tempobet yeni adresi
like this cd review

07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within

PARADISE LOST

The Plague Within

MusicCD
Death MetalDoom MetalGothicMetal

[92/100]   

Century Media
07/08/2015, Benny CALUWE

Paradise Lost always has been a band with a perpetual taste for renewal and experimentation. They debuted in 1990 with the death metal album Lost Paradise. With subsequent albums Gothic (’91) and Shades Of God (’92) they became one of the ‘big three’ doom metal bands along with country-mates Anathema and My Dying Bride. By 93’s Icon the Halifax (Yorkshire° based band was gradually moving away from these influences and 95’s Draconian Times became a benchmark for the gothic metal genre. Afterwards they started to experiment with electronics. The controversial album Host (1999) even sounded as synthpop. Although disliked by many fans from the first hour, it’s a quality album in my humble opinion. After this metallic influences started to resurface. Paradise Lost released their nicely arranged eponymous album in 2005. Their 10th studio album contained accessible and occasionally poppy metal. Since 2007’s In Requiem they returned to a heavier gothic metal sound.

Their last two albums Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us (2009) and Tragic Idol (2011) stayed loyal to that heavier gothic metal sound. Although both are quality albums, they weren’t surprising. But since it was announced that their 14th album The Plague Within would contain a few death metal orientated tracks, I was curious to discover it. Last year it was a big surprise for me to find out that Nick Holmes joined the Swedish death metal super band Bloodbath. When I saw Nick performing live with Paradise Lost on certain YouTube videos, I doubted his vocal ability, but his grunts sounded ferocious on Grand Morbid Funeral. Nick’s convincing performance took my doubts away. Lead guitarist Gregor Mackingtosh and drummer Adrian Erlandsson are also envolved in the death metal side project Vallenfyre since 2010. If those successful side steps are the reason for P.L.’s shift in style, I can’t be sure, but they made me hope for the best.

The Plague Within kicks of in style with No Hope Insight. Nick Holmes’ enunciated death growls combined with his clean vocals and Gregor Mackingtosh’ melodic leads, contribute to the bleak atmosphere. All these elements will reappear throughout the album. This opening track paves the path for Paradise Lost’s return to their death/doom origins, but somehow still connects with the music they made in the past decade. It reflects the blend of styles, from death and doom to gothic metal. Like several Paradise Lost eras combined in one track. From that point of view No Hope In Sight is representative for the whole album.

Terminal is a straight forward death metal track with some terrific double bass drumming by Adrian Erlandsson (former At The Gates and Cradle Of Filth). Eternity Of Lies with its piano intro and orchestral arrangements sounds melancholic with multiple emotive voices. Punishment through time sounds more aggressive with a chunky riff. This piece somehow reminds me of their Icon period.

The following track is Beneath Broken Earth. The video was released in advance of the album. It’s a lingering ponderous doom metal anthem with weeping guitars. Hearing the beginning of the track for the first time, I thought it could be mistaken for My Dying Bride. Greg Mackintosh stated that it is the slowest song they ever recorded. “Hail to nothingness, you wish to diiiieeeeee!” Nick Holmes repeats as a mantra. His growling voice sends shivers down my spine.

Paradise Lost proved before that they are masters in integrating classical instruments and confirm this once more with the next tracks Sacrifice The Flame and Victim Of The Past. Especially the latter is a melodic pearl with effective layers of violins and cellos. In this track, “pop sensibility” and extreme metal go hand in hand.

Beneath Broken Earth was probably their slowest track ever. Flesh From Bone on the other hand might be Paradise Lost’s fastest song in terms of tempo. It’s a great death metal track. Mid tempo menacing riffs are altered with fast black metal orientated guitars. Drums approach blast beat tempo in those fiery sections. The track is nicely arranged, truly majestic! The Plague Within remains varied. The following song Cry Out is an uplifting composition with a groovy vibe.

Return ToThe Sun is the epic finale with a Wagnerian opening. It’s a killer track to end a killer album. The Plague Within might be a contender for album of the year in my opinion. It’s an album that can compete with Paradise Lost’s early classics from the period '91-'95. The album is versatile and varied; most tracks are, and so are Nick Holmes’ vocals. A sticker on my copy I purchased says: “A collection of songs that will surprise even the most seasoned of fans in its ambition: a monochrome miasma of morbidly uplifting anthems and heart-aching melancholia.” One of the rare times I totally agree with a promo talk. The Plague Within is truly terrific and simply splendid. 

