Bloodstock 2021 Countdown : 30 Bands not to Miss : 13. Paradise Lost
Since their inception back in 1988, Paradise Lost have taken on every convincible genre. They have done electronica, doom, death, goth and traditional Heavy Metal on their musical journey. They have never been afraid to continually develop and evolve. Iin direct contrast to other bands trajectories they have in the dotage got faster, heavier and nastier. Over the last thirty three years of gloom and roll they have never bothered the mainstream, they have instead become the cultist of all cult bands, worshipped by a devout fevered following and ignored by the rest. Whilst Covid has meant they are yet to tour their new album, “Obsidian” (a fantastic frolic through the bands many musical phases), they have chosen instead to uphold their pledge to play “Draconian Times” in full at this year’s Bloodstock to mark its twenty fifth (ish) anniversary. “Draconian Times” is probably one of the greatest albums that you have never heard of. It is Paradise Lost’s masterpiece. A majestic collusion of Metal and goth, released long before splicing those genres became an everyday occurrence. “Hetfield sings songs from ‘First, last and Always’” was how it was described at the time and twenty-six years later that description still holds water. Nick Holmes’ melodic growl, deep and baritone but full of emotion, drives the album and provides it with its distinct tone. It is a wonderfully evocative and heartfelt record that balances beautifully the anthemic with the forlorn. Forty eight minutes and fifty nine seconds of utter wonderfulness. This is only happening at Bloodstock, this is special, this is something not to be missed. So don’t.
Playing: Saturday, 14th August 2021
Stage: Ronnie James Dio Stage
