Paradise Lost - The Plague Within (Deluxe Edition) (2015)

Genre - Heavy Metal / Gothic / Doom Metal

 

Track listing:

 

01 - No Hope In Sight

02 - Terminal

03 - An Eternity Of Lies

04 - Punishment Through Time

05 - Beneath Broken Earth

06 - Sacrifice The Flame

07 - Victim Of The Past

08 - Flesh From Bone

09 - Cry Out

10 - Return To The Sun

11 - Fear Of Silence

12 - Never Look Away

13 - Victim Of the Past (Orchestral Version)

Paradise Lost return with their fourteenth album, ‘The Plague Within,’ an album that once again see's the UK doom merchants embracing their roots, and whilst not exactly breaking new ground, reaffirming their distinction as probably the greatest British doom merchants since the mighty Black Sabbath.
Produced by Jaime Gomez Arellano (who recorded Ghost’s first one and Cathedral’s last one) the album runs the atmospheric gamut from meaty death ‘n’ roll (“Cry Out”) to soulful doom liturgies (“Return to the Sun”) and even Down-style chug (“Punishment Through Time”), as guitarists Gregor Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy unfurl catchy riffs in every direction.
The journey to 'The Plague Within' began with 'Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us' and 'Tragic Idol', both of which  revelled in glorious melancholy, and showed the band swinging back into the direction of the roots, that journey is now complete with 'The Plague Within'. The albums heavy, Nick growls as much as he sings (and sounds in great form by the way!), and the guitars are doom laded, even reminiscent of the doom master himself, Tony Iommi, at times.
The Plague within is the best album from Paradise Lost since the 1990's, and on this evidence they still have a hell of a lot to offer.


Very, Very Highly Recommended

Rating - 10/10

Paradise Lost - Tragic Idol (2012)

Genre - Gothic / Heavy Metal / Doom Metal / Hard Rock
Label - Century Media

Track listing:

01. Solitary One
02. Crucify
03. Fear Of Impending Hell
04. Honesty In Death
05. Theories From Another World
06. In This We Dwell
07. To The Darkness
08. Tragic Idol
09. Worth Fighting For
10. The Glorious End
11. Ending Through Changes (Japanese Bonus Track)
12. Never Take Me Alive (Japanese Bonus Track)
13. True Belief (Live) (Japanese Bonus Track)
14. One Second (Live) (Japanese Bonus Track)
15. Say Just Words (Live) (Japanese Bonus Track)


The past few releases have seen a real return to form for the Yorkshire Gothic metal merchants, and Tragic Idol really does appear to be the icing on the cake!
Tragic Idol manages to combine the raw power, heaviness and might of the bands earl releases with the sophistication and experimental nature of the bands errr, less heavy releases, resulting in a really good album!
Everything about Tragic Idol is top notch, the production, the songwritting and the delivery, this is probably the best album that the band could deliver, and when you consider just how long these guys have been at it, its great to find that they've not lost any of their hunger!
This album is excellent from begining to end and its hard to pick out any really stand out tracks, so I'll just list a few of my favorites, these being, Fear Of Impending Hell, Honesty In Death, In This We Dwell, Tragic Idol and To The Darkness, although I have to admit I really do like the Japanese bonus track Never Take Me Alive!
This is great album for existing fans of the band who will surely love it, and a great introduction to their music for Paradise Lost virgins!

Get out there and buy it!

Rating - 10/10

Gone Til Winter - The First season (2012)

Genre - Gothic / Alternative Metal / Female Vocal

Tracklisting:
01 - Solemise
02 - Heat Signal
03 - Kill Me
04 - Utopia
05 - Deep Sleep
06 - Distant Places
07 - Release (acoustic)
08 - Constant Retreat (acoustic)

Manchester based Gone Til Winter unleash their self released debut upon the world in the form of The First Season.The inevitable comparisons with the likes of Nightwish, Evenescence and Lacuna Coil are bound to be made, yet Gone Til winter offer up a less polished, more organic sound to my ears. Telena Cuthbert has a great voice, powerful and emotive, with a great range that sits on top of the heavy riffing just as comfortably as it does the subtle acoustic sections. the songs are pretty well put together, and the musicianship is all good.
I think the band could benifit with the helkp of a top producer just to add that final edge / polish to the tracks, as sometimes they just seem to lack something that I just cant put my finger on, but thats not to say that there is anything wrong with them on the contary they are all solid, just not outstanding.
Stand out tracks for me include Utopia, Release, Constant Retreat and Solemise.
On a whole a solid debut that shows a band with a lot of potential,

rating 8/10