Artist: PARADISE LOST
Album: MEDUSA (CD)

Release date: 2017
EAN/UPS: 727361379728
Media type: CD

Most people will know Medusa as the Gorgon from Greek mythology; she is the infamous beast with venomous snakes for hair who will turn anyone that dares to look into her eyes to stone. It is this hideous creature who PARADISE LOST have chosen to be the figureheard for their 15th studio album, as, from a philosophical perspective, she is more than simply a monster. Singer Nick Holmes started his research, intrigued to find greater meaning behind the symbol of Medusa and became particularly fascinated by the Gorgon’s nihilistic connotations. “Attempts to avoid looking into her eyes represent avoiding the ostensibly depressing reality that the universe is meaningless”, is an idea that was adopted by American novelist Jack London, and a thought that could have easily emerged from PARADISE LOST’s lyrics over the past 3 decades.

»Medusa« will be PARADISE LOST’s heaviest full-length release of the past 15 years, melding crushing doom metal with Nick’s harsh death growls and raw organic sounds, heralding a new era of pure Northern misery.

Recorded at Orgone Studios, in the misty countryside of Woburn, with producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (GHOST, ULVER, CATHEDRAL), a truly brutal beast of an album has been born. It not only expands PARADISE LOST’s musical boundaries, but also unveils the band’s darkest thoughts. The meaninglessness of our own existence is expressed through bitter yet laconic lyrics, typified by their eighth-minute opening track ‘Fearless Sky’:

“I’ve always liked the expression 'the richest man in the graveyard’, as it sums up so much about life, our purpose for existence, and what all material possessions actually mean once we have gone. Yet, particularly in the West, adult life seems to be about accumulating meaningless things, or admiring other people that have accumulated more meaningless things than you have. In a famous film, someone's mum once said: ‘there's only so much fortune a man really needs... and the rest is just for showing off.' I also like that expression”, states singer Nick Holmes.

Believing in a higher power, or a deeper meaning of our human existence, is a concept that the band has always denied. ‘Gods of Ancient’ deals with the more plausible concept of ancient paganism, and how worshipping the sun, moon and stars is more understandable than any man-made deity. In a similar way, ‘No Passage for the Dead’ also settles old scores with blind faith and the fact that many world religions solely aim for a glorious life after death, instead of cherishing the short time we have on earth:

“The possibility of entrance into some heavenly kingdom after death is such a ridiculous man made notion, pretty much like a medicine man in the old west. I imagine it was initially a theory invented to profit clever individuals, aimed at weak, frightened people. Accepting that there is nothing else after death isn’t a nice thought, but at the same time it can also make you appreciate the time you have, and live life to the fullest.”

There are some sparks of hope that shine through on the song ‘Blood and Chaos’, but in the end it all comes down to a final disillusioning conclusion: that humanity is only seldom worth living on this planet. This is a perception that Nick considers in the eighth, and concluding, track of the album, ‘Until the Grave’:

“Preying on a considered weakness for superiority comes in many shapes and forms, from bullying in the playground, to the extinction of entire populations. Ideas around this song are based on: innocents lost for no reason, slaughter founded on unfounded hatred, fear, and gradual dehumanization based on lies and propaganda.”

So abandon hope, all ye who listen here, and celebrate the beauty of ephemerality and nihilism – as long as you still wander on earthly soil.


TRACKLIST CD:

01. Fearless Sky
02. Gods Of Ancient
03. From The Gallows
04. The Longest Winter
05. Medusa
06. No Passage For The Dead
07. Blood And Chaos
08. Until The Grave



LINE-UP:

Nick Holmes | Vocals
Greg Mackintosh | Lead guitar
Aaron Aedy | Rhythm guitar
Steve Edmondson | Bass guitar
Waltteri Väyrynen | Drums