Artist: Paradise Lost
Title: Ascension
Genre: Gothic Metal
Release Date: 19th September 2025
Label: Nuclear Blast
Album Review
PARADISE LOST is a British Gothic Metal band formed in 1988 in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Widely regarded as pioneers of the Gothic Metal genre, the band helped shape the landscape of Doom and Death Metal in the early 1990s. While their early albums ‘Ghost’ and ‘Shades of God’ were filled with Doom riffs and Death growls, the band later also included electronic and synth elements into their music, continually evolving their music to what it is today.
Throughout all these years, the band has remained a huge influence and has grown a loyal international fanbase. Now, PARADISE LOST has released their seventeenth full length studio album, which goes by the name ‘Ascension’. It comes with twelve songs, lasting for a little over one hour.
The opening song ‘Serpent On The Cross’ grants you a gentle entrance with gradually rising arrangements, before the dark growling sets in, pushing you further and further. ‘Tyrants Serenade’ continues to guide you deeper and deeper - or rather higher and higher - into the album. Along with its hypnotizing rhythm you might even lose track of time and place for a moment.
While ‘Salvation’ is slower, filled with doom and despair, ‘Silence Like The Grave’ brings in strong guitar riffs again. Along with intense vocals, this song creates a combination that pushes you hard. ‘Lay A Wreath Upon The World’ on the other hand, begins with clean acoustic guitar, granting you a smooth, soft and gentle moment of peace, before ‘Diluvium’ is bringing back the doom with powerful riffs and vocals.
‘Savage Days’ grants you a pause again with smooth and gentle arrangements, that are gradually rising in intensity. ‘Sirens’ continues with the ‘Ascension’ of intensity with strong and rich arrangements that fill the room - and your mind - entirely. This song also has potential to get stuck in your head with its catchy chorus and bridge, so beware. With full force ‘Deceivers’ is pulling you back into the doom room. Growled vocals and dark arrangements surround you with no ray of light being able to shine through.
‘The Precipice’ begins slow, spreading a hint of tragedy and despair. And somehow, this song will get a sigh out of you. Not only because of its relatable lyrics, but also because of its interesting arrangements that include much more and go much deeper than you might realize at first. This song carries a lot of heart within - maybe a broken heart, but heart. And that will undoubtedly touch yours.
‘This Stark Town’ begins with some chanting before the strong riffs set in and pull you along to the catchy melody. ‘A Life Unknown’ closes the album strong and powerful, showing you the way out with grand riffs, catchy melodies and vocals that do not want you to leave. The only way out is back in. So do not hesitate to press play again.
PARADISE LOST is back with a grand album. ‘Ascension’ brings along twelve brilliant songs that are timeless and addictive. So, press play and rise into the sphere that PARADISE LOST has created with this album.
Tracklist
01. Serpent On The Cross
02. Tyrants Serenade
03. Salvation
04. Silence Like The Grave
05. Lay A Wreath Upon The World
06. Diluvium
07. Savage Days
08. Sirens
09. Deceivers
10. The Precipice
11. This Stark Town
12. A Life Unknown
Line-up
Nick Holmes – Vocals
Gregor Mackintosh – Lead Guitar, Keyboards
Aaron Aedy – Rhythm Guitar
Stephen Edmondson – Bass
Jeff Singer – Drums
Website
https://paradiselost.co.uk/
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 10
Sound: 10
Total: 10 / 10
