| The Guessing Game | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Studio album by Cathedral | ||
| Released | March 26 2010 | |
| Recorded | November 2009 at Chapel Studios in South Thoresby, Lincolnshire, England | |
| Genre | Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock | |
| Length | 84:41 | |
| Label | Nuclear Blast Records | |
| Producer | Warren Riker | |
| Cathedral chronology | ||
| The Garden of Unearthly Delights (2005) |
The Guessing Game (2010) |
Anniversary (2011) |
The Guessing Game is the ninth full-length album by the British doom metal band Cathedral. It was released on 26 March 2010. It is the first and only double-album from the band. Notably, it's also the final Cathedral album to feature longtime bassist Leo Smee and the last Cathedral album on Nuclear Blast Records.
Conceptually, the album was derived in two separate styles with the first disc leaning into psychedelic and progressive rock while the second disc leaning heavily into doom metal. "Journey into Jade" notably references every album up to that point and in sense is a chronological story of the band in song. It ends at 6:32 and continues with silence until 9:32. At this point begins an untitled hidden track: there is a voice recording of Cathedral artist Dave Patchett describing the theme of the artwork for The Guessing Game. At one point during this audio section, Lee Dorrian stifles a laugh in response to one of Dave's opinions about religion. There is music playing in the background.
The Guessing Game mostly gained positive reception upon release. Describing the album as Cathedral's "magnum opus", Phil Freeman wrote for AllMusic that The Guessing Game offered the "most psychedelic, progressive material in the band's entire catalog".[1] Writing in The Guardian, Jamie Thomson praised the "fine balance between their monolithic guitar groove and a more heady blend of prog, folk, psychedelia and even the occasional burst of Bonzo Dog Band-style jazz whimsy...these sparkling sojourns to the outer fringes of 70s rock would cheer even the most jaded metaller. Doom has rarely sounded so joyous".[2] Viewing The Guessing Game as embodying an "unprecedented level of indulgence", The Quietus' Noel Gardner suggested that it serves as "a landmark Cathedral release" and "an ideal starting point to ease a Cathedral ignoramus into the band's self-contained world".[3] Noting the frequency with which the double-album format suffers from bloat, Invisible Oranges' Chris Rowella praised Cathedral for coming "damned...close" to perfecting the model.[4] Describing The Guessing Game as Cathedral's "pinnacle of...experimentation", Popmatters' Chris Colgan suggested that the album provides insight into Cathedral's diverse influences.[5]
However, not all critics wrote favourably about the album. George Pacheco wrote for About.com that The Guessing Game is a "confounding conundrum of an album...both forward-thinking and stagnant-sounding at the same time". Pacheco identified "an overwrought sense of daring" as a key concern, which left the album "fractured and flawed".[6]
It was voted the eighth best album of the year in the Metal Hammer magazine critics poll of 2010.[7]
Tracklist[]
All tracks are written by Lee Dorrian and Gaz Jennings except where noted.
Disc One[]
- 1. Immaculate Misconception (2:24) (Leo Smee)
- 2. Funeral of Dreams (8:28)
- 3. Painting in the Dark (6:18)
- 4. Death of an Anarchist (7:12)
- 5. The Guessing Game (3:08) (Gaz Jennings)
- 6. Edwige's Eyes (7:08)
- 7. Cats, Incense, Candles and Wine (6:01)
Disc Two[]
- 8. One Dimensional People (2:30) (Smee)
- 9. The Casket Chasers (6:41)
- 10. La Noche del Buque Maldito (aka Ghost Ship of the Blind Dead) (5:46) (Dorrian, Jennings, Smee)
- 11. The Running Man (8:46) (Dorrian)
- 12. Requiem for the Voiceless (9:50)
- 13. Journey Into Jade (10:36)
Personnel[]
Cathedral[]
- Lee Dorrian - Vocals, Samples, Field Recordings, Art Concept, Layout, Design, Photography
- Gaz Jennings - Guitars, Backing Vocals; Percussion, Mellotron (5);
- Leo Smee - Bass, Moog Taurus, Synthesizers, Autoharp; Additional Guitar (8)
- Brian Dixon - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Additional Personnel[]
- Chlöe Herington - Bass (1)
- Sarah Anderson - Violin, Viola (1)
- Thelma Heath - Spoken Word (3, 10)
- Alison O'Donnell - Vocals (2, 7)
- Geoffrey Perrin - Engineer (Vocals) (2, 7)
- Elisha Jennings - Spoken Word (12, 13)
- Peter Dixon - Spoken Word (13)
- Munch - Mellotron, Hammond Organ
- Shaun Hyder - Sitar
Technical Personnel[]
- Dave Patchett - Artwork; Voice (Hidden Track)
- Ben Rhodes - Engineer
- Ewan Davies - Engineer
- Warren Riker - Mixing, Producer; Sitar, Lead Guitar (8)
- Maor Appelbaum - Mastering
External Links[]
References[]
| V·T·E Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Final Lineup | Lee Dorrian • Gaz Jennings • Brian Dixon • Scott Carlson |
| Selected Past Members | Mark Griffiths • Adam Lehan • Mike Smail • Mark Ramsey Wharton • Leo Smee • Victor Griffin • Joe Hasselvander • Barry Stern |
| Studio Albums | Forest of Equilibrium • The Ethereal Mirror • The Carnival Bizarre • Supernatural Birth Machine • Caravan Beyond Redemption • Endtyme • The VIIth Coming • The Garden of Unearthly Delights • The Guessing Game • The Last Spire |
| Extended Plays | In Memoriam • Soul Sacrifice • Twylight Songs • Statik Majik • Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) • Gargoylian • A New Ice Age |
| Other Releases | Our God Has Landed • The Serpent's Gold • Anniversary • Happy Fucking Birthday |
| Selected Associated Bands, Etc. | Rise Above Records • Dave Patchett • Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine • Firebird • Penance • Death Penalty • The Skull • Workshed • With The Dead • Septic Tank • Lucifer • Napalm Death • Repulsion • Acid Reign • Chrome Hoof |