Paradise Lost-Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us

Last Updated (Friday, 25 June 2010 15:19) Written by Miguel Blardony Monday, 14 June 2010 15:50

Release Date: September 15, 2009

Label: Century Media

Genre: Gothic Metal

Rating: 7.6/10

Comments: So glum, it will make you cry.

The moment “As Horizons End” tears open with an epic guitar lick that oozes drama it’s as if the very heavens are crying out in grief. This is Gothic metal after all, sire there’s a smidgen of doom floating in the glum broth, but Paradise Lost’s taste for stark cold beauty predominates. Featuring a blues tinged guitar solo and an epic flavor that will likely trigger goosebumps, “As Horizons End” proves a perfect start for an album full of heartbreak. The bleakness continues for “I Remain” where singer Nick Holmes’ pained voice drips drama. Further bitterness gets its fair share of the spotlight on “First Light” and its far more depressing counterpart “Frailty.” Considering how long these goth soldiers have been fighting in the trenches, it’s no small surprise their music is in lean shape. Though bassist Steve Edmondson, drummer Adrian Erlandsson, and the Mackintosh-Aedy gitar duo prefer keeping matters mid tempo, they compensate by injecting genuine emotion in every note they play. The effect is breathtaking.

Even if the band are holding up well as the album reaches its middle, matters ever so slowly unravel and by the string of passable tracks around the middle Paradise Lost are very much lost in filler country. Qite sad, since for a twelfth album “Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us” is an impressive release from a band who’re hardly showing their age. Still, much to the delight of appreciative listeners, the album hasn’t completely failed by the time it reaches its end. Thanks to “Universal Dream” the band can revel in beauteous hooks, tight songwriting, endless melodic charms, and intelligent lyrics. There are no thrash moments here and Nick Holme’s gruff incantations never deepens into a growl. Yet through it all Paradise Lost are in fine form delivering fine music.

The final judgement: A tad forgettable, but worth it.