History
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). 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 and then Columbia. 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 28 October 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 "Casket Chasers", "Journeys Into Jade", "La Noche Del Buque Maldito (aka Ghost Ship Of The Blind Dead)" and "Death Of An Anarchist".
On 15 February 2010, Cathedral announced the full details on the new album The Guessing Game, which will be released on 26 March in Europe and 20 April in the U.S.A., via Nuclear Blast Records.
On 6 February 2011, Cathedral announced that they will disband after one more album, entitled The Last Spire, which they hope to release in 2012. Vocalist Lee Dorrian explained, "It's simply time for us to bow out. Twenty one years is a very long time and it's almost a miracle that we managed to come this far!." Drummer Brian Dixon will continue to perform with The Crunched, a power trio which he formed in 2010 with Alan Kulke (ex-Caprice) and Roy 'Yozzer' Hughes (formerly of Engine). Cathedral played their last show in front of a small crowd in Perth, Western Australia during the Soundwave 2012 tour.
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