
Eyes sunken
Green lips mulching
Hunger trickling...
Into the gates
the jelly master,
wobbling, jiggling!
[repeat chorus.]
Ooh, smooth and soft
and almost sweet
?? just too grey for me
spreading rotten in the face of death
In ? of flesh, the end of rain (reign?)
???
Await again!
From the sky, when my stars have fell.
And of my heart, a tolling bell
? of anguish, sorrow and woe,
Into ? - so low!!
Faint mirth is growing, oh!
From the ?, droning so.
Alone beyond the word alone,
Waltz doomwards, here I go!!
-Oh, so low!-
Roaming through
this liquid maze
Slithering past
the ancient grey
To the stinging place
longing face
jiggling master
send me on my way
All but butterflies in
this wriggling haze
Beyond the gates every ?
[sounds like "tray"]
Knows only ? and these visions cease
[sounds like "buttons"]
Nothingness and never peace
The flags of death that scream of more!
[solo]
(oooh, jelly master).....
[James]
They are crawling under your doorway
A faint slithering
A form looming, a vision of nightmare
Shadows motioning
Red horror vengence so ageless
Arriving __ ordained
Reflection frozen in smiles of darkness
Above the dirt contained
Ohhh it's creeping closer
It's here again
[CHORUS]
Write your will upon lost fathers(???)
Yeah yeah
All this rot that is trapsing down the halls
Bleeding angels flee from heaven
Oooh yeah yeah
Awake in blood and see that Santas(???) come to call!
Rotting shoulders, loathsome __
Hunger for the blade
A regal purple, anguish and mourning
Waltzing in the chain
Eyes sunken, green lips munching
Hunger trickleing
Into the gate, the jellied master
Wobbleing jiggleing!
[CHORUS]
Smooth and soft and almost sweet
Target just to great for me
Shredded rotting in the face of day
In the bones and flesh and in the brain
Our shattered soul awaits the death
From the sky all my stars have fell
And on my heart and soul a knell
They rest in anguish, sorrow and woe
In gelati(??) so low
Baked mud is glowing on
Bottle top is drowning sound
Lonely on the word alone
Holds too much, here I go
Oh so low
Drowning through this linguid maze
Slivering path, ancient grail, to the stinging rays
Love it fades, jiggleing master, send me on my way
On with butterflys in this wriggleing haze
Beyond the dead __ tray
No __ __ this visions see
__ (couldn't get this bit!)
The blades of death that scream out raw
Jellied master
[Thomas]
??? are crawling
Under your doorway
A faint slithering
A form looming
A vision of nightmare
Shadows motioning
Red horror
Vengeance so ateless ???
Arriving ??? ordain
Reflections frozen
In smiles so dauntless
And for the dirge contain
Oooh it's creeping closer
It's here again
[CHORUS:]
Break your world apart
I was falling oh yeah oh yeah
For this ??? this heart
Drenching down the halls
Bleeding angels fleeing of heaven oh yeah oh yeah
Awake in blood and see that ??? has come to crawl
Rotting ???
Loathsome and ???
A hunger for the blade
A regal purple
Anguish and mourning
Waltzing in the jade
Eyes sunken
Green lips mulching
Hunger trickling
Into the gates
The jelly master
Wobbling jiggling
[CHORUS]
Smooth and soft
And almost sweet
Torture just too great for me
Shredding rotting in the face of day
In the bones and flesh and in the brain
??? awake again
Oh from the sky ???
And on my heart a tolling bell
Rest in anguish, sorrow and woe
Into night, so low
??? is growling oh
??? drowning ???
Alone beyond the word alone
Or else doomwards, here I go
Oh so low
Roaming through this liquid maze
Slithering past the ancient ???
To the stinging place
Longing face
Jiggling master send me on my way
All but butterflies here
This wriggeling haze
Beyond the gates in every ???
Those holy virgins their vision sees
To nothingness and netherpeace
??? that scream and roar
Oooh good night master
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Other reviews
By March Horses
With the album "Ethereal Mirror," Cathedral takes a necessary step in their sonic evolution to come.
"Chemically induced madness reigns supreme in a fun, very unique music."
