Faith divides us - Death unites us

The British deliver with their twelfth studio album a real milestone of their impressive oeuvre. Each of the ten tien tracks offers diversity, but no weak point at all.

EMP Editorial Team:

Wow, these English veterans are still able to deliver - after 21 years, this masterpiece is their album #12! But to be honest, none of us ever complained about the Gothic Metal icon's work lacking atmosphere, anyway. Nevertheless, some PL tracks of the last years were a tad shallow - but not these: every single one of the ten songs is a sharp knife. "The rise of denial", in spite of its irresistible groove, is one of the band's most aggressive compositions since those glory days of "Icon" (1993). "Last regret" is the most appealing anthem the blokes have ever conceived, and the complex arrangement of "As horizons end" with its capricious, yet comprehensible ups and downs is simply brilliant. Front man Nick Holmes sings as soulful and deep (at least, sometimes) as he hasn't done for a long time. An awesome symbiosis of emotion and technique, a milestone in the band's oevre - and for the genre itself. (Oliver Kube / 30.10.2009)

Diran Noubar’s new powerful documentary "Over The Madness" about PARADISE LOST provides unique
insights on a rock band and the emergence of the "Gothic Metal" movement. The film’s World Premiere was
held at the Cannes Film Festival’s Market in May 2007 followed by a German Premiere at the Wave Gotik
Festival in Leipzig the same month.
In 2008, Paradise Lost are celebrating their 20th anniversary and this documentary shows perfectly why they
are still one of the most influential bands of their genre. Along with country mates Anathema and My Dying
Bride, the band - named after John Milton's epic 1667 poem - is credited for pioneering Gothic Metal.
Throughout years of creative challenging and musical experimentation, PARADISE LOST have persisted in
delivering a densely evocative and richly textured brand of metal. Creating a cult-following in many countries
around the world, they have released commercially successful musical masterpieces, selling over two millions
records. Today, their influence still clearly transpires in the sound of most Gothic and Heavy Metal bands. The
band’s latest release, "In Requiem", entered the charts in several countries (Germany # 12, UK Rock charts #
7, Finland # 19, France # 43, Sweden # 33, Greece # 6, etc.).
Noubar achieves an in-depth analysis of the topic he addresses with "Over The Madness". Through first-hand
accounts from the band themselves and many other dramatically influential acts, he follows the band from
their native Halifax, UK to tour stops in Greece and Mexico, where they are regarded as rock "gods". All
current and ex-band members are interviewed to give a multi-angled insight in the band’s history.
Contemporaries like LACUNA COIL, Alex Skolnick from TESTAMENT, Lee Dorrian from CATHEDRAL, Mark
‘Barney’ Greenway from NAPALM DEATH, Mille Petrozza from KREATOR, Martin Eric Ain from CELTIC
FROST and Aaron Stainthorpe from MY DYING BRIDE also pay tribute to their friends in the movie. The
2DVD set will be released through Century Media Records in Europe on November 26th, 2007.

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