CATHEDRAL: 'The Guessing Game' First-Week Sales Revealed

"The Guessing Game", the ninth full-length album from the veteran British doom/stoner band CATHEDRAL, sold around 700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 74 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Produced once again by Warren Riker (DOWN, CROWBAR),who also took care of the band's last effort, "The Garden Of Unearthly Delights", in 2005, "The Guessing Game" is one wild and unpredictable ride with one of the most unique and exciting acts the metal genre has got to offer! For the first time in the band's history, they have recorded a double album that boasts thirteen tracks offering a colourful variety of musical styles and lyrical themes: "Requiem For The Voiceless", for example, is pure, down 'n' out crawling doom — and the first animal-rights song in doom metal history! Then you'll get classic stomping and grooving CATHEDRAL material with the catchy "Painting In The Dark", plus many songs wading through psychedelic and proggy waters — especially "Funeral Of Dreams", featuring none other than Alison O' Donnell of MELLOW CANDLE ('70s Irish folk rock band) fame doing guest vocals.

It comes as no surprise that this time around CATHEDRAL went as far as to include exotic instrumentation such as Mellotron and Sitar. And pay special attention to the lyrics of "Journeys Into Jade": Lee Dorrian and Co. are celebrating 20 years of CATHEDRAL with this one!

And what a way to celebrate this anniversary: traditional CATHEDRAL cover artist Dave Patchett came up with one of his finest artworks in the band's history, mirroring the themes and musical quirkiness of the album itself.

"The Guessing Game" track listing:

Disc 1:

01. Immaculate Misconception (02:24)
02. Funeral Of Dreams (08:28)
03. Painting In The Dark (06:18)
04. Death Of An Anarchist (07:12)
05. The Guessing Game (03:08)
06. Edwige's Eyes (07:08)
07. Cats, Incense, Candles & Wine (06:01)

Disc 2:

01. One Dimensional People (02:30)
02. The Casket Chasers (06:41)
03. La Noche del Buque Maldito (a.k.a. Ghost Ship of The Blind Dead) (05:46)
04. The Running Man (08:46)
05. Requiem for the Voiceless (09:50)
06. Journey Into Jade (10:36)

Last year, Night Of The Vinyl Dead Records released CATHEDRAL's "Caravan Beyond Redemption" album on limited-edition double splatter vinyl with a gatefold cover. The LP, which was originally released by Earache in 1998, was limited to 500 copies.