Cathedral – The Last Spire (2013)

November 6, 2023

The Last Spire is the chunky but somewhat underwhelming final output from legendary UK doom metal band, Cathedral. The fact that I have avoided listening to this album for over a decade speaks volumes about my apprehension for finally addressing the final nail in the coffin for one of my all time favourite groups. The Last Spire then, is, a relief in some regards, because it is not a bad album. It mixes together a few eras of Cathedral, somehow going full circle to the “funeral” pace of the earlier material, whilst retaining the groove and vibe of the later stuff.

For me, this album gets better as it goes on, and whilst all the songs are quite epic, the songs in the second half really speak to me in all their gothic doominess. Stand outs would include “Infestation of Grey Death”, “An Observation” and the closer “This Body, Thy Tomb”, which despite ending rather abruptly is an absolute banger.

I dunno though, I expected more from Cathedral for their last hurrah. I guess they got all their experimental bones tickled on their previous record, and decided to reign in back in to skullcrushing doomery for the final goodbye.

RIP Cathedral, ye shall be missed.