A famously Doom laden and utterly eccentric band formed in Coventry by ex-NAPALM DEATH frontman and Rise Above record label driving force Lee Dorrian. The quintessentially English CATHEDRAL was rounded out initially by guitarist Gary Jennings, previously with Yorkshire Thrash act ACID REIGN, and bassist Mark 'Griff' Griffiths, a former roadie for CARCASS and editor of Doom fanzine 'Under The Oak'. Jennings also boasted some degree of Doom pedigree with MORBID DOOM, having released the demo 'Sorrow's Epitaph'. The band's first rehearsals took place at Selly Oak's famous Rich Bitch Studios, also home to genre godfathers BLACK SABBATH, in March 1990. With Griff initially handling rhythm guitar, the budding CATHEDRAL formation found its footing by way of some SAINT VITUS jams to set the mood. The first drummer was ex-THE VARUKERS and SACRILEGE man Andy Baker, subsequently replaced following a handful of rehearsals by former FILTHKICK member Ben Mochrie. Unable to locate a suitable bassist, Griff adopted the four-string rumble and second guitarist Adam Lehan, also of ACID REIGN repute, completed the contingent. This eclectic gathering of players, pooling prior traditions ranging from Grindcore, Thrash and Death Metal was duly funneled into Dorrian's grandiose Doom vision.

The group recorded its first demo, 'In Memorium' issued in October 1990, which included a cover of cult American act PENTAGRAM's 'All Your Sins', then found themselves being invited to contribute the track 'Ebony Tears' to the 'Dark Passages' compilation album that same year. A second, three track demo session followed in 1991. CATHEDRAL was to tour Britain with S.O.D. and later SAINT VITUS before putting in more touring during 1991 appearing in Britain with SADUS and MORBID ANGEL in March and PARADISE LOST in Holland during April. In October CATHEDRAL found themselves once more on the road in Britain on a bill with YOUNG GODS, SILVERFISH and NEW CRANES.

Mike Smail of PENANCE and DREAM DEATH performed on the debut 'Forests Of Equilibrium' album, recorded at Workshop Studios in Redditch between July and August of 1991, but the band recruited a permanent drummer in Mark Ramsey Wharton, another ACID REIGN veteran, soon after. 'Forest Of Equilibrium' came wrapped in a sumptuously detailed Dave Patchett designed gatefold, evoking the bizarre landscapes of Heironymous Bosch, this artwork provided a perfect foil for the capricious concept within. Musically, Cathedral's slug like pace and near painful bottom end was launched headlong into an extreme metal world dominated by speed and brittle harshness. As such, Dorrian's gut instincts in re-forging a forgotten art form put doom fairly and squarely back into the spotlight.

Live campaigning kicked off 1992 with British dates alongside ANATHEMA and MY DYING BRIDE before the they toured Europe with label mates CARCASS, ENTOMBED and CONFESSOR as part of the 'Gods Of Grind' tour. These shows were rounded off by more European dates with ST. VITUS.

The Earache package theme developed into the teaming up of CATHEDRAL with NAPALM DEATH, CARCASS and BRUTAL TRUTH for the American 'Campaign For Musical Destruction' tour before the group returned to Europe to round off the year in Germany with NAPALM DEATH once more along with CROWBAR and TROUBLE. 1992 would also find CATHEDRAL bearing their influences proudly by committing two tracks, namely 'Shock Waves' and 'Solitude', to the Earache BLACK SABBATH tribute album 'Masters Of Misery'.

1993 was to prove another arduous year in the band's history, especially on the road where CATHEDRAL found themselves touring for a good portion of the year, opening with European dates with SLEEP and PENANCE before their first Japanese shows alongside BRUTAL TRUTH and S.O.B. Another bout of American touring followed with dates including slots with MERCYFUL FATE, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, Rob Halford's FIGHT, PENTAGRAM and IRONMAN.

However, Griffiths departed to form YEAR ZERO, later joining BLACKSTAR with ex-CARCASS members, and a temporary replacement was found in Mike Hickey of CRONOS and VENOM. In early 1994 CATHEDRAL yet again suffered a serious line-up shuffle when both Lehan and Wharton left.

To promote 'The Ethereal Mirror' album, the Japanese version boasting two extra tracks, 'Skylifter' and 'Funeral Request (Rebirth)', CATHEDRAL toured heavily during 1994 with guitarist VICTOR GRIFFIN and drummer Joe Hasselvander, both on loan from cult American Death Metallists PENTAGRAM. The band by now sported some very 70s stage garb, the degree to which they were prepared to mock convention only matched by the width of Lee Dorrian's flares.

CATHEDRAL's status rose considerably throughout Europe during the year, a highlight in which included a prestigious opening slot for their heroes BLACK SABBATH. Acrimony arose however when Griffin quit before the end of the tour quickly followed by Hasselvander, resulting in cancellation of scheduled British shows. The tour was eventually rescheduled with ex-TROUBLE drummer Barry Stern stepping into the breach.

CATHEDRAL got back on the road for some pre-Christmas shows, with guests ELECTRIC WIZARD and MOURN, the headliners now with a line-up of Dorrian, Jennings, ex-REPULSION bassist Scott Carlson and former SHADES OF GREY drummer Dave Hornyak.

1995 began with European dates on a billing with DEICIDE and BRUTAL TRUTH, although CATHEDRAL yet again shifted personnel with Hornyak and Carlson departing due to the financial constraints imposed upon them after the band had been dropped in America by Columbia Records. No sooner had their fans got used to this latest incarnation than CATHEDRAL swiftly manoeuvered the rhythm section out and brought in ex-TRESPASS bassist Leo Smee and ex-TORINO, CAPRICE and CONTAGIOUS drummer Brian Dixon in May 1995.

