Paradise Lost return this year not only with a new album but a new found sense of purpose. See what The Plague Within holds…
[tracklist]
1. No Hope In Sight
2. Terminal
3. An Eternity Of Lies
4. Punishment Through Time
5. Beneath Broken Earth
6. Sacrifice The Flame
7. Victim Of The Past
8. Flesh From Bone
9. Cry Out
10. Return To The Sun
[/tracklist]
[details]
[length]56:00[/length]
[record_label]Century Media[/record_label]
[release_date]1st Of June 2015[/release_date]
[/details]
The mythological Phoenix, proven to be a universal symbol of rebirth. Late last year, for those with their footholds in the death metal genre will no doubt remember the highlight that was Bloodbath’s return to morbidity with Grand Morbid Funeral. After much deliberation the band settled on one Nick the bell ringer, simultaneously giving the band their signature sound whilst carving a niche for himself Nick Holmes became the sonic embodiment of Bloodbath. But this was merely his mistress…
Returning to Paradise Lost, now on their fourteenth album have truly crawled back from where they were previous. “Punishment Through Time” may disguise itself as classic material though don’t let that fool you, mid way through were introduced a stomping beat, working perfectly with Homles’ anguished screams. The use of dynamics in the album is present throughout, with the small amounts of tension being created through the use of classic instruments to inspire melancholy.
Experimenting with instruments for the doom laden “Sacrifice The Flame” creates a sense of build up using violins to cellos each respective instrument adding its own depth to the album. Masterfully pulled of in “Victim Of The Past” where much more modern elements of tapping and double bass from drummer Adrian Erlandsson who really hammers his kit. Working perfectly with the brooding vocals. Most importantly the album doesn’t wander into the pitfall that is boredom. Far too often doom metal can be extremely repetitive and if you’re not careful the listners mind tends to wander. Though the aptly titled “Beneath Broken Earth” retains the inaugural sense that Paradise Lost have had since their inception, weaving harmonies through the lugubrious riffs.
However that doesn’t last forever, fastest song on the album “Flesh From Bone” is an all out assault by Paradise Lost’s standards. Featuring some of those quintessential Black Metal style chords, with the haunting choir backing them up its clear that this would have been influenced by Holmes’ recent flirting with Death Metal. Make no mistake however this may be a faster track but it has the band’s identity all over it, doused in the doom laden trimmings it makes for a fantastically varied sound.
The melancholia of final track “Return To The Sun” which typically deals with the idea of returning to the nothingness from whence we came. Though the scene is set beautifully with the arrival of choirs, bugles, trumpets that make for an incredibly cinematic finale. What seems to be more apparent than ever though would be the sense of melody, “No Hope In Sight” is the perfect introduction, a snapshot of exactly where Paradise Lost are now at in their career creating melodious overtones and ramping up the tempo and heaviness particularly with Steve Edmondson’s bass having a powerful body to it. Being so late in their career it would be understandable if the band would coast through, sticking to a set formula but with the inclusion of our revitalised singer crooning when it’s needed and giving that extra sense of bite the band were sorely lacking, this is a brilliant return to form. It’s not all about Nick though, guitar work performed by Greg Mackintosh allows for some beautiful solo’s the set piece of third track “An Eternity Of Lies”.
Choosing a fantastic album title The Plague Within could arguably have the connotations of a metaphorical stalemate. Personally, Paradise Lost have never been my cup of tea, well not since Gothic, but with their brand new album they succeed in every way to eschew the parasite that can be stale material. Unleashing one of the most fiercely creative, dynamic and surprising doom releases in a long time. Which, for a genre that is epitomised by slow lethargic movements, is saying something. Standing tall like the defiant incredible artwork, it would seem that from the molten ashes of Bloodbath our phoenix has been re-birthed in The Plague Within.
[verdict]Yes[/verdict]
[why]Being on their fourteenth album, you could easily think that Paradise Lost might be coasting. Helped by Holmes’ inclusion in the latest Bloodbath record the band return with a brilliant but grim sense of life. [/why]
If you liked what you read / heard you can pick up the brand new album here!
