Band : Paradise Lost
Album Title : Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us
Label : Century Media
Distribution : EMI
Release date : September 2009
Review : CD

“Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us” is the twelfth studio album of the English metal band Paradise Lost, formed in 1988 in Halifax, England. For those that do not know the history of Paradise Lost, a few words of explanation: the first three albums (“Lost Paradise”, “Gothic” and “Shades Of God”) can be categorized as death/doom, followed by the gothic metal albums “Icon” and “Draconian Times”, while the era 1997 – 2005 was characterized by experimenting with electronic styles (“One Second”, “Host”, “Believe In Nothing” and “Symbol Of Life”). Since 2005, Paradise Lost have retrieved the gothic metal, proof of which was delivered on the albums “Paradise Lost” and “In Requiem”.

The pioneers of death/doom and gothic metal, who celebrated their 20th anniversary last year with the live CD/DVD “The Anatomy Of Melancholy” are now back in full force with an even heavier, darker and doomier album than the previous studio album “In Requiem” (2007). And let’s not forget, that earlier in 2008 there was also the release of the compilation album “Drown In Darkness – The Early Demos”, containing previously unreleased tracks from the demos “Paradise Lost”, “Frozen Illusion” and “Plains Of Desolation”, recorded in 1988-1989. This new studio album takes us back to the melancholic sound of the early nineties (the albums “Shades Of God”, “Icon” and “Draconian Times”). So, “Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us” has a lot of references to the band’s past, containing grim riffs, gloomy melodies and haunting vocals/grunts from singer Nick Holmes. Note that it is the first album of Paradise Lost where guitar players Gregor Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy use a seven-string guitar.“Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us” contains 10 really excellent songs, has a playing time of 46 minutes and was produced by Jens Bögren (Opeth, Katatonia, Amon Amarth). Highlights of the album are the opening track “As Horizons End”, “I Remain”, “First Light”, the majestic title track “Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us”, “The Rise Of Denial” and “Universal Dream”.

The deluxe limited edition includes the bonus track “Cardinal Zero”, as well as two orchestral versions of “Last Regret” and “Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us”, recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.Paradise Lost are undertaking an European tour -with a new drummer in their ranks, already the fourth drummer in 21 years, the Swedish bloke Adrian Erlandsson (Cradle Of Filth, At The Gates, The Haunted)- from October 30th 2009 till December 19th 2009, with dates at Atak Enschede (the Netherlands) on November 7th, Biebob Vosselaar (Belgium) on November 8th and Tivoli Helling Utrecht (the Netherlands) on November 10th.

90/100

Erik.