Sixteen studio albums in 32 years is quite prolific for an act that have spawned or been involved in so many illustrious other projects, while they have only changed drummers during that time too, quite the feat for an act of such longevity. While they were initially amongst the pioneers of the death-doom movement, their later work has become much more gothic metal, akin to genre greats Type O Negative, with ‘Obsidian’ being very much in this vein too.
There are most definitely still hints towards their earlier works in this release, with tracks such as ‘The Devil Embraced’ mixing the two eras at times, though the majority of this release is certainly skewered towards their more recent direction. My own personal picks are probably ‘Forsaken’ – which almost starts like a trance song until we get the guitars fully kicking in – and ‘Ending Days’, both of which fully encapsulate the feel of the album as a whole and demonstrate their vast talent for songwriting, showing quite why they have been around for as long as they have.
The three singles released so far, ‘Ghosts’, ‘Fall From Grace’ and ‘Darker Thoughts’ are all prominent examples of how well they craft their gothic metal tracks, with the more delicate guitar overtones offering a distraction from the doom-like approach of the guitars, with Steve Edmondson’s bass work alternating between a post-punk feel and their heavier guitar-based approach, mixing the two with aplomb. The twin guitar attack alternating between subtle hooks and rather soaring melodies over the top of some otherwise somber sounding soundscapes that permeate this release mark it as one of beauty, however dark its inherent quality and outlook may be.
What this release does go to show is that in a time where a lot of more mainstream music has become so interchangeable, they retain the authenticity that both their years together and their ability, both collective and individual, deserve. It’s another strong release from an act that are quite possibly held to higher scrutiny than some of their peers, given their exploits both in this act and in others, as well as being one that further enhances their already glowing legacy. Whether you’re already a fan of the band (and let’s face it, if you’re into this style of music, you probably already are!) or are more recently discovering them, into your doom, stoner or gothic metal, this release will provide an excellent addition to your collection.
‘Obsidian’ is out now. You can get your copy, and lots of other Paradise Lost goodies, HERE.
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