•
Rating: Paradise Lost seemed truly lost after the disappointment of "One Second," the commercial pop of "Host," and the boredom of "Believe In Nothing."
With this "Symbol Of Life," however, they seem to regain body and soul, framing a new evolution of the band.
The music remains shrouded in darkness, a condition only partially unbalanced by songs like "Isolate" and "Self Obsessed," two of the most "physical" tracks on the album, where the atmospheres oppress rather than depress. The gothic reverberations are rediscovered with the single "Erased," thanks especially to the remarkable contribution of the female voice that echoes pure and clear, in contrast to the large and sometimes unsettling voice of the singer. The quality is confirmed with the solemn "Two Worlds," a true monument to the apocalypse, or in the excellent "Perfect Mask," certainly the most twisted, enigmatic, and psychotic track.
The rhythmic "Mistify" softens the power in favor of melody but continues to maintain the perfect decadent spirit, a trend fully outlined in the subsequent "No Celebration," icy and disheartening.
Finally, we arrive at the concluding black pearl. "Channel For The Pain" opens a true river of rage that flows impetuously and without boundaries, dragging with it, in its fury, suffering and alienation, until the end.
Thus stands "Symbol Of Life," a work that, while not having the timeless depth and charm of "Draconian Times," recreates a reality where light is never seen, but the eyes open to the darkness.
"...The times I've fallen... The times I've failed..."
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Isolate (03:44)
I'm sent for elimination
to where I cannot know,
but I'm lost
without a chance in hell
and I'm lost
with doubts I can avoid this
Come feel the fire burn
I'll slowly drift away
A victim of the future
with my mind and soul decayed
Isolate
I'm sent for eradication
by whom I cannot know,
but I'm lost
without a chance in hell
I'm the last one out
I can't avoid this
Exposed to fire
but I'll burn another way
A victim of the future
I embrace the tourniquet
Isolate
Lead us all to pastures green
to search and learn
from ones I cannot be
Lead us all to harmony
to search and learn
the one I cannot be
02 Erased (03:32)
I don't owe anything
I don't owe anyone
Shoot pride for all it's worth
I don't belong
In a situation now
That I could not repair
I assert myself to sleep
Show others that I've cared
How cold is this poor life
Lay ashes at my grave
If it takes me away from you
A subtle gesture
I don't know anyone (cherish my religion)
I don't know anyone (faith is only fiction)
I don't know anyone (cherish my religion)
I don't know anyone (faith is only fiction)
This is erased I promise not a trace
This is erased I promise no delay not a trace
06 Perfect Mask (03:46)
i live behind the perfect mask
erase the rule forever
i live behind the perfect mask
unleash the truth forever
i live behind the perfect mask
too late gonna live at last
i live behind the perfect mask
too late gonna live at last
i live behind the perfect mask
erase the truth forever
i live behind the perfect mask
only the true endevour
help me....i dare say theres no other way
help me....i dare say theres no other way to go
wanton fallacy again
merciless until the end
recognise my heart is there
so reveal me and disgrace me
07 Mystify (03:49)
faced with shame,
i accept a will that that's long departed
phased with games,
i resent a world i once regarded
but now it seems the changes must be made...
celebrate! terrify me
don't mystify your love
celebrate! terrify me
don't mystify your love
laced with shame,
i reject a thrill that's so misguided
faith in flames,
i'm exempt to blame that's so demanded
but now it seems that changes have been made.....
celebrate! terrify me
don't mystify your love
celebrate! terrify me
don't mystify your love
a simple lie brings you down, in an ordinary way
a simple lie brings you down, in an ordinary way
a simple lie....
08 No Celebration (03:48)
take my hand,
hurray for the winters come...
cease my plans
excuse me from the scenes of old
i can meet you there? , i just don't care
on this new years day
with no celebration from me
understand
there's comfort with the wealth of gold
increase demands
release me from the scenes of old
i can't make it clear you just won't hear
on this new years day
there's no celebration from me
i could see you there? , we just don't care
on this new years day
without hesitation
there's no celebration from me
09 Self-Obsessed (03:07)
i'm self-obsessed
wrong words i said
it's clear that some things aren't worth really trying
so let it go, let it be
then we'll talk and i can
dream you're not here
persevere, i could live without this
the one you'd like to go
is taken much too slow
you're not impressed
wrong words i said
a mere subject of your self-indulgence
so let it go, let it be
shall we to talk about it
my misery is when you breathe
there's no doubt about it
10 Symbol of Life (03:56)
All alone beside myself
All alone beside myself
And I've troubles on my mind
And I've reached the depths of life
And I hear that deaths alright
Still I'll wait for you to try
When the dreams have been and gone
And the torment has begun
My emotions run
Can't get by with what I've got
Always dwell on what I've lost
Just a loaded gun
A symbol of my life
A symbol of my life
On the floor I crawl and writhe
As the day turns into night
I remove myself from sight
And I reached the depths alright
And I hear deaths part of life
Still I wish that you would try
When a dream has been and gone
And the torment has begun
The rejections done
I get by with what I've got
Always aware if what I've lost
Just a loaded gun
A symbol of my life
A symbol of my life
A symbol of my life
A symbol of my life
Nothing more
Nothing more to say to me
13 Small Town Boy (05:17)
You leave in the morning
With everything you own
In a little black case
Alone on a platform
The wind and the rain
On a sad and lonely face
Mother will never understand
Why you had to leave
But the answers you seek
Will never be found at home
The love that you need
Will never be found at home
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Pushed around and kicked around
Always a lonely boy
You were the one
That they'd talk about around town
As they put you down
And as hard as they would try
They'd hurt to make you cry
But you never cried to them
Just to your soul
No you never cried to them
Just to your soul
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Cry , boy, cry...
You leave in the morning
With everything you own
In a little black case
Alone on a platform
The wind and the rain
On a sad and lonely face
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Loading comments slowly
