CATHEDRAL — Forest of Equilibrium (review)

CATHEDRAL — Forest of Equilibrium album cover Album · 1991 · Doom Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
arcane-beautiful
This Cathedral's first album...and the metal community were stunned by what they heard.

Lee Dorrian, former Napalm Death gabbler, in a doom band. What is doom anyway?

At this point doom hadn't really been given a name, and yes Sabbath started it, and bands like Saint Vitus, Tiamat and other gothic metal bands had a similar sound, but the early 90's, when bands like My Dying Bride, Anathema & Paradise Lost started coming out of the woodwork...so did Cathedral, with music which was focused on how fast you played...slowed down and drop tuned to earth shattering results. Only Britian could create such darkness.

This being their debut, its very impressive. This wouldn't be my favourite Cathedral album, but hearing this album for a first time, I have to say, this album is great, and who knows maybe it will grow on me.

I think this was the most atmospheric moments of Cathedrals career and catalogue, with their later efforts being stronger and more contemporary...but you have to admit...this album really does paint a vivid picture in your head...and the amazing artwork is always their staring at you in the face.

1. Picture Of Beauty & Innocence/Commiserating The Celebration - Nice intro. very dark and disturbing. Has alot of nice twists and turns throughout it. The music really is snake like. 9/10

2. Ebony Tears - That opening riff really is as evil as hell. This song is like an elephant walking through a forest. Very doomy and disturbing, yet fascinating. Great riffs. 10/10

3. Serpent Eve - Kind of like a very evil hymn. The music surrounds you like an evil fog throughout. 10/10

4. Soul Sacrifice - More upbeat showing a progression and what their next album will be like. Quite Iron Maiden esque near the end. 10/10

5. A Funeral Request - Very disturbing. Like an eternal endless murky void. I love how the song changes throughout. 9/10

6. Equilibrium - Not as diverse as the others, but still has a great hook in it. 9/10

7. Reaching Happiness, Touching Pain - Great intro with some atmospheric flute. Very early My Dying Bride, with a zombie on vocals. Their really is something beautiful about music that drones and builds up throughout. 10/10

CONCLUSION: Not their best, and some consider it to be a landmark. I say its a must have in any metal fans collection.
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