PARADISE LOST

(UNITED KINGDOM)

ICON

(1993)
LABEL:

MUSIC FOR NATIONS

GENRE:

GOTHIC METAL

TAGS:
Low vocals, Melancholic, Opera-Rock
"Deep, sensitive and perfectly balanced mixing more accessible and darker tracks, "Icon" is the jewel of Paradise Lost"
NOISE (07.05.2012)  
5/5
(0) opinions (0) comment(s)
Following a regular rhythm, Paradise Lost proposes the continuation of its adventures one year after "Shades Of God". Little by little, the band has built up a good reputation in the underground metal world and even beyond. "Icon" was released in the fall of 1993 and complete the transformation of the band. On the previous record, one could already feel an evolution towards a more accessible music. Holmes had started to modulate his voice and the death metal aspects were gradually fading away in favor of a heavier style, even if the doom facet was still very marked. "Icon" is to be considered as the mutation of Paradise Lost. Holmes and Mackintosh leave aside the death metal in favor of a heavy gothic style with a Nick Holmes who now sings instead of growling. His dark and low tone, not far from James Hetfield, brings to the record a strong extra soul.

The tracks of "Icon" are all short with a catchy melody while keeping dark and oppressive aspects. Paradise Lost is lyrical, powerful, gothic and heavy. The great titles are legion with notably "Embers Fire" which opens the album in a majestic way with its symphonic introduction of great class and its perfect mixture of deep vocals and sumptuous riffs as well as "Remembrance", a little jewel of gothic metal or "True Belief", a perfect hit, accessible and heavy and carried by a huge chorus all in nuances. Finally, Paradise Lost concludes this amazing album with a final duet beautiful to cry. "Christendom" and the final instrumental "Deus Miseratu" give the record this extra soul that makes all its beauty. The first one is a monument of gothic doom metal, supported by dark and delicate female voices, while the final one is soaring and majestic. The mixture between the piano and a rather thick guitar riff is wonderfull.

Deep, sensitive and perfectly balanced mixing more accessible and darker tracks, "Icon" is the jewel of Paradise Lost which already reaches its peak while it has barely five years of existence. With such an album, the band changes galaxy by opening up to a large public while keeping intact its artistic integrity.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Embers Fire (04:44)
02. Remembrance (03:26)
03. Forging Sympathy (04:43)
04. Joys Of The Emptiness (03:29)
05. Dying Freedom (04:43)
06. Widow (03:03)
07. Colossal Rains (04:35)
08. Weeping Words (03:50)
09. Poison (03:00)
10. True Belief (04:30)
11. Shallow Seasons (04:55)
12. Christendom (04:30)
13. Deus Miseratur (01:57)

LINEUP:
Aaron Aedy: Guitares
Greg Mackintosh: Guitares
Matthew Archer: Batterie
Nick Holmes: Chant
Steve Edmondson: Basse
   
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LAST NEWS
PARADISE LOST: At The Mill
LAST INTERVIEW
PARADISE LOST (MARCH 2020)
The representatives of gothic metal are back with a new album, "Obsidian", that guitarist Greg Mackintosh came to present to Music Waves readers.
 
OTHER REVIEWS
PARADISE LOST: Gothic (1991)
DEATH METAL - "Gothic" is highly recommended for fans of Doom and Gothic Metal and represents a milestone for Paradise Lost as it will never sound like this again.
PARADISE LOST: Draconian Times (1995)
GOTHIC METAL - Paradise Lost's "Draconian Times" is a monument to heavy metal, and quite simply one of the best records released in the genre in the 90s.
 
 
OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT PARADISE LOST
PARADISE-LOST_Obsidian
Obsidian (2020)
4/5
3.7/5
NUCLEAR BLAST / GOTHIC METAL
PARADISE-LOST_Medusa
Medusa (2017)
4/5
3.5/5
NUCLEAR BLAST / GOTHIC METAL
PARADISE-LOST_One-Second
One Second (1997)
5/5
4/5
MUSIC FOR NATIONS / ATMOSPHERIC METAL
PARADISE-LOST_Draconian-Times
Draconian Times (1995)
5/5
4.3/5
MUSIC FOR NATIONS / GOTHIC METAL
PARADISE-LOST_Gothic
Gothic (1991)
4/5
2/5
PEACEVILLE RECORDS / DEATH METAL
 
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