CATHEDRAL promptly released 'The Carnival Bizarre' album, produced by Kit Woolven. The track 'Utopian Blaster' featured guest guitar from none other than BLACK SABBATH's guitarist TONY IOMMI. In order to promote the new album CATHEDRAL scheduled British headline shows with support from ANATHEMA and MOURN prior to engaging in a Euro-Scandinavian tour with MOTÖRHEAD and also made it over to Japan once more.

As former band members Hickey and Wharton resurfaced as part of the new CRONOS line-up in 1995, Dorrian was reported to have contributed lyrics and guest vocals to ex-DEATH SS guitarists PAUL CHAIN's solo album 'Alkaheist', which surfaced in 1996. The same year CATHEDRAL issued the 'Hopkins' (The Witchfinder General)' single, which featured a cover of the CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN hit 'Fire'. The studio album 'Supernatural Birth Machine' fared well and brought in steady sales. The Australian market was treated to a lavish gatefold edition compete with comic strip whilst Japanese variants added an exclusive track 'Tucker's Luck'.

Dorrian busied himself in mid 1996 on the 'Dark Passages' Doom compilation album on his Rise Above label, which featured such acts as ORANGE GOBLIN, PENTAGRAM, TROUBLE and ELECTRIC WIZARD besides CATHEDRAL themselves.

CATHEDRAL re-emerged in 1997 by performing a set at the Whitby 100th anniversary festival of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' novel. The 'Masters Of Misery' BLACK SABBATH tribute was issued in North America for the first time, being of note as CATHEDRAL had replaced their previous opening cut 'Shock Waves' with 'Wheels Of Confusion'.

The 1999 'In Memorium' release is a reissue of the band's 1990 demo with live recordings from the following year. Dixon involved himself in the short-lived ARABIA side project with ex-TEN members bassist Steve McKenna and keyboard player Ged Ryland, former VON GROOVE vocalist Michael Shotton and guitarists Alan Kulke and Pete Frank.

2000 had Smee founding side project FIREBIRD with ex-CARCASS guitarist Bill Steer and SPIRITUAL BEGGARS man Ludwig Witt. Meantime, Dorrian would contribute guest vocals to FOO FIGHTERS man Dave Grohl's Metal elite PROBOT project album of 2001.He would also found 'Supergroup' TEETH OF LION RULE DIVINE in collusion with BURNING WITCH's Steve O'Malley, GOATSNAKE's Greg Anderson and erstwhile IRON MONKEY member Justin Greaves. CATHEDRAL's 'The VIIth Coming' album would be scheduled for an October 2002 release. Japanese editions on the Toys Factory label added an exclusive track 'Golconda'. A UK headline tour in November found ELECTRIC WIZARD as support act. As 2003 broke the band headed up a lengthy trek throughout Europe throughout January and February with guests SAMAEL and Hungarian newcomers WITHOUT FACE. CATHEDRAL subsequently united with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and SAMAEL for September North American dates dubbed the 'Redemption' tour.

CATHEDRAL signed to the German Nuclear Blast label in mid 2003, working on a new album with a provisional title of 'Seeds Of Decay'. Meantime, former label Earache Records compiled the double album archive set 'The Serpent's Gold', this collection including unreleased material including a cover version of WITCHFINDER GENERAL's 'Rabies'. A short round of UK dates preceded an appearance at the 'Wacken Open Air' festival in Germany. In October the band lent suport to H.I.M.'s UK shows.

In 2004 ex-CATHEDRAL guitarist VICTOR GRIFFIN released a solo album 'Late For An Early Grave' through Outlaw Recordings. Issued as a vinyl pressing, only 525 copies would be manufactured. Sadly, former CATHEDRAL drummer Barry Stern passed away in early 2005.

The band, working with producer Warren Ryker, entered New Rising Studios in May to record their eighth album, entitled 'The Garden Of Unearthly Delights'. European touring scheduled for October was to witness a grand Doom union hook up with CANDLEMASS and GRAND MAGUS. However, these dates fell through. Nevertheless, Uk touring in December had the band packaged with CRADLE OF FILTH and OCTAVIA SPERATI.

The band put in a significant appearance at the TOOL and DEFTONES headlined 'Download' festival in Castle Donington, UK on June 9th 2006. On November 18th the band appeared at the Monterrey Metal Fest event at the at the Coca Cola Auditorium in Mexico alongside BLIND GUARDIAN, BLUDGEON, U.D.O., EDGUY, OBITUARY, DEICIDE, LEAVES' EYES, SADUS, VAINGLORY, HYDROGYN and JOE STUMP'S REIGN OF TERROR.

'The Ethereal Mirror' witnessed an elaborate re-issue during 2009 courtesy of Earache Records as a three disc set comprising the original album, tracks from the 'Statik Majik' EP and a 40 minute DVD documentary 'Ethereal Reflections' filmed in Coventry.

The band performed at the inaugural 'Hammerfest' festival, sharing the stage with PARADISE LOST, SAXON, OPETH and SEPULTURA, held at Pontins, Prestatyn Sands, Wales in April 2009. The group played the THIN LIZZY, SAXON, UFO, MOTÖRHEAD and HEAVEN AND HELL headlined August 2009 'Wacken Open Air' festival in Germany.

Garry Sharpe-Young