Hopkins (The Witchfinder General) was released by Lee Dorrian’s doom metal band Cathedral in 1996 on a 5-track E.P. Formed in Coventry, England in 1989 from ex-members of Napalm Death (Dorrian) and Acid Reign (guitarist, Gaz Jennings), the band sought to ditch the punk and death metal directions their previous bands were heading in and explore slower, ‘doomier’ sounds, being influenced by the likes of Black Sabbath and Pentagram.
Hopkins sees Cathedral at its peak, both musically, visually and perhaps most importantly, ridiculously. Intertwining soundbites from Vincent Price throughout the video from the film Witchfinder General, the video has oodles of everything you could want in a promotional video. Directed by provocative British film-maker and head honcho of the Redemption/Salvation group, Nigel Wingrove, if this doesn’t make you want to watch the film/dance like Dorrian, there’s no hope for you.
The video features ravishing actress and regular contributor to the horror scene, Eileen Daly as well as Cookie, who was often to be seen on the James Whale Radio Show which was a must-watch (it was confusingly titled) for insomniacs and post-pub revellers during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Even the black horse was a celebrity, having featured in the Lloyds Bank television commercials.
Daz Lawrence, MOVIES & MANIA
