Live Review:Paradise Lost - KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
10th October 2025
Support: Messa, High Parasite
Words: Matt Noble
Photos: Tim Finch
A sold out KK's Steel Mill welcomed Paradise Lost, fresh from the release of their acclaimed new record, ‘Ascension’, on a lively Friday night in Wolverhampton. The venue already felt busy and alive as openers High Parasite took to the stage, whose gloomy yet fun spin on synthy goth rock seemed to genuinely entertain today’s crowd, warming them up in every sense of the word. Fronted by Aaron Stainthorpe, whose departure from My Dying Bride was announced only the day before, he leads the pack with charm, excitement and energy. Titles such as ‘Concentric Nightmares’ and ‘Hate Springs Eternal’ hint at their dark core, yet there’s an upbeat swagger to their sound, giving the classic Northern ‘90s doom sound a breath of fresh air, with strong guitar melodies and driving drums providing a setlist full of genuine bangers. As the fist-pumping, anthemic ‘Forever We Burn’ closes their set, the band’s momentum is clear as they leave with enthusiastic cheers to show for it, and surely, a few new fans.
Italy’s Messa are up next, whose classy, synth-driven doom grips the room from the moment they take the stage. Sara’s haunting lead vocals and understated stage presence calmly command attention, while Alberto delivers a masterclass lead guitar performance, his playing full of flair and emotion, absorbing a wide range of influences into his expressive voice. The two share clever interplay between the voice and guitar as instruments on ‘The Dress’, taken from their newest album, which dominates tonight’s setlist. Messa shift seamlessly between light and shade, dictating the mood with authority and captivating the crowd in a gentle trance. Later in the set, ‘Reveal’ introduces blastbeats from their drummer, highlighting the restraint and control behind his powerhouse performance. Messa’s individual members are all supremely talented, but amid an enchanting and elegant presence, and clear collective chemistry, their material shines brightly and makes them a natural fit for the bill.
Finally, it’s time for legendary gothic doomers Paradise Lost to take the stage. ‘Serpent on the Cross’, from their latest, gets the ball rolling with elegance, before the (relatively) recent ‘Tragic Idol’ lands with a solemn, majestic punch. The crowd nod along with enthusiasm, and Nick Holmes’ dry wit between songs draws a few wry chuckles. However, ‘Once Solemn’, the only cut from the legendary ‘Draconian Times’ record tonight, really opens up the audience, raising the energy levels across the board before the lighters-in-the-air singalong of power ballad ‘Faith Divides Us’ unites the whole room for its iconic chorus.
It’s the genre-hopping and versatility that truly makes Paradise Lost endure. Few others could convincingly belt out a synthy banger like ‘Nothing Sacred’ before launching into the melancholic doom of ‘Tyrants Serenade’ from the latest album. The set shifts feel natural, from the engaging, fist-pumping ‘Pity The Sadness’ or ‘Say Just Words’, to the haze-inducing doom and gloom of their darker cuts. At no point does their command of the crowd waver through each switch.
Nick moves effortlessly between his baritone clean vocals and his gruff gutturals, while Greg Mackintosh’s melodic leads cut through purposefully, never overdone. With the returning Jeff Singer behind the kit, they are a tight, solid and professional live unit. As ever, Paradise Lost are classy and self-assured as they perform. They let the music speak loudest, and the crowd completely lap it up. Closing with ‘Ghosts’ and ‘Silence Like the Grave’, two from their most recent albums, they show that even this deep into their career, Paradise Lost remain forward-facing and confident that their new material still delivers. Based on tonight’s performance, it’s hard to disagree.
