British Doom Metal Lords CATHEDRAL Unearth Final Recording “Society’s Pact With Satan” and Release 20th Anniversary Edition of ‘The Garden Of Unearthly Delights’
The term “back from the grave” takes on a whole new meaning with the release of a thought-to-be-lost recording from the much-missed British doom metal lords CATHEDRAL. Titled “Society’s Pact With Satan,” this epic 30-minute track marks the last ever recording made by the band and will be released on October 3rd, 2025 via Rise Above Records.
The track was originally recorded in 2012 at the end of the sessions for CATHEDRAL’s swan song album, ‘The Last Spire’ (2013). For reasons unknown, it was never mixed at the time and was soon forgotten about by everyone involved. Rediscovered only recently by producer Jaime Gomez Arellano while sorting through old studio recordings, he quickly alerted the band to his find, describing it as a long-lost gem. Upon hearing it, the members of CATHEDRAL unanimously agreed it should see a commercial release.
The result is “Society’s Pact With Satan,” an unapologetic, uncompromising exercise in macabre observations, musical eccentricity, brutal riffing, and arcane self-indulgence. As a final sermon, it encapsulates everything that made CATHEDRAL unique. There genuinely was, and is, no other band like them.
Alongside the release of “Society’s Pact With Satan,” CATHEDRAL will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed eighth studio album, ‘The Garden Of Unearthly Delights,’ releasing on the same day. Originally released on Nuclear Blast Records in Germany, the album was praised by critics and embraced by fans, with tracks like “Corpsecycle” and “North Berwick Witch Trials” becoming staples of CATHEDRAL’s live setlists until the very end.
Produced by Warren Riker (The Fugees, Corrosion Of Conformity, Down, Cynic), the record carried a revitalized energy that fueled the band’s return to relentless touring worldwide. Packed with the trademark monstrous riffs, eccentric themes, and unconventional twists that defined CATHEDRAL, its crowning achievement remains the epic 27-minute doom-prog odyssey “The Garden,” guiding listeners through a labyrinth of arcane soundscapes and odd musical passages. This special 20th Anniversary vinyl edition comes housed in a massive fold-out poster sleeve showcasing Dave Patchett’s stunning artwork in full, along with a four-page lyric insert.
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