Arriving at the Islington Assembly Hall, I found myself facing a long queue of fans, unsurprisingly, as the London date of Paradise Lost’s Ascension of Europe tour was sold out. These pioneers of British and global death-doom, with sprinkles of gothic metal and a plethora of other genres, have been shaping the scene since the late 1980s and have never stopped producing music. Their seventeenth studio album, Ascension, was released via Nuclear Blast on the 19th of September, and to the joy of their diehard fans, they set out to play their most iconic songs across Europe. Joining them on this journey was Messa, an Italian scarlet doom quartet that perfectly complements these legends and together, setting the tone for a fully atmospheric evening.
Looking over the faces gathered at the venue, I found myself rubbing elbows with metalheads who had lived their youth back in the ’90s. Envious of the memories from those analogue days and things they witnessed that never ended up on Instagram stories, I noticed that plenty were still partying with the same angst and energy as back then. So many characters filled that room: some dressed in elaborate gothic clothing, others in weathered battle vests and leather jackets. The night was beaming with nostalgia. To the echoing noise of laughter and excited chatter, the band entered the stage to the sound of “Serpent on the Cross,” a single from their newest release.
With such a vast back catalogue, Paradise Lost can cherry-pick from hundreds of songs, creating endless variations of setlists fit for countless tours. That evening, we heard the most from Ascension, three songs in total, with the rest nicely balanced across their earlier albums. Being a sold-out show, the standing area was tightly packed; moving in any direction felt like a miracle work. Faces were flooded with deep meditation on the sound, expressions twisted with sour grimaces from listening concentration. Someone’s dad was air-playing guitar perfectly in sync with the riffs from the stage. Paradise Lost emerged from thick smoke like figures rising from a misty graveyard in the early hours of the morning. With “True Belief” in rotation, the atmosphere thickened as the fog blended with condensation from the warm bodies packed inside.
“Tyrant’s Serenade” was a worthy halfway point, flashing like a beacon of melodic light. My dearest friend grabbed my hand, it was one of her favourite songs from the new album as we tried to make our way closer to the front, but it proved impossible. We reluctantly settled at the back, where you could hear more than you could see, yet those catchy riffs were enough to make an impression. We simply lived in the moment. Live music is just better.
Later came “Mouth,” with its more alternative rock sound and catchy chorus, offering a striking contrast to the rest of the set. It showcased Paradise Lost’s impressive range of genres, reflecting the experimentation that has defined their forty-year career. The encore came too quickly, and with their final song, “Silence Like a Grave” , the third track from Ascension performed that night, they closed on an epic and energising note, leaving us all on a high. From brief, friendly chats with fans, I caught a glimpse of how much this band means in their lives. I almost felt like the only freshman there. Many had witnessed the multiple eras of Paradise Lost, yet the band never shortchanged them, continually delivering fresh experiences and new music that resonated deeply with their loyal supporters.
They will no doubt continue creating and exploring new ideas and genres without ever compromising quality, and that’s precisely how they keep selling out shows. It’s a no-fault formula. You can catch Paradise Lost on tour over the next few weeks; for more info, follow their social media.