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The album was released on May 22, 2007... But perhaps it would fit better between "Icon" and "Draconian Times"... Sincerely "repenting" from their pop rock sound, Paradise Lost take 2 steps back from "One Second" in 2 albums. In fact, the line-up, which has remained unchanged in its main members for almost 20 years, shows that it is capable of opening and closing chapters of experimentation as if they never existed. The guitars return to leaden, the voice rusted, the drums slow down...
They have returned to prove they are one of the 3 Kings of English doom metal. In fact, the gothic that was still vainly present in "Paradise Lost" is further darkened by increasingly slower tempos and less "heroic" singing. All accompanied by delicate and mostly choral keyboards, or as embellishment, but rarely protagonists of melodic themes, which indeed almost disappear.
"Never for the damned" is the immediate proof of what I just said. Granitic, heavy, and monochord riffs of devastation.
And the voice almost resembles Hetfield, hoarse but not in growl. The average length is 4 minutes per song. Same story for "Ash & Debris", which, adorned with a piano and a solo, flows quickly. "The Enemy", a single from the album, is by necessity the most listenable, featuring a very catchy chorus and tune. There aren't many ideas, and so once again "Praise Lamented Shade" relies on slow tempos and this time a cleaner vocal. The keyboards here are much more refined than usual.
The most suggestive and pleasant track turns out to be "Requiem", much more studied and intertwined with motives and technicalities, besides having much more sustained rhythms, reaching almost death-like passages. Hints of electronic experimentation in "Unreachable", which, however, quickly retreat like a hermit crab to make room for yet another combination of rocky and probably already-played riffs. Just like "Prelude to Descent", "Fallen Children", and "Beneath Black Skies", which, although they boast melodic seconds, remain strongly sealed to the main theme of the album. "Sedative God" is the heaviest by far, lightened only by Nick Holmes' singing. Otherwise, it could easily be confused with one from "Gothic". The last track, "Your Own Reality", is strangely bastardized by choirs and symphonic elements, but soon one realizes that the rhythmic-guitar section brings us back to a pure doom metal as at the origins.
The album is not terrible, those who love the genre will like it, but obviously, it turns out to be redundant for the most part. Perhaps they truly regret "Host", after all, only the old glories of "Gothic" and the like found a place from the live "BBC Sessions"... Or maybe they realized they are much more productive and appreciated by old fans with their primordial genre. Anathema have gradually and definitively changed, My Dying Bride dared once to do so only to hastily return back, Paradise Lost took more time, in any case, I can't explain these repentances, whether they ran out of money, ideas, or if these are truly stylistic choices...
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
02 Ash & Debris (04:16)
Your beliefs shadow everyday (Never again)
Live and breathe, shelter and restrain (Never again)
Never wanted loss
My ever needing soul
Never wanted blood...
You conceive tragedies innate (Feel so revived)
You redeem fallacy remains (Fear so in mind)
Never wanting loss
Never need control
Never wanting love
Could there be, something that your world depends on in me...
Never wanted loss
My ever needing soul
Never wanted blood...
Could there be, something that your world depends on in me...
Could it be, nothing that you learned from ash and debris?
03 The Enemy (03:39)
Why can't you say sorrow
Why can't you say think I believe
Thou must not steal borrow
Why must you steal things I receive?
Why can't you say sorrow
Why can't you say think I believe
Why must you steal borrow
Always conceal cling to belief
Damaged this way hollowed
Living the lie that you can't take
Damaged maintained solemn
Living for rules you only break
How can you say?
The enemy is thrown into the sadness,
For the enemy there's only pain and sadness then death...
09 Beneath Black Skies (04:12)
This reprisal search for words Analyse what it's worth Set the stars ablaze from earth In thoughts sublime we immerse Another fear I can't see All blown away You say you'll never run away From a certain pointing light Beneath black skies I search for words Hell relies on what is worse Heaven lies on sullen earth Fall then rise Fall then birth Another fear I can't see All blown away You say you'll never run away From a certain point in life Is there something wrong? Nothing I sense no belong
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