Clash Magazine has given an 8/10 review to "Cathedral", a new instrumental score from filmmaker-turned-composer John Carpenter, created with regular collaborators Daniel Davies and Cody Carpenter. Unusually, the work accompanies a graphic novel rather than a film, marking a notable departure for Carpenter, who has scored numerous soundtracks since turning to music full-time in 2015. The reviewer praises it as one of the strongest releases of his career, ranking it alongside classics such as "Halloween" and "The Thing".

The graphic novel's story stems from a dream Carpenter had in 2024 about a decaying cathedral, a murder and an ancient evil, and the trio's score is described as heavier and more metal-influenced than any of Carpenter's previous work, driven by Davies's aggressive guitar work alongside Carpenter's trademark synths. The review highlights tracks including "Elevator", "Elevator Two" and "Revenge" for their cinematic intensity, and notes that, like Kid Koala's "Nufonia Must Fall", the release includes cues indicating which pages to read alongside specific passages of music.