Album Review: Medusa by Paradise Lost

When you’re in for a debate about gothic metal and gothic doom in particular, Paradise Lost unquestionably stands out as the patron saint of the aforesaid genres. Their entire anthology has not a single bad record even though their electronic experimentation with gothic aesthetics labelled them as sell-outs by manic metal fans for once. The “return to their roots” banter is losing its appeal since the band already showcased their impeccable death-doom inspired prodigy on 2015’s “The Plague Within” after they got sidetracked with the “commercial glint”. This year they’re back again with their new album “Medusa” which is in sync with the prevailing melancholy of their last release.

The introductory anthem “Fearless Sky” idolizes the turbid, dark atmosphere it’s composed in resonance with. It’s somewhat exhaustive for an opener and breeds monotony being repetitive with the riffwork. “Gods of Ancient” and “From the Gallows” sound more propellant and pick up pace midway to deliver the inherently darker melodies they wholeheartedly celebrate. “The Longest Winter” is finally where I got the hang of this dreary ensemble with my generous attention. It’s crafted around a sludgy instrumental setup which for a change features Nick Holmes’ clean, crestfallen vocals as opposed to the sinister growls on the other tracks. The pounding drums saturated with the oppressive marrow of doom is what I always loved about Paradise Lost and this record is also in conformity with that integral component. “Medusa” is fairly more captivating than the preceding tracks mainly because of the frosty lead guitars and the fragmentary keyboards which render it more dismal and wretched in essence.

“No Passage for the Dead” and “Until the Grave” are your traditional goth-doom oriented odes with a deliberate arrangement of heavy and downtrodden guitars, drums and nefarious roaring which fuels the overwhelming darkness. “Blood and Chaos” is my favorite song on this entire record. It’s powerful, energetic yet highly in key with the hovering antipathy. The lead melody is ritually raw and overpowering which this record somewhat lacked initially. “Frozen Illusion” strongly suggests a trail back to its cataclysmic lineage and hits a chord with the gruesome, old-school death-doom worship of their classic release “Gothic”. “Shrines” and “Symbolic Virtue” are the finishing tracks. While the former track still explores their inventiveness within the restricted constraints of metal and gothic-doom to be specific, the latter is a bit dull and thrown in without delivering the intended impact.

“Medusa” is a convincing emblem of well-arranged heavy music and is in harmony with the enslaved darkside. Their progression is strategically headed in the direction it ought to. The sullen-paced musical ordeals and explosive moments plagued with agony and suffering are reciprocally orchestrated with the intention of revisiting the inbred emotional penchant and ultra-heavy, memorable tunes accustomed to the mighty Paradise Lost.

Album Rating: 3.5/5.