The band was founded in 1989 by Lee Dorrian (former singer of grindcore pioneers Napalm Death), Mark ‘Griff’ Griffiths (a Carcass roadie) and Garry ‘Gaz’ Jennings (formerly of thrash metal upstarts Acid Reign).[1] At first they played very heavy and slow doom metal that was first released through Rise Above Records, vocalist Lee Dorrian’s indie label, before signing to Earache. They later incorporated elements of progressive rock into their sound when the band signed to Columbia Records in the USA in 1992 (while still under contract with Earache U.K.).[citation needed] They were later dropped by Columbia Records in 1994. The band continued with Earache Records until 2000. Then signed to Dream Catcher Records for one lp and a tour. In 2004 Cathedral signed to their current label Nuclear Blast. In 1989 Lee Dorrian left his former band Napalm Death mainly because he was getting sick of the punk scene and did not like the death metal direction Napalm Death was heading towards. Cathedral was formed after Lee Dorrian and Mark Griffiths met and discussed their love for doom bands like Candlemass, Dream Death, Pentagram, Trouble, and Witchfinder General. The only original band members in the current line-up are Lee Dorrian and Garry ‘Gaz’ Jennings on guitars, although Jennings did once leave the band in their early history, only to rejoin shortly afterwards. After no news from the band since they toured for The Garden of Unearthly Delights, they played their first show in two years at Damnation Festival 2008, in Leeds. They played a new song and have confirmed dates for 2009 including Hellfest. On October 28th 2009, MetalUnderground.com revealed that the band were planning to enter the studio the next month to record a new album entitled, “The Guessing Game”, which is set to be released around March/April 2010. Some of the song titles confirmed include, “Open Mind Surgery” and “Death Of An Anarchist.” |
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