Paradise Lost - Medusa review
| Band: | Paradise Lost |
| Album: | Medusa |
| Style: | Death doom metal, Gothic metal |
| Release date: | September 01, 2017 |
| A review by: | nikarg |
01. Fearless Sky
02. Gods Of Ancient
03. From The Gallows
04. The Longest Winter
05. Medusa
06. No Passage For The Dead
07. Blood & Chaos
08. Until The Grave
09. Shrines [bonus]
10. Symbolic Virtue [bonus]
11. Frozen Illusion [Japanese bonus]
I have been following Paradise Lost since the Frozen Illusion demo back when there was no internet and we had to rely on scarce metal radio shows and MTV's "Headbangers Ball" for our fix of new music. The band has tried its hand at death, doom, gothic and even electronic styles, but since In Requiem they have been gradually returning to their roots with every release. Medusa is another sample of greatness in a nearly thirty-year-old, more-than-remarkable career.
"The music you got into when you were 15-16 always stays with you at some degree, always keeps coming back", said Greg Mackintosh in an interview recently, and the opening track, "Fearless Sky", made me feel exactly this way. It is a bold song to choose for an album opener, being eight-and-a-half minutes long, filled with doom and gloom and hinting at the non-commercial direction they want to take. If you enjoyed "Beneath Broken Earth" from The Plague Within, you will be mesmerized by Medusa (pun intended), since it is essentially a return to their early doom - and even death - days, with fewer gothic elements than before, mainly heard in the two excellent bonus tracks. It is probably their heaviest effort since Lost Paradise and it reminds me of Shades Of God more than anything else they have released, but the band is now more mature and confident about what they want to do(om). There is only one relatively upbeat tempo track and this is the second single, "Blood And Chaos", which is set to become an integral part of Paradise Lost's live set lists and a firm fan favourite, based on its irresistible catchiness.
What is heard in Medusa is Nick Holmes growling more than he has ever done since the early 1990s, Aaron Aedy playing earth-shattering riffs entwined with Mackintosh's sorrowful melodies, and Edmondson's omnipresent bass providing a sturdy backbone. But everyone who hasn't been living under a rock in the past three decades is aware of the inseparable quartet's abilities. What comes as a surprise in this album is Waltteri Väyrynen's performance behind the drum kit. The 22-year-old Finn has already showcased his skill on Vallenfyre's record earlier this year, but on Medusa he is an absolute sensation (just listen to "From The Gallows" for a case in point of what a top-tier rhythm section can achieve). Jaime Gomez Arellano has helped accentuate Väyrynen's orgy with the sticks by gifting the drums a deep, full and organic sound and this album boasts an utterly stunning production.
The Plague Within was quite an accomplishment for the band and, compared to its predecessor, Medusa lacks in diversity, but not in quality. The difference between the two is that the former was love at first sight, while the latter is a slow-growing, yet everlasting, love.
Paradise Lost have come up with an ode to futility, ephemerality and nihilism, enveloped in a shroud of mist and blackness. The central message is to reconcile with the notion that there is nothing to long for after death and thus all we can do is live a full and rewarding life, not by seeking materialistic and meaningless pleasures, but by experiencing strong and fulfilling emotions; at the end of the day, we are all going to become part of earthly soil or turn to ashes. So throw your cloaks over your shoulders, doom metal aficionados, for the longest winter is under way.
"Feeling so alive in this hopeless dream..."
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 10 |
 | Written on 01.09.2017 by Only way to feel the noise is when it's good and loud! |
Comments
| Bad English Tage Westerlund Posts: 62578  |
Amazing album, love it, maybe previous was heavier, but this is heavier emotionally
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
|
| nikarg Staff Posts: 7666  |
Written by Bad English on 01.09.2017 at 17:06 This is significantly heavier emotionally and musically I think. It needs time and many spins to be appreciated fully.
