Do I really need to tell something about Paradise Lost? No, not really. I believe, anyone, somehow involved in heavy music, listened to this band and found something he liked: heaviness and up-tempo in Draconian Times and Icon, synth experiments on Host and Believe in Nothing or would it be the freezingly slow Medusa? Maybe a deep depression on The Plague Within? However, the band’s music was always dark, melancholic and sorrowful, no matter what genre musicians are currently into. “People should expect us to get more miserable,” – jokes irreplaceable vocalist Nick Holmes when asked what fans might anticipate from Paradise Lost in 2025. “Ironically,” he laughs, “miserable music is always the most enjoyable to listen to, and to write I guess.”
The newest album, Ascension, is also dark and full of misery and melancholy, just like it is expected. “The album title is taken from the belief in rising to the better place, in fiction from the Earth to heaven, and all the requirements that go with that,” tells Nick. “In real life, people are always striving to get a better place from birth, trying be a better person, regardless of the fact that the only reward is death.” Well, there is nothing to add here, so let’s move on to the music.
[youtube youtubeurl=”EVtZZ15oQDQ” ][/youtube]From the very first notes of the opener “Serpent on the Cross” we get exactly what we wanted: dark monumentality of Paradise Lost, accentuated by tragic keyboards, which is changed by up-tempo thundering riff and proper drumming by Guido Zima of Strigoi. However, the melody here is captivating, just like Greg Mackintosh’ fast solo. The next “Tyrants Serenade” is no less captivating and catchy, but here the band shows its gothic side: slow-paced and beautifully melodic, with Nick’s clean and brooding vocals. “Salvation” keeps the slow pace but the atmosphere is mournful, with bells and crows croaking in intro; later the flickering keyboards intensify it, while guitar plays a variation of “Funeral March” as a riff with a short solo. However, the pace is changed in the middle and Nick’s desperate vocals overlaying the pummeling riffs but soon the music comes back to the beginning, with emphasized melodic solo guitar. “Silence Like The Grave” starts monumentally, while the riff hits hard with its groove. The chorus is heavy yet melodic and Nick change his vocals from clean to growling and back easily. This song, probably, is the most straightforward Paradise Lost song on the album with another great solo from Greg Mackintosh. In contrast, “Lay A Wreath Upon The World” is much “tranquil”, with just an acoustic guitar and calm vocals, at least at the beginning. Later the drums and hard-hitting riffs come along with mesmerizing female vocals. Well, in some way I can understand why some people called this song “Bon Jovi’s power ballad” – it is made by the similar pattern – but it’s not that the song got worse or became less Paradise Lost-ish. After the short break “Diluvium” brings back doom riffs and growls with dreary melodic guitars but later the fast pace, almost heavy metal riffs and double bass change the song drastically.
[youtube youtubeurl=”JSAlEVzLhDc” ][/youtube]The second half of the album can be called “experimental” but as I recall, Paradise Lost always tried something new during their career. So, I can’t really say there is something unpredictable but it’s a plenty of really surprising moments. “Savage Days” starts with interesting guitar picking and sad vocals and then music expectedly unfolds into a mournful procession, melodic and captivating, with a little not to Host and Believe In Nothing albums. “Sirens” has one of the catchiest riffs on the album along with the chorus, while the vocals are full of desperation. “Deceivers” hearkens back to Draconian Times and the same can be said about “This Stark Town”, a suddenly up-tempo penultimate track. “The Precipice” is going back to slow-paced doom metal with dismal growls and double bass and in the end, we have “A Life Unknown”: addictive, melodic and somehow cathartic for the album. It is the perfect ending for Ascension but at the same time it will make you want to listen to this album again. And again. And again.
[youtube youtubeurl=”C1_kMRiyt5w” ][/youtube]To sum up… Well who need sum ups here anyway? If you like Paradise Lost, partially at least, you will love this album. If you don’t like Paradise Lost, Ascension will hardly convince you, for my sorrow. This album greatly encapsulates everything the band did before and perfectly shows why they are legends.
Ascension will be released on September, 19th via Nuclear Blast.
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