Paradise Regained

Review Score: (10/10)
For the last few years, there has been a division in PL's fanbase. On the one hand there are the old-schoolers, fans of PL's early gothic death-metal vibe; on the other, fans of PL's newer, more contemporary sound. I was one of the former; I loved everything up to 1995's Draconian Times album, and then One Second came along and, despite having its moments, it was a heartbreaking disappointment. After Host, I lost touch with the band, which was unfortunate considering I have their logo tattooed on my arm. But then, after hearing good things about their latest album, Symbol Of Life, I bought Believe In Nothing, and was more than pleasantly surprised.

The guitars are back! Maybe it's not as heavy as it used to be, but in terms of tunes and song structures, it far surpasses what PL used to create. In many ways similar to the stomping Once Solemn and B-side Fear, the album takes gothic rock to the next level, fusing pounding riffs with Nick Holmes' newly-discovered vocal dexterity, and throwing in the odd few samples to boot. Never short of musical hooks in the past, PL's material on this album sticks in the head like none before. The opening pairing of I Am Nothing and Mouth actually works better than the immortal juxtaposition of Embers Fire and Remembrance on the Icon album, something that I thought would never be possible. Once you reach the end of track two, you cannot pull away - the album [draws] you in and refuses to let go.

In short, Believe In Nothing is awesome. Not as heavy as Symbol Of Life, but altogether tighter and more consistent, this is the album that signals Paradise Lost's return to grace. They have successfully managed to bridge the gap between their old-school roots and their new-school developments to make what I believe is the best Paradise Lost album. After hearing One Second, I believed that the world's greatest band had died; now I know that like the phoenix rising from the ashes, they have been born again and have grown into something great. Whether you're into the old-school or new-school band, I guarantee you'll be into this.

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