Horror mastermind and musician John Carpenter announced Cathedral, his debut graphic novel and a companion album, promising to be his heaviest musical work yet.
The graphic novel will be released August 4th by Storm King Comics and the album comes out August 7th on Sacred Bone Records. Fans can pre-order the graphic novel here and the album here.
With the announcement, the filmmaker and scorer released a single, “Lords of the Underground,” a chugging metal soundtrack with ghostly synth accents and familiar-but-disorienting Carpenter piano melodies.
The graphic novel was inspired by a “cinematic and vivid” dream from 2024, Carpenter said in a press release.
The story centers on an abandoned church in downtown Los Angeles, the press release said. After a police officer’s killing draws attention to the long-ignored cathedral, three cops are pulled into an investigation that leads them deep into its catacombs and toward a centuries-old evil imprisoned within.
Carpenter created the graphic novel with his wife and long-time creative partner, producer and editor Sandy King. Writer Sean Sobczak also worked on the project along with illustrators Federico De Luca and Luis Guaragna, colorist Sian Mandrake, and letterer Marshall Dillon
Songs from the album coincide with chapters of the graphic novel with liner notes guiding listeners through the story.
“I thought, ‘I have to score this.’ It’s kind of our first heavy metal album,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter made the album with his long-time collaborators and bandmates Cody Carpenter, the director’s son, on synths and Daniel Davies on guitar
“The story informed everything,” Davies said. “John would describe a scene and say, ‘We need a heavy riff here.’ We didn’t set out to make a metal record, but it evolved that way.”
Despite being a companion to the graphic novel, Carpenter was adamant that the music be able to stand alone.
“That’s first and foremost,” he said. “It’s all about making the music work. This is somewhat different sounding stuff that we’ve done, but it’s done with the same desire in mind. In other words, put this thing on and imagine you’re watching a movie. That’s what we want you to do.”
Cathedral Artwork:
Cathedral Graphic Novel Cover:
