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Final verdict: 8/10 ★★★★☆
Well… to say I felt bamboozled would be an understatement. Hollywood Video Game Kill-Bot’s (now say that fast three times) 2025 single “Cathedral” is… quite the experience. And I’d love to say it’s “nothing and everything at the same time”, but man, it’s hard to claim this is “nothing” at all. It’s not a work that passes you by – since the first time I heard it two days ago, it’s hardly left my brain, and only after several listens do I believe I finally got it in me to deliver an at least semi-fulfilled perspective on it.
The artist, when asked what genre they would classify this piece as, claimed it’s “experimental electronic rock” – and well, I can totally see that. “Cathedral” dabbles in polyrhythmic grooves and atonal systems, with not much adherence to traditional rock structures. That makes it all feel like random whim, though a closer look reveals a quite the opposite; the drum pattern, bassline and clean guitar riff remain the same throughout the track’s entire runtime, and the ever-changing host of digital synth leads and videogame sound effects keep rotating through the same few motifs. So though this piece feels like a free jazz jam gone south, it truly is experimental… and rock… and electronic. That is, it’s exactly what it says on the tin. Experimental electronic rock.
One thing I’m unsure of is whether or not “Cathedral” was crafted to be the soundtrack to a fictional videogame, or something of the sort, at least. The sound effects and rinky-dink synths really sell it that way, and though I cannot imagine a singular genre of videogame this would be an apt soundtrack for (it’s not like I’m a huge gaming buff, anyway), this does feel like videogame lobby music from another dimension. I mean, it’s in the bands’ name; Hollywood Video Game Kill-Bot. Again, what it says on the tin – the influence most assuredly is there, and I wish I could visualize a videogame with this playing in the background. Someone, please make that happen.
I would like to consider myself a person well-versed in music, but man, I don’t think my range of knowledge includes anything quite like this. It was my first “first” in a while. Is it bad I kind of really like it? Watch out for Hollywood Video Game Kill-Bot, everybody; I just found your new favorite guilty pleasure artist, and thank me later.
Also a heads up for all you drug fiends out there; do not listen to this while under the influence. It will fuck you up.
8/10.
Silia 
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