John Carpenter Announces Heavy New Album/Graphic Novel Project ‘Cathedral’

Legendary filmmaker and composer John Carpenter is stepping further into heavy music territory with the announcement of his new multimedia project ‘Cathedral’.

Best known for iconic films including ‘Halloween’ and ‘Escape From New York’, Carpenter’s latest endeavor combines his first-ever graphic novel with a companion album that he describes as “kind of our first heavy metal album.”

The graphic novel edition of ‘Cathedral’ is scheduled for release on August 4th through Storm King Comics, while the accompanying album arrives August 7th via Sacred Bones Records.

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Backing Carpenter on the project are longtime collaborators Daniel Davies (ex-Karma To Burn, CKY) and Carpenter’s son, Cody Carpenter, continuing the creative partnership established through the ‘Lost Themes’ series and recent ‘Halloween’ films.

According to the project’s official description, the story was inspired by a vivid dream Carpenter experienced in 2024 and revolves around a mysterious church in downtown Los Angeles tied to a dark supernatural force.

Reflecting on the origins of the project, Carpenter explained that the story immediately felt cinematic to him.

“It was so cinematic and vivid. I thought, ‘I have to score this.’ It’s kind of our first heavy metal album.”

The album and graphic novel are designed to function together, with each song corresponding to chapters within the story. The narrative follows Lieutenant Christine Marks and two detectives investigating a brutal murder connected to the abandoned cathedral and the ancient evil hidden beneath it.

Discussing how the music evolved during the writing process, Daniel Davies revealed that the heavier direction developed naturally as the story came together.

“The story informed everything. 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.”

While the project embraces a more metallic sound than Carpenter’s earlier synth-driven work, the trio aimed to preserve the tension and atmosphere that have defined his music for decades.

Carpenter also emphasized that despite the album being tied directly to the graphic novel, the music was intended to stand on its own.

“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.”

The first preview of the project arrives via the newly released track “Lord Of The Underground”, accompanied by visuals featuring artwork from the graphic novel.

Pre-orders for the ‘Cathedral’ graphic novel and companion album are available now through Storm King Comics and Sacred Bones Records.

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