Cathedral - Forest of Equilibrium

Lee Dorrian, an ex-singer for grind-core legends Napalm Death, has made a U-turn and delved into the opposite end of musical extremes. To say that this album is slow won`t tell you just how painfully sluggish and crushingly heavy these riffs are. Of 58 minutes, perhaps only in 2 or 3 minute-time the tempo rises above 80 bpm. The ending part of "Ethereal Architect", while pretty mid-tempo will seem to you like a Slayer-esque break in.

The music is based on Black Sabbath inspired down-tuned dual guitar work. Solos are sparse and chaotic. Lee Dorrian shines throughout the album. His singing is mixed of 2 tracks, 1 is a tortured, low, moaning growl, and the second is painful moaning tone. These over-dubbed vocals work extremely well to create an atmosphere of cold inevitable depression. It seems that Lee`s voice is coming from a grave, breaking it`s way through shovel-loads of earth that are being thrown from above. The other highlight of this record is the drummer`s work. It takes much of skill to be a doom-metal drummer, because you need to be inventive to fill in the gaps between the sparse rhythm beats. Mike Smail`s performance is exemplary in this department. Too bad he is buried somewhat deep in the mix, and the cymbals are barely audible. And there`s more to this album - the flute! It only appears in 2 tracks, but it plays in such a haunting screaming manner that it gives you chills.

This is an excellent album, that firmly steps on an unknown before ground, and stays there alone. Unless you are naturally depressed, buy this album. (If you are, then stay away from it, you might not survive, and I`m not joking).