Album Review: Paradise Lost - Obsidian
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
32 years into their journey, Paradise Lost continue with the rich vein of form which has been present in recent times. In fact, ‘Obsidian’ may well be a career best. A massive statement for a band with a special place in the development of the British death doom movement, know, but ‘Obsidian’ is an album rich with dark emotion, haunting atmosphere and flawless changes of tempo. Moving away from the monolithic crushing style of the band’s two previous albums, ‘The Plague Within’ and ‘Medusa’, Obsidian returns in parts to the gothic darkness that has always anchored the band. The roots run deep with Paradise Lost.
‘Obsidian’ is an album that blends much of the band’s career in an intensive 45-minute journey that you will be desperate to repeat as soon as it is completed. Opening gently with ‘Darker Thoughts’, a song about the fragility of life and choosing the wrong path. Nick Holmes clean vocals are accompanied by a melancholic combination of strings and acoustic guitar before giving way to the first of many demonically heavy riffs. Steve Edmondson’s thundering bass, Greg Mackintosh’s intricate guitar work and Holmes’ effortless transformation to those death growls before a sole cello brings the song to its eerie conclusion.
It’s been noted that ‘Fall From Grace’ is the track that links ‘Medusa’ to ‘Obsidian’, and it certainly is the song that bears the most resemblance to the 2017 record. Harrowing and doom filled with those gothic overtures which are part of the hallmark sound, ‘Fall From Grace’ is about losing control. A blend of gruff verses and haunting cleans on the chorus, it’s dark, reflective and black. Its Paradise Lost as I want them, ghostly, creative, impressive.
‘Obsidian’ shows more variety than the spine-crushing intensity of the two albums that preceded it. Nick Holmes described it as eclectic which captures it perfectly. ‘Ghosts’ harks back to their earlier gothic days, the tingling guitar riff echoing, vocals perfectly pitched. A song about trying to change the future whilst being haunted by the past seeking refuge and pseudo comfort in turning to religion. There’s further delight for fans of the melancholic gothic style, with the despair of blind faith on ‘Forsaken’ and the morose ‘Ending Days’. A definite song of the moment, ‘Ending Days’ talks of making one’s peace in the final hours of life. A more poignant song in the current times would be hard to find. It features impressive drum work from Waltteri Vayrynen, who returns for his second album with the band, more Mackintosh fretboard magic and some harrowing violin which adds atmosphere as the track builds.
There remains plenty for those who savoured the band’s return to a more gruesome sound. ‘The Devil Embraced’ deals with man’s reliance on misplaced faith and the way many turn to God in later life. “Foolish trust, the devil embraced”. It’s explosive power combined with sheer heaviness, those crushing doom laden riffs welcome. Then there is the power and devastating intensity of ‘Serenity’ a suffocating powerful track, which reflects on the horror of those facing medieval battles. Full of power and emotion, the song builds to a crescendo with Mackintosh’s roaring lead work, Holmes deathly growls and the atmospheric feel of the synths.
‘Hope Dies Young’ considers how lifelong dreams can be shattered in later life, the almost alt-rock sound referencing ‘One Second’ and ‘Host’, albums once reviled but now viewed with affection. Mackintosh’s edgy guitar combining with driving drumming and Holmes melancholic delivery. This leads to the album’s closing song, ‘Ravenghast’. An epic, sombre, funereal track which begins with an eerie keyboard before developing into one of the heaviest songs the band has ever produced, it smoulders, slowly increasing in tempo and intensity at the midpoint, before returning to a crushing, pummelling conclusion.
Produced by the band with the assistance of noted studio guru Jamie ‘Gomez’ Arellano, and written mainly by Holmes and Mackintosh, there will be few albums that will excite as much as this record. The savage reality of Covid 19 is that the band will be cruelly prevented from touring this until many months from now. A loss of high-profile festival slots will be hugely disappointing, but if one band can feed from the disappointment, it will be Paradise Lost. One of the most impressive albums of 2020, this is a special album.
‘Obsidian’ is released by Nuclear Blast on 15th May
ICYMI - Check out our interview with Paradise Lost frontman Nick here.
