Goth metal pioneers PARADISE LOST return with a platter of heaviness that is not nearly as dry heave inducing as many of their imitators. Consider the bar raised for the LACUNA COILs and H.I.M.'s of the world.

Maybe the addition of Mike (AC/DC, AEROSMITH, METALLICA, etc…) Frazer behind the mixing board added some accessibility to the project, because the results are very listenable. There is more of a classic metal quality to the production that makes the material shine. Thankfully, a lot of the tropes of the "goth metal" genre (fruity keyboards, weepy lyrics, etc…) are fairly understated enough throughout most of the album, because a little of that stuff goes a long way. The songs in which they let the guitar do most of the heavy lifting are strongest. During the verses, "Ash and Debris" stomps along like a track MEGADETH foolishly dropped from "Countdown to Extinction." Hearing actual vocals on the songs rather than screaming and hollering really goes a long way, as well. Nick Holmes' voice comes through strong, bringing to mind TESTAMENT's Chuck Billy and TYPE O NEGATIVE's Peter Steele at different points. Songwriting is very strong, with each tune taking interesting turns over their relatively short time span.

The only major quibble with "In Requiem" would lie with the multiple atmospheric keyboard intros to songs peppered throughout the album. They are redundant and slow things down a bit. Songs like "Never For the Damned," "Beneath Black Skies," and the title track would be stronger if the listener didn't have to wait so long to get to the heavy. Other than that, the band stays on track, giving us a succinct statement on the state of the sound they helped sire. You WILL feel their pain. Oh yes. You will.

- Broadbent

OFFICIAL SITE: www.paradiselost.co.uk

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