Paradise Lost – Medusa

[schema type=”review” name=”Paradise Lost – Medusa” description=”Label: Nuclear Blast” author=”Juho Karila” pubdate=”2017-09-01″ ]

The British doom/goth metal pioneers don’t need introduction to many. Founded in 1988, the group has now released their 15th studio album, which stays true to their game even on the year 2017 but does the slow crunch still appeal? Keep reading to find out.

The album begins with a pair of heavy and really slow songs, creating a really depressing feeling by massive sound walls of guitar and minimalistic drumming. This may sound like a great idea for some but the massive sound isn’t enough to reach the mood PL has created with some of their previous albums; it’s like the arrangements are meant to be kept minimalist.
For a fan of songs like Solitary One or Fear of an Impending Hell, this album doesn’t quite serve a statisfaction.

The dark and heaviness isn’t all there is to the album as it grooves with quite a lot of rock elements and some songs, such as the most memorable one, Blood and Chaos is almost a flat-out rock song void of metal.

I may not be voicing the popular opinion but this album is a disappointment with very little surface to hold on. There are not many songs that sticks into mind after several listening and majority of them feels hollow due just that massive chord jamming; which I acknowledge as a major part of the old-school Doom Metal but I’ve heard the band doing better.

Tracklist: 1. Fearless Sky 2. Gods Of Ancient 3. From The Gallows 4. The Longest Winter 5. Medusa 6. No Passage For The Dead 7. Blood And Chaos 8. Until The Grave 9. Shrines 10. Symbolic Virtue

Line-up:
Nick Holmes – Vocals
Greg Mackintosh – Lead Guitar
Aaron Aedy – Rhythm Guitar
Steve Edmondson – Bass Guitar
Waltteri Väyrynen – Drums

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