Cathedral, The Village
Posted on 29th Apr 10 by Jonathan Keane | 
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In case you’re unaware, Cathedral are supporting the release of their flamboyant and ostentatious new record The Guessing Game. If you haven’t got in on it yet, then please feel free to exit your cave and join the fun. This evening in The Village is all about the Brum metal stalwarts who, in over a [...]
In case you’re unaware, Cathedral are supporting the release of their flamboyant and ostentatious new record The Guessing Game. If you haven’t got in on it yet, then please feel free to exit your cave and join the fun. This evening in The Village is all about the Brum metal stalwarts who, in over a twenty year career, have carved out an inimitable, wholly unique and esoteric home in the annals of metal. But before that, we’re treated to the blessings in disguise of two support acts.
Cathedral
The Gates Of Slumber raise a toast to Tygers Of Pan Tang. Being only a three piece they rustle up a hefty and thick sound. But while the going is good, things seem to drone on for a while during the performance’s mid section. Tracks from latest effort Hymns Of Blood And Thunder deafen as much in the live setting as on record and towards their conclusion, business picks up again and they exit on a high note.
Japan’s Church Of Misery then brings some of the slightly bizarre to the proceedings, with their dissonant barrage of unmitigated and overtly Black Sabbath worshipping riffs. Meanwhile, front man Yoshiakki Negishi howls his vocals which can only be described as an indecipherable din.
Cathedral on the other hand are a sight to behold. As the icon himself Lee Dorrian enters the stage the crowd edges those last few inches to the front, the eerie intro then gives way to Funeral Of Dreams, from the new record. Followed by the bombastic Painting In The Dark, the heavy and loaded riffing truly ignites the show. It makes one thing vehemently clear, Cathedral have more than enough confidence in their new material. It takes up a sizeable chunk of the set list and feels as warm and welcoming as some of the classics.
With that said, some can be excused for groaning over the omission of certain ‘staples’ as favourite Vampire Sun is nowhere to be heard. But the bellowing and explosive riffs of other best loved tunes like Ride and The Carnival Bizzare’s title track more than make up for it. Furthermore, the devastatingly whirring doom of early tunes, like Serpent Eve, is still sounding as faultless as ever.
An encore of the heady and dense Corspecycle followed by Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) brings all to a close. With that Lee Dorrian wraps the mic lead around his neck and mockingly hangs himself as the lights dim and they depart from the stage.
Tags: cathedral, Church Of Misery, Lee Dorrian, The Gates Of Slumber, The Guessing Game, The Village