27.12.2004

PARADISE LOST

CATHEDRAL

EXICO

16 December 2004 - at Wulfrun Hall - WOLVERHAMPTON - UK

review by dalia di giacomo

- all photos © by Stefan Vogelaar

The public use of these photos is strictly prohibited without written permission

INTRO

After Greece (Thessaloniki), from where exciting news concerning the show headlined by PL hit us like a hammer some days ago, gryphonmetal.ch is now in Paradise Lost fever again. Flying from Switzerland we attend the Yorkshire band in Wolverhampton: another important concert of this "warm up" group of dates that announce the release of the album "Paradise Lost" in February 2005, and very important, allows the drummer Jeff Singer, who , as Lee Morris' successor, took the place behind the skins in the recording of the upcoming CD, to be introduced to fans and public. I think it is general belief that Jeff Singer (ex-Blaze) will be definitely confirmed son as the new official drummer of Paradise Lost. We will see... but besides all this , it is a great deep sincere emotion that leads us here in England again, PL home. It is so important for the devotees to attend an English gig in December, seen also this year like a sort of X-mas gig , a tradition, an event that cannot be missed, meeting with some nice weepers included. The only 2004 UK date takes place in Wolverhampton's Wulfrun hall (close to Birmingham) : a quite big venue. I have never seen this location before, neither i know its technical details, but to tell that Wulfrun Hall has the capacity to guest around 800 persons seems absolutely realistic to me. I'm immediately attracted to the merchandise corner where the new t-shirt, revealing very likely the cover theme of the upcoming album (at least i hope), is towering above all other wares, among which we can find the SOL "serpent" shirts, in the beloved green version, and the thongs...

EXICO www.overplay.co.uk/exico

When i enter the concert room at 20:15, Exico are practically about to finish their concert. Therefore i cannot tell really much about this band live. To be honest i even didn't know that this band would have been playing, and i don't know them at all anyway. I just get the impression they are young and enthusiast, and that they propose a quite angry music in the wake of the metalcore/NWOAH style, a holy hell of style that definitely should conquer the new generations . They have clear influences that span from Chimaira to Shadows Fall. It is evident at once. And confirmed then by the listening to the one-track sampler that the band generously distributes for free to the interested ones) . Actually they seem to have pluck, aggressiveness and the right sound and tuning "du role". Quite sympathetic and agreeable are they also. But more originality should be needed. They have time to work on characteristics of their own. But they have a certain cool impalpable Death appeal both in music and vocals, a feature they should develop more , in my opinion.

CATHEDRAL http://www.cathedralcoven.com/main.htm http://www.cathedral.rockers.co.uk/

Ok, Cathedral are rockers, and very 80's oriented so it's not the most attractive stuff concerning my taste. But ,for what i 'm looking at, and i'm listening to in this show, i can only come to the conclusion that this evening Cathedral look like a very common, usual," normal" band, that it's doing its show with no particular participation. I am not here for Cathedral, and the fact that this well famous band is supporting PL has never added the smallest fascination to this concert at my eyes . Anyway, though i am not thrilled at all , i must openly say that i had anyway some good expectations. Therefore i'm not only bored but also a bit disappointed cause i believed the "name" Cathedral could offer much more. Lee Dorrian and Co. perform all in all a normal just decent gig that however unfortunately delivers many moments of banality and monotony, in particular during the first part of the set. Moreover i see that Cathedral as supporters is quite a right deserved situation. Actually in my personal opinion Cathedral , like they are this evening, could be the supporters of many Swiss underground bands . I can see more involving and better shows in any corner, concerning Rock too. In few words, they are nothing special . Lee Dorrian tries to be elegant and a bit good mooded, but the result of this behaviour, imo, is just able to come close to a veiled arrogance. Self- confident is he for sure but i don't see him into the gig. The rest of the band is almost total monochromatic , drummer included. Only the doom-y breakdowns are played with a certain meaningful involvement and the guitar solos add, at times, a certain lively touch . The extremely rocking Soul Sacrifice and then Skullflower inject a bit of movement, it's true, and it's true that also the weak wish to attend a duet Nick Holmes- Lee Dorrian was in the air (just remember that Lee did an apparition on PL's album Symbol of Life and Cathedral shared the same Chapel Studios with PL at that time). Good thing that it was just a pale, wake wish for me too, so i have no further reasons to be disappointed than the ones this gig is already giving to me. Anyway i must say that actually there are some attenders with an enraptured expression on their face, some other ones are singing lowly knowing all the lyrics, some bang their heads, and Cathedral get their applauses ("thank you very much, cheers!" answers Lee every time), but the general positive response of the pit is another thing. In my opinion this concert is a flop underlined by the fact there are no many Goths here this evening: the audience is composed mainly by Rockers and Metallers. For me, Cathedral just don't show the proper engagement and consequently they don't produce the proper enthusiasm neither they arouse enthusiasm in the crowd. it seems they are doing simply a job, nothing less, nothing more. Moreover i have to extend the "negative " list, telling that the sound was not the best : voice and instruments don't emerge sharply. Cathedral are usually reported to be "cult doom rockers". Too bad that this evening i don't see any single reason that can justify this cult...and the "templars" instead of arising are , in my opinion, rather far from returning.

