Author: Primož Novak
Artist: Cathedral
Label: Metal Blade Records
Released: 2013
Length: 56:10
Rating: 4.5/5
English doom metal legends Cathedral announced a year after the release of The Guessing Game (2011) that they planned to call it a day. But to close the circle, the band promised one last album. The Last Spire started recording in 2012 and saw the light of day a year later.
Over their career Cathedral tried out all kinds of styles. They began with doom metal, and later the band stood out with a more stoner-flavored, psychedelic rock sound. For The Last Spire, though, a return to the doom metal style they introduced on their legendary debut, Forest of Equilibrium, was announced.
After the intro, The Last Spire kicks off with Pallbearer, which is slow, morbid and dark. Amid all the heavy riffs there’s an acoustic section that gives the song some dynamics and a slightly brighter side. Next Cathedral serve up Cathedral of the Damned and Tower Of Silence, which also got a video. The songs aren’t anything special in themselves, but on the other hand their heavy, simple approach creates an authenticity that’s been typical of doom metal ever since Black Sabbath. Lee Dorrian’s vocals are another hugely important factor. Dorian never stood out as a talented singer (like many others in doom metal), but his vocal timbre has always been something special, giving Cathedral their darkness and atmosphere.
Some of the longer songs could be accused of dragging, but Cathedral cleverly rescue the situation with David Moore’s keyboards. With hammond organ, mellotron and moog, he brings back a touch of psychedelic and classic rock, while also reminding us that Cathedral still love to dip into the virtues of the golden seventies. They add variety to the album with the odd bouncier stoner section and with strings, too. Here the thought creeps in that, despite going back to their roots, Cathedral haven’t entirely given up on experimenting.
By the closing track This Body, Thy Bomb, Cathedral make it clear they won’t surprise anyone this time with a bouncier, less morbid number in the style of Midnight Mountain. Frontman Lee Dorrian stressed, among other things, that he doesn’t like happy endings, and The Last Spire as a whole fits that to a T. So, Cathedral’s swan song is morbid, slow and dark. But on the other hand it’s a surprisingly varied album, considering there’s not much left to show in doom metal itself. Guitarist Gaz Jennings’ riffs play a big part in that, of course. He doesn’t overcomplicate things, and it’s his simplicity that makes the biggest impression.
The breakup of Cathedral was undoubtedly sad news, and the band didn’t even do any farewell tours. But on the other hand, they could have gone on putting out generic albums and lost their credibility. Given how many reunions are out there, there’s definitely still hope that Cathedral will be back on stage one day …
Lineup
Lee Dorrian – vocals
Gaz Jennings – guitar
Brian Dixon – drums
Scott Carlson – bass
Production
Lee Dorian, Gaz Jennings, Jaime Gómez Arellano
Track list
01. Entrance to Hell
02. Pallbearer
03. Cathedral of the Damned
04. Tower of Silence
05. Infestation of Grey Death
06. An Observation
07. The Last Laugh
08. This Body, Thy Tomb
