Forest of Equilibrium
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Forest of Equilibrium
| type = studio
| artist = Cathedral
| cover = CathedralForestOfEquilibrium.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|1991|10|14|df=y}}
| recorded = July–August 1991
| venue =
| studio = Workshop Studios, Redditch, England
| genre = Doom metal
| length = {{Duration|m=54|s=9}}
| label = Earache, Relativity
| producer = {{flatlist|
- Steve Gurney ({{a.k.a.}} PBL){{sfn|Bennett|2006|p=46}}
- {{nowrap|Lee Dorrian}}
- Gary Jennings
}}
| prev_title = In Memorium EP
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = The Ethereal Mirror
| next_year = 1993
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic |class=album |id=forest-of-equilibrium-mw0000276581 |tab=Overview |label=Cathedral: Forest of Equilibrium |last=Birchmeier |first=Jason |accessdate=September 17, 2016}}
| rev2 = {{nowrap|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal}}
| rev2score = 6/10{{sfn|Popoff|2007}}
| rev3 = {{nowrap|The Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}
| rev3score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{sfn|Larkin|1998|p=991}}
| rev4 = Kerrang!
| rev4score = {{nowrap|{{Rating|4|5}} {{small|(1991)}}{{sfn|Gitter|1991}}}}
{{nowrap|{{Rating|5|5}} {{small|(2011)}}{{sfn|Ruskell|2011}}}}
| rev5 = Metal.de
| rev5score = 9/10{{Cite web |last=Matthias |date=30 April 2013 |title=Cathedral - Forest of Equilibrium Review |url=https://metal.de/reviews/cathedral-forest-of-equilibrium-53915/ |access-date=16 January 2024 |website=metal.de}}
| rev6 = Ox-Fanzine
| rev6score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Bohnensack |first=André |date=August 2009 |title=Review - Cathedral - Forest of Equilibrium |url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/forest-of-equilibrium-67894 |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Ox-Fanzine |language=de}}
| rev7 = Rock Hard
| rev7score = 9/10{{Cite web |last=Rock Hard Editorial |date=22 November 1991 |title=Forest Of Equilibrium |url=https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/cathedral-forest-of-equilibrium |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Rock Hard |language=de-DE |type=Vol. 56}}
| noprose = yes
}}
Forest of Equilibrium is the debut studio album by British doom metal band Cathedral, released on 14 October 1991 through Earache Records.{{sfn|Alexander|1991}} It is considered a classic of its genre, doom metal.{{Sfn|Ruskell|2011}}{{sfn|Ayers|1996}}{{sfn|Badin|2006}} Forest of Equilibrium was notably inducted into Decibel magazine's Hall of Fame in February 2006 being the 12th inductee for the Decibel Hall of Fame.{{cite web|last1=Chase|first1=Jesse|title=Cathedral – "Forest of Equilibrium"|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2006/02/19/cathedral-forest-of-equilibrium/|website=Decibel|date=19 February 2006 |accessdate=2018-05-11}}
In 2009, Earache Records reissued the album along with four "bonus" songs that comprise the long-out-of-print 1992 Soul Sacrifice EP. This deluxe digipak reissue also includes a poster of Dave Patchett's cover art and a new 40-minute documentary entitled "Return to the Forest" on DVD.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cathedral-forest-of-equilibrium-reissue-to-include-40-minute-documentary/#VULzyD2XqqId62A7.99|title=CATHEDRAL: 'Forest Of Equilibrium' Reissue To Include 40-Minute Documentary|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=28 March 2009 |accessdate=1 May 2016}}
Music
Chris Chantler of Metal Hammer said the album was "the result of their mutual doom obsession, twisted by their own forward-thinking extreme impulses."{{Cite web |last=updated |first=Chris Chantlerlast |date=2016-10-05 |title=10 essential doom metal albums |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-10-essential-doom-metal-albums |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Louder |language=en}}
Legacy
Chris Chantler of Metal Hammer said in 2020 that the album "remains truly a unique, pivotal recording."
Track listing
All lyrics by Lee Dorrian unless noted; all music by Garry Jennings unless noted
{{Track listing
| title1 = Picture of Beauty & Innocence (Intro)/Commiserating the Celebration
| lyrics1 =
| music1 =
| length1 = 11:16
| title2 = Ebony Tears
| lyrics2 =
| music2 =
| length2 = 7:46
| title3 = Serpent Eve
| lyrics3 = Mark Griffiths
| music3 = Jennings, Adam Lehan
| length3 = 7:40
| title4 = Soul Sacrifice
| lyrics4 = Griffiths
| music4 =
| length4 = 2:54
| title5 = A Funeral Request (Ethereal Architect)
| lyrics5 = Griffiths, David Park Barnitz
| music5 = Lehan
| length5 = 9:17
| title6 = Equilibrium
| lyrics6 =
| music6 =
| length6 = 6:08
| title7 = Reaching Happiness, Touching Pain
| lyrics7 =
| music7 =
| length7 = 9:08
}}
Personnel
Personnel per liner notes.{{Cite AV media notes |title=Forest of Equilibrium |author=Cathedral |year=1991 |type=booklet |publisher=Earache Records |id=MOSH 43}}
Cathedral
- Lee Dorrian – vocals, production assistant
- Garry Jennings – guitar, production assistant
- Adam Lehan – guitar, acoustic guitar
- Mark Griffiths – bass guitar
- Mike Smail – drums
Additional personnel
- Reverend Wolski – keyboard
- Helen Acreman – flute
Production
- Steve Gurney – production (credited as PBL){{sfn|Bennett|2006|p=46}}
- Mark Tempest – engineering
- Dave Patchett – sleeve artwork
- Jason Tilley – photos
- J. Barry – layout
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{Cite magazine |date=31 August 1991 |editor-last=Alexander |editor-first=Phil |title=Record News |magazine=Raw |publisher=EMAP |issue=79 |page=7}}
- {{Cite news |last=Ayers |first=Chris |date=19 April 1996 |title=There's no Trouble in the Cathedral when these bands play |work=The Herald |location=Rock Hill |page=7D}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Badin |first=Olivier |title=The Depths of Doom|magazine=Terrorizer |date=May 2006 |publisher=Dark Arts Ltd |issue=144 |page=52}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Bennett |first=J. |date=February 2006 |title=Doom On: The Making of Cathedral's Forest of Equilibrium |magazine=Decibel |publisher=Red Flag Media, Inc. |pages=42-44, 46-48, 50 |issue=16}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Gitter |first=Mike |date=October 26, 1991 |title=Rekordz |magazine=Kerrang! |publisher=EMAP |page=22 |issue=364}}
- {{Cite book |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo02lark/page/990 |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |publisher=MUZE Inc. |year=1998 |isbn=0-333-74134-X |editor-last=Larkin |editor-first=Colin |editor-link=Colin Larkin |volume=2 |pages=990–991 |chapter=Cathedral |via=Internet Archive}}
- {{cite book |last1=Popoff |first1=Martin |title=The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties |publisher=Collector's Guide Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-894959-62-9 |location=Burlington, Ontario, Canada |page=73 |author-link1=Martin Popoff}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Ruskell |first=Nick |date=November 2011 |title=Cathedral: Forest of Equilibrium |journal=Kerrang!: 666 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die! |publisher=Bauer Media Group |page=24}}
{{Cathedral}}
{{Authority control}}