Loading...
|
| TheMAGAmvm Soycrusher Posts: 1086  |
Overall, a let down. Compared to TPW, this one pales. Just 2 good songs. A lot of boring moments, reminiscent of the few couple of albums before FDU-DUU.
Loading...
|
| Kinzoku Posts: 57  |
Written by TheMAGAmvm on 01.09.2017 at 23:27 What 2 songs if I may ask?
Loading...
|
| Opethian Posts: 1775  |
My Digi-book is on its way from Poland! Glad to read such good words about the release! Congrats PL!  
Loading...
|
| nikarg Staff Posts: 7666 |
Written by TheMAGAmvm on 01.09.2017 at 23:27 I have the same question as Kinzoku: which two songs? Also, In Requiem just before FDU-DUU, was awesome. Give it another try (Medusa I mean, I guess you've tried In Requiem enough by now). The first time I listened to Medusa, I thought it was a disappointing effort, but it slowly started to grow on me and now I love it.
Loading...
|
| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6133  |
Written by nikarg on 02.09.2017 at 12:39 It is disappointing, because it pales in comparison with "The Plague Within", which was so varied. "Medusa" consists of 8 re-visits of "Beneath Broken Earth". Where has the variety gone?
Loading...
|
| TheMAGAmvm Soycrusher Posts: 1086 |
Written by Kinzoku on 02.09.2017 at 03:00 The Longest Winter and Blood and Chaos. No wonder the band released them as singles.
Loading...
|
| TheMAGAmvm Soycrusher Posts: 1086 |
Written by nikarg on 02.09.2017 at 12:39 I think I gave like 5 spins. Plenty to make an impression. This is not some complex prog music that requires a lot of spins to sink in. The album is average to be honest. There are no cheesy or commercial moments, it's just that the songwriting lacks on this one. Macintosh wasn't inspired this time. Sound wise it is great, nice heavy guitars, good vocals too, but that's it. The first 3 tracks in particular made me yawn. TPW had now not 2, but 7 good-great tracks. Huge difference.
Loading...
|
| nikarg Staff Posts: 7666 |
Written by TheMAGAmvm on 02.09.2017 at 18:22 Fair enough mate. I'm still curious to know which two you actually liked 
Loading...
|
| nikarg Staff Posts: 7666 |
Written by Daniell on 02.09.2017 at 16:58 It's a doom/death record is all. It's not supposed to be diverse.
Loading...
|
| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6133 |
Written by nikarg on 02.09.2017 at 20:08 You can say that about any album. And that will not make it better.
Loading...
|
| TheMAGAmvm Soycrusher Posts: 1086 |
Written by nikarg on 02.09.2017 at 20:04 Look up. I mentioned the two songs. "The Longest Winter and Blood and Chaos. No wonder the band released them as singles."
Loading...
|
| TeachNThrash Posts: 34  |
I absolutely love this album. Must have just clicked with my personal tastes.
Loading...
|
| heteo Posts: 17  |
I also have been listening to PARADISE LOST since i was 15. Now I am 37. Though they were lost (for me) through electro paths - inputs it's a pleasure to listen to their albums the last decade... ROCK OF GODS 1996..reminder! I absolutely love this album. It grows in you.. I have been listening to it 2 days..
Loading...
|
| nikarg Staff Posts: 7666 |
Written by Daniell on 02.09.2017 at 21:24 It doesn't make it bad either. Diversity or variety is not a prerequisite of greatness. Your favourite album (and one of mine too), Reign In Blood, has ten songs and most people -especially the ones that didn't live that era- can't make out which song is which. Loss (USA)'s Horizonless is another great doom record of this year and there is no variety in it either. Medusa is not 8 re-visits of "Beneath Broken Earth", it is just a record focusing on one style from a band that usually mixes a few styles and did it fantastically in The Plague Within. This is why they chose "Shrines" and "Symbolic Virtue" as bonus tracks even though they are both fantastic songs and would add variety. And I believe they would have done it with "Blood And Chaos" too, if it wasn't so damn perfect and they probably needed something as catchy as "No Hope In Sight" in the album. "Beneath Broken Earth" was a great addition to The Plague Within, but in Medusa it wouldn't be the best song of the record (not that it is bad of course). I was a bit disappointed after the first listen, because I expected another The Plague Within and it is not. However, I never decide about an album, if I haven't listened to it at least 10 times. For a review, it is pretty much always more than 20. I am surprised you don't like it, because usually our taste is similar I think.
