Paradise Lost : "Ascension"

 

The 17th album from Paradise Lost finds the progenitors of death doom shunning expectations. using the tropes from both genres, while sometimes trying to grab the goth metal throne that Type O Negative left vacant. The first song is straightforward death metal, but more deliberate than the rushed flow of double bass most bands hit you with. "Tyrant's Serenade" is more of the grandiose pagentry of morose doomy rock that lends itself to the Type O comparisons. He sings most of the song, then things become more split in equal portions when it comes to his delivery. "Salvation" is not as memorable as the first two songs. 

There a chunks of more traditional metal sections that keep cropping up, one point "Salvation" brings Judas Priest to mind. 'Silence of the Grave" is driven by this kind of triumphant chug and is one of the most effective songs so far. The solos on this album are very rock n roll. This album finds drummer Jeff Singer returning to the band. He has also played for My Dying Bride, but is going for more of a rock feel on this album. "Lay A Wreath Upon the World" is a folk metal ballad that finds them back jockeying to claim the goth metal throne. 

"Diluvium" is the first song that leans into more of a doom stomp. The vocals are bellowed with more aggression, but not a growl. Some of the more Priest-like riffs break this up. It was around "Savage Days' that things ebbed down and faded into the background, so I had to go back and give another listen. Second listen finds it coasting along. The stomp to "Sirens" reminds me of Iced Earth with its more muscular, almsot power metal style of chugging thrash, though they offer more subtle melody here. "Decievers" rocks out harder than the previous song, though  "Sirens" has a more melodic flow. 

After a couple of listens, the doomy throb driving "the Precipice" grew on me, but the vocals to "This Stark Town" are more compelling. The last song kinda rides the middle ground between goth metal and the death doom style they are known for. I will give this a 9.5 and see how it grows on me, as overall it flows better than most of their more recent work. Fans should praise this balance. Oddly enough the Peaceville sound is out on Nuclear Blast.

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