Sephiroth — Cathedron

Hearing Cathedron in 2025 shows how influential this album has been over the past few decades while also reinforcing its timelessness. The path that was laid out  on this record linked the juncture of dark ambient and tribal industrial so perfectly that the two would be forever intertwined, echoing the ritualistic nature of both the esoteric and the mechanical. Sephiroth's approach is what makes this work so effective and evocative; it builds only as needed and uses stronger industrial sounds and tones to add poignant punctuation. Its atmosphere is enigmatic, calling forth imagery of not only our world but that of any dark fantasy realm the listener can conjure. Rituals, myths, the ebb and flow of time, and nature's dark majesty all are brought to light on Cathedron. From the propulsive "Wolftribes" to the brooding "R'lyhe," the album brings the listener on quite a journey through time, emotion, and progress. Bolstered with field recordings from Cairo, Iceland, and the Nordic wilderness, the depth of Cathedron stands the test of time, much like the natural and manmade monuments that fill the landscape. Interestingly, the album has become one of the legendary monuments that it had sonically described, now an inspiration and beacon to fans and artists the world over. Its dark and lush tones resonate as strongly today as they did when it was first released, evidence that Sephiroth captured something deeper than just an ambient record. That echo within all of us to something beyond our comprehension, either in the past or otherworldly, keeps reeling listeners in and influencing others to share their visions.

 

With a genre that has unfolded and expanded greatly over the past few decades, one can often get lost tracing back the roots and influences. Sephiroth's Cathedron has stood the test of time, sounding as fresh and exciting today as it did back in 1999. Truly a legendary album in the genre, its collision of dark ambient and tribal industrial helped forge a sound that made its mark, a sonic monument of its own. Reissued by Cyclic Law, fans are encouraged to grab this limited release to experience the album anew, and with bonus material and expanded packaging.