Loading...
|
| nikarg Staff Posts: 7666 |
Written by heteo on 03.09.2017 at 11:06 I think I like their last five records as much as the first five! Rock of Gods dude  seems like it was a lifetime ago..
Loading...
|
| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6133 |
Written by nikarg on 03.09.2017 at 12:06 I listened to this album at least 10 times. It's still disappointing 
Loading...
|
| nikarg Staff Posts: 7666 |
Written by Daniell on 03.09.2017 at 17:10 That's cool. Btw I wasn't trying to "convert" you or anyone else for that matter.
Loading...
|
| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6133 |
Written by nikarg on 03.09.2017 at 17:24 I never thought you were
Loading...
|
| Sentenced Odiin gothic.moorion@gmail.com Posts: 260  |
I agree on the fact that TPLW had more PL style variety and overall maybe the strongest release after Draconian Times, but Medusa is more into death/doom, like Shades Of God / Gothic era. Considering the style's atmosphere and the songwriting, it is a great release. For me only two songs are lacking the inspiration and a bit dry: Gods Of Ancient and From The Gallows.
---- Life has given me much, maybe taken more...
Loading...
|
| Balor_Yanek Posts: 2  |
Loading...
|
| darkthrone Posts: 53  |
Loading...
|
| Ace Frawley The Spaceman Posts: 1459  |
Written by darkthrone on 17.09.2017 at 13:30 Definitely agree with this. It was the same experience for me. Love the title track especially.
---- The sun shines over The Fool...
Loading...
|
| MelancholiaC Posts: 153  |
"The music you got into when you were 15-16 always stays with you at some degree, always keeps coming back" There's a part of me that hopes Mikael Akerfeldt can realize this one day.
Loading...
|
| Absinthe Posts: 31  |
It's funny how different people hear different things. I've been a huge fan of Paradise Lost since 1995 and they're one of my favourite bands, but I think the rating for 'Medusa' here is significantly over-inflated. While it's definitely an album that takes several listens to sink in properly, I just feel that the sludgy for sludgy's sake production does it no favours - especially the hollow sounding snare drum and the Vallenfyre guitar tone. I find the album tends to merge together, and not in a great way. Clearly they're trying to build upon possibly their greatest song ever in 'Beneath Broken Earth', but nothing here comes close to that song and the whole album is ultimately pretty unexciting. I definitely still like it, but I wouldn't even put it in their top 5 releases.
Loading...
|
| terroriser Account deleted |
|
| goatofgod Posts: 3 |
For some reason PL was one of those bands that, unfortunately, i never got into. I think because when I looked into them originally, they were doing the depeche/electro thing. THAT, I did not like at all. I thoroughly enjoyed this album and TPW. I have heard the PL used to be more Doom in the past, can someone help me out on which PL albums that are softer & electro so I omit those and stick to the Doom stuff, would be doing me a solid. I know that they have a lot of albums, could be saving me a ton of time!
Loading...
|
| nikarg Staff Posts: 7666 |
Written by goatofgod on 21.11.2017 at 04:01 Every PL album is different but try the first five (Lost Paradise, Gothic, Shades Of God, Icon, Draconian Times) The three before The Plague Within (In Requiem, Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us, Tragic Idol) are also great. I envy you. Discovering Paradise Lost will be a real treat for you.
Loading...
|
| goatofgod Posts: 3 |
Hits total: 15095 | This month: 55