Live Review: Paradise Lost - KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
13th February 2022
Support: Moonspell, Alunah
Words & Photos: Tim Finch
The best part of eighteen months after Paradise Lost released their latest studio album ‘Obsidian’, the band finally get to tour its release. This evening in a wet and windy Wolverhampton their tour bus rolls up to KK’s Steel Mill with Portuguese masters Moonspell and local hero’s Alunah in tow.
Alunah hit the stage to open up with a sizeable crowd early doors. It’s the first time we at The Razor’s Edge get to see their new line up with Matt Noble taking over on guitar duties. Driven by vocalist Sian’s enchanting melodies layered across majestic doomy riffs, the band are at the forefront of the latest generation of heavy bands. Their half hour set takes samples from across the bands back catalogue, keeping the audience mesmerised. With a new album in the works the future looks bright for this home grown quartet.
Portuguese gothic metallers Moonspell celebrate their thirtieth anniversary this year, yet come to these shores all too infrequently. Melding their dark stylings with a melodic twist that is the perfect accompaniment to a Paradise Lost show. Front man Fernando Ribeiro jokes with the crowd about the number of Portuguese footballers plying their trade in Wolverhampton these day, which brings a wave of laughter through the Steel Mill. Yet jokes aside, the band's set is an astounding forty five minutes of joyous darkness and the best part of twenty three years since I first saw them live they have blown me away yet again.
And that leaves the mighty Paradise Lost to close out the evening. Having played at both Bloodstock and Damnation Festivals last year where they performed special album anniversary sets, it was nice to be finally here to see them play this many times postponed show in support of their latest album, 'Obsidian'.
Whilst the focus this evening is on the newer material they open with 'Widow' taken from 1992's 'Icon' album. The dark embrace from the atmosphere it creates setting the scene for the evening as they move forward through 'Serenity' taken from their latest opus.
Jumping through their entire back catalogue this evening; the old, not so old and new sit perfectly together. Gregor and Aaron's guitar work steering the gloom soaked ship through the mists, whilst Nick Holmes climbs to the bow shining a light through the fog and enthralling the assembled masses.
Whilst older songs like 'One Second' and 'Just Say Words' stand out for this old fart, it's a set full of highlights for the generations of fans the band now has. This evenings show at KK's Steel Mill highlights a band at their prime who will live on for generations to come.
All photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