 

Thanks to Ph.L. for the nice Paradise Lost pics he made @Castle Party 2015 in Bolkow, Poland

Benny CALUWE
07/08/2015


07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within 07/08/2015 : PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within

 

Next reviews
JAN SWINBURNE • Consensual Enigmas
CLAUDE PINOTEAU • L'ETUDIANTE
XTC • Apple Venus & Wasp Star
ASHLEY DAYOUR (WHISPERS IN THE SHADOW) • Ten Albums That Changed My Life
SUNSHADOWS • Red Herring
PEGA MONSTRO • Alfarroba
ABDELLATIF KECHICHE • La Vie D'Adèle (Blue Is The warmest Color)
MIDIAN DITE • Ten Albums That Changed My Life
EIGHTY-TWELVE • Everyone is wrong
XANDRIA • Fire And Ashes EP

 

Other reviews from PARADISE LOST
PARADISE LOST • Antwerp, Trix (10/06/2015)
PARADISE LOST • CLASSICS: Draconian times

 

Same genre: DEATH METAL
COMBICHRIST • Hate Like Me
ARKAN • Kelem
NIHILISM • Beyond Redemption
OBITUARY • Then Thousand Ways To Die
POSEYDON • Masterpiece
DEVILDRIVER • Trust No One
DEATH • Scream Bloody Gore
ON THORNS I LAY • Eternal Silence
GOMORRAH • The Haruspex
EXUVIATED • Last Call To The Void

 

Same genre: DOOM METAL
RITUAL SERVICE, MOTHER WITCH AND & DEAD WATER GHOSTS AND GOOSLA • Live at The Volume Club, Kiev, 7th December 2018
NADJA • The Stone is Not Hit By The Sun, Nor Carved With A Knife
CANDLEMASS • Death Thy Lover
MARCHE FUNèBRE • Lost
DRACONIAN • Sovran
IMPLORE • Depopulation
AMBER ASYLUM, CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE, EMPYRIUM, DARKHER, TENHI • Prophecy Fest @ Balver Höhle in Balve 19/09/2015
AHAB • THE BOATS OF THE GLEN CARRIG
ORPHANS OF DUSK • Revenant
ARCANE COELESTIA • Nomas

 

Same genre: GOTHIC
ROSETTA STONE • Under The Weather
THE DREAMSIDE • Dreams Beyond The Veil
DER KLINKE • Facing Fate
NFD • Trinity
THE MARS MODEL • Primal Urge
FEATHER TRADE • Dead Boy
THIS VALE OF TEARS • This Vale Of Tears
KILL SHELTER • Asylum
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE • Fascination
TWO WITCHES • The Undead

 

Same genre: METAL
GROOVENOM • Wir müssen reden
FROSTTIDE • Decedents – Enshrined
INCONCESSUS LUX LUCIS
VARIOUS • ALCATRAZ METAL FESTIVAL 2018 10-12th August, Kortrijk, Belgium
GHOST • Popestar
SWITCHBLADE • “2016”
WILDHEART • WILDHEART
NERVOSA • Agony
ASP • Verfallen Folge 2: Fassaden
PSYCHO GENERATION + OST+FRONT • Eernegem, B52 (22/04/2016)

Music reviews

18
10
RED LORRY YELLOW LORRY
Driving Black
09
10
CAUGHT IN JOY
Out Of Nowhere
30
09
PLAY DEAD
The Collection
24
09
ROSETTA STONE
Under The Weather
18
09
CIERN
Flawless
17
09
ENZO KREFT
Hey Mr Dictator

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

NEWS

31
10
40 years ago Ministry released (Every Day Is) Halloween!
28
10
Suicide Commando goes retro at Bimfest XXII - 2024
28
10
47 years Never Mind The Bollocks!
28
10
On this day, 36 years ago, Front 242 released Front By Front!
24
10
Exactly 35 years ago Nitzer Ebb released ‘Control I’m Here’
23
10
44 of Subhuman and Adrenalin!

Concert reviews

15
04
FAD GADGET
***FLASHBACK REVIEW***The Return of FAD GADGET (15.04.2001)***FLASHBACK REVIEW***
16
11
DREADFOOL - EUFORIC EXISTENCE - EULFI
ELECTRO au BNR

GET A COPY OF OUR MAGAZINE
SEND TO YOUR HOME

INTERVIEWS

24
10
DEMONWARP
An Interview With DEMONWARP
19
10
SEQUENTIAL ZERO
An Interview With Darkwave Band, Sequential Zero
08
10
LLUMEN
I can’t really describe how it feels when you become a kind of expert by experience because of the suicide of one of your loved ones, but it is the thought of loneliness and not finding another way out that sticks with
08
10
THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS
I think you will see a clear evolution if you compare ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ to ‘Echoing Reverie’, but the few people who have heard it still consider it The Ultimate Dreamers.
01
10
DICHRO
An Interview With Darkwave Band, DICHRO

PHOTOS

29
10
BEYOND OBSESSION
Kufa Krefeld
29
10
PROJECT PITCHFORK
Kufa Krefeld
21
10
LAIBACH
Christuskirche Bochum
20
10
LAIBACH
La Sucrerie
14
10
DEINE LAKAIEN ZEISS PLANETARIUM BOCHUM
Bochum Planetarium
07
10
SYLVAINE
AB Brussel
07
10
EIVOR
AB Brussel

ADVERTISE
IN PEEK-A-BOO

VIDEO CLIPS

30
10
VIRGIN IN VEIL
Of Tears and Poisons
29
10
BEAUTY IN THE SUFFERING
Reveille (The Zombie Trilogy Part 2)
28
10
AFTER ABSENCE
Collide
27
10
ANNA MEREDITH
R-Type
26
10
A DARKER COLOR BRIGHT
Missing You
25
10
DOOMSQUAD
Pyramids On Mars
24
10
MIIKE SNOW
Genghis Khan