One of the biggest names in doom metal has returned this year to let us feast on their newest masterpiece titled Medusa through Nuclear Blast Records. Coming up on their 30th anniversary, Paradise Lost was formed in 1988 in Halifax, England. Two years since their last album The Plague Within, this album really returns to the doom death sound similar to the years of Eternal. This album is what we have all been wishing for with Paradise Lost. Throughout the band’s career, they have jumped between boundaries of doom metal, death metal and gothic metal but this album is a return to the doom death metal pinnacle that they know so well.
Medusa is not an album that a fan of Paradise Lost would feel unfamiliar with. The track Blood and Chaos feels like as if it was lost in time and belongs in the 1995 era of Paradise Lost. It stands out in the album but brings up reminiscent moments of true Paradise Lost. The album truly has moments of true doom and death metal through out with guitar riff that can be slow and dark but also epic and deep by keeping it different but also familiar.
The label may have pressured for more of darkwave sound but this album is something that really solidifies who Paradise Lost really is. This album is a solid release, a very strong album that truly is what any Paradise Lost fan could ask for and the perfect follow up for The Plague Within. If you are a fan of Katatonia, Amorphis and Anathema, then this album is definitely a must for you and definitely a top ten release for this year.
Overall Score: 9.0/10
Review by Neil Andersen
