Plague of Angels: Historic Yorkshire town hall to be rocked by the sound of doom metal

But the instrument is being put to a different usage in one Yorkshire venue next month - as it will be played alongside a doom metal band.

Metal musicians Plague of Angels will be joined by David Pipe, the former assistant director of music at York Minster, for the concert at Huddersfield Town Hall on December 5.

It marks a return to the Yorkshire stage for the collaborative project which hit headlines earlier this year when they performed York Minster.

The planned concert was criticised by some members of the Minster’s congregation as being inappropriate for the religious setting, and performer Aaron Stainthorpe was removed from the bill due to past comments about Christianity.

The complaints also focussed on some of Plague of Angels’ members being involved with another metal band, Cradle of Filth, who have produced controversial merchandise and lyrics.

Fellow Plague of Angels member Mark Mynett, a music academic at the University of Huddersfield, has said he was “really upset” by the controversy.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, he said: “What was very upsetting was that claims were made based on assumptions which were false.

“We reassured people that what would take place during the concert would not be antithetical to the church.

“And as we found out, it was an incredible event. The whole controversy took us away from what was the foundation of the event: this incredible instrument at the heart of English heritage being presented with a modern metal band.

“It was to bring people into the Minster who wouldn’t normally be there.

“It was a very interesting time - but also a very challenging time.”

Mr Mynett explained that the upcoming concert would celebrate doom metal’s links to Yorkshire.

He said: “There’s an incredible link to Yorkshire with the project. It’s based out of Huddersfield, where I work. The drummer in Plague of Angels plays in Paradise Lost, the world’s biggest doom metal band, who are from Bradford.

“Yorkshire is renowned as the capital of doom metal worldwide, and there’s a really incredible local economy story.

“And there’s a real crossover between the sacred, and the modernity.”

Speaking of the genesis of the project, he said: “I happened to hear David play at St Paul’s Cathedral and it took me back to being eight years old and going to see a pipe organist with my Dad.

“David teaches pipe organ at the University, and we went for a coffee afterwards. He told me about the plight of organs in this country - so many are going into landfill every week, and they cost £100,000 to service.

“They are such important parts of our heritage and need to be protected.

“And I just loved what he was talking about, and he asked if I had any ideas for a live event to bring people in - and I immediately said ‘yes - a metal band.’”

The project will also perform at Hull City Hall in May 2026.