The Summary Judgment Review:
Title: The Serpent's Gold
Artist: Cathedral
Label: Earache Records
Release Date: 7/27/04

Rating: 2 Skulls
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    • Abyss's Review (8/20/04):
    Okay, it's hard enough to review these 'compilation' albums, but Earache decided to make it even harder. You see, The Serpent's Gold is a two disc set that "collects together the highlights of the band's Earache years, together with unprecedented collection of rarities selected by the band themselves". Well, that sounds just ducky, doesn't it? In fact, that is exactly as much as we could ever hope to receive from these types of projects. One disc of 'greatest hits' and one of unreleased, live, or rare tracks. Of course, the greatest hits are of little interest to many of us, because we own all of the albums anyway, but the second disc will certainly be a curiosity to every Cathedral fan out there. And here lies the problem. Earache only sent out the first disc for review, precisely the disc I didn't have much to say about.

    For those of you who are interested, it's an entertaining 'greatest hits' in that it isn't completely predictable, but it is pretty much standard fare. My friend Famine said he found it interesting because it made him realize how poorly newer Cathedral held up to the older, classic shit. I understand his point, and agree somewhat, but I'm also amazed how this band has become less interesting, but still remained my favorite in the genre. Their later albums may pale when compared to Forest of Equilibrium, but they still kick ass and take names. It is only a truly special band that can do that.

    Of course, I'd really rather report on the bonus disc which contains the following tracklisting:

    1. Hide and Seek
    2. Neophytes for Serpent Eve (demo)
    3. Violet Breath
    4. Night of the Seagulls (demo)
    5. Magic Mountain (not to be confused with "Midnight Mountain" - these guys and their mountains!)
    6. A Funeral Request (live) feat. V. Griffin/J. Hasselvander (Pentagram) & S. Carlson (Repulsion)
    7. The Olde Oak Tree
    8. Schizoid Puppeteer
    9. Carnival Bizarre (demo)
    10. Rabies (Witchfinder Gerneral cover)
    11. Blue Light (live)
    12. Commiserating the Celebration (of Life) (demo)

    So, yeah that looks pretty cool. So since I can't really give you a recommendation, I'll just put it this way. I'm a big Cathedral fan and I'm going to go out and buy this just for disc 2. One word review: ?????
    2 out of 5
    ABYSS  Email Abyss

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