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In the scope of Paradise Lost's career, their eponymous release from 2005 represented the act of Hell freezing over, for it witnessed these founders of the British doom movement finally deigning to revive the sonic blueprint that made them famous in the first place, nearly a decade after seemingly abandoning it forever. Still, the general consensus was that its songs didn't quite match the band's good intentions, and so it fell to its 2007 successor, the aptly named In Requiem, to make amends and come just a few steps closer to resurrecting Paradise Lost's post-death/doom, goth-inflected middle period (marked by the classic Shades of God, Icon and Draconian Times albums). And so In Requiem unfolds much like a voyage back in time, with songs like "Never for the Damned," "Ash & Debris," and "Beneath Black Skies" driven by familiar mid-'90s PL hallmarks such as alternately gruff and mournful vocals from singer Nick Holmes; heavy riffs and foreboding harmonies from guitarists Gregor MacKintosh and Aaron Aedy; welcome analog (not techno!) rhythms from bassist Steve Edmonson and drummer Jeff Singer, and keyboards used sparingly, merely as flavorful accents instead of driving forces. In fact, the first and only sign of electronics (mostly a few beats and added synths) doesn't arrive until the sixth song "Unreachable," and even if there are several unusual elements such as "The Enemy's" background choirs, the album's retroactive mindset remains firmly in place through to the end. Heck, the title track even sees Holmes digging out his ancient death growl -- to the delight of the moshing faithful, no doubt. But even though the songwriting is pretty strong throughout In Requiem, there's still some work ahead if Paradise Lost is ever to recover their long abdicated gothic metal crown from a bastion of younger followers. The groundwork, at least, is already being laid. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
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- Paradise Lost
- Released 2005
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- Believe In Nothing
- Released 2001
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- Symbol of Life
- Released 2002
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- Host
- Released 1999
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listener reviews
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amazing and a grower
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- By Spyderz343
- 2/4/2009 03:44:04
- I have been listening to paradise lost since Icon came out, they have had many different sounds and variations, I have enjoyed all of them and some more then others. This album comes off as paradise lost, hands down, what suprised me is how the cd grew on me. The song writing and unit cohesiveness of this just feels right, where the album paradise lost was good this is now great. The ideas structures and scoundscape from paradise lost are built upon moderized and the full potential is now achieved. With them working on the next cd I wonder if they can retain the same upward momentum.
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