PARADISE LOST www.paradiselost.co.uk

Paradise Lost Live in Thessaloniki 2004

I Despair (PL fanzine of gryphonmetal.ch)

Symbol of Life

interviews with Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost live at Astoria 2003

Paradise Lost Live in Zürich 2003

Paradise Lost live Thessaloniki 2003

Paradise Lost - reviews written by the fans

Now it's time to turn over, let's change subject. After a precise almost perfect stage preparation with a very attentive, effective and even not very long check of guitars and drums, we can turn over . In this darkness broken only by fading spotlights, the waiting becomes more fervid. Everybody is looking forward to the performance of Paradise Lost now. We are right to be excited. We will be all greatly rewarded. Still i don't know , we all don't know what a utter strong concert we will experience, but the Draconian Time dream, the never ending Icon spell flatter on the air, vivified by the satisfaction left by a reliable Symbol of Life . In this darkness, after a lightly symphonic gothic gloomy intro they meet the stage: Aaron and Steve , welcomed by many warm applauses. And Aaron is applauding back with his arms raised high over his head, also in this darkness we perceive his appreciation for the fans. And then Nick, here he is, applauses! and Greg. Jeff is behind the drumkit, a bit hard to be seen, though the drumkit is positioned over the stage level. Only Lee Morris' smile is missing: this change of drummer still needs a good quantity of anabolism in order to be completely assimilated!

PL start off with No Celebration, like they did in Greece. Quite unexpected way to open, something new, considering how much used to Erased we were in 2003. The opening with the sorrowful but fascinating No Celebration is appreciated very much. Mouth follows leading to a burst of involving "rocking on", like in Greece. But immediately you notice that Pl are so fu**ing heavy!!! The attitude of Draconian Times and of the previous eras is here, flourished again, combined with the new melodies. Already during the numerous gigs attended on 2003 there was a clear inclination towards a clear Metal path. This evening represents the accomplishment . Among such pitiless, kicking-ass "monsters" of bands that dwell in the Metal world today, Paradise Lost still stand an ideal confrontation with them, PL stand tests and comparisons. Evergreen and everlasting, the "kings" still hold tight their crown. It's not me to say it. It's the way True Belief is delivered, or Shadowkings, or Hallowed Land, or the mythical As I die (from" Shades of God" , gosh! it seems composed today!) , or Forever Failure (with the unmistakable and unforgettable Charles Manson intro), or Embers Fire, or Enchantment with which they opened a very acclaimed encore, or The last Time, the last song of this evening, the last super emotion of this evening. Some of these tracks are not songs but monuments that revolutionized an epoch, an epoch that after all lasts till now. Monuments that show no aging at all, played tonight with almost the same disposition with which they were released, with the same resolute energy and strength. On the contrary, those who appreciate Host too will forgive me if i say that fortunately only one Host-representative appears in the list: So much is lost, proposed in the hardest way you can do it, more i think it's not possible , if you want to maintain the essence of the song. One Second is catapulted into a more aggressive sphere, while Say just Words sounds propelling and amazing. Symbol of Life and its fellow mates No Celebration, Erased, Mystify, Perfect Mask are enriched by a new intensity and so much that you can wonder , "oh what song is this, from SOL?" This is to say that the more recent songs and the "golden" ones perfectly match, thanks to the great work of guitarists Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy, granitic concerning the the powerful rhythmic riffs and agile for what all concerns embroideries , virtuosi and solos. The bass sound from Steve Edmondson is always a great source of pushing force. Jeff Singer's drumming, though being still a bit "dry" and brusque, is actually bringing a new wind of freshness and power. A healthy lashing. Lee's smoother and deep sound was filling up every empty space , nonetheless always supporting the songs like a true pillar. Jeff' s style on the contrary gets nearer to the one of Matt Archer (the devotees still gladly remember him), in particular regarding the snare i think, and, as consequence, he brings the band in the wake of a more Heavy/Death -oriented sound instead of the Gothic one, but right for this the bass-drum should be increased . Like mentioned before, Greg and Aaron are exquisite and even more now , wit this new drumming that hardly tolerate imperfections. Nick's vocals are aggressive, precise, intense. Never listened recently to such a precise and strong voice from Nick Holmes, whose irony appears to be less bitter and less biting, while his stage acting and singing now are truly enhanced. Practically almost all concert long i was headbanging like a mad, like i usually do only before the best, the strongest , the heaviest, the most merciless and enthralling Death and Black acts, so this explains pretty much. But i am not for sure the only one. We are in many to bang a lot, getting a sane- insane aching neck. Like in Greece, we are also gifted with the preview of brand new songs excerpted from the upcoming and much awaited "Paradise Lost"; songs which are inserted in different moments of the concert and properly announced by Nick. Close your Eyes is presented after Erased, while Grey after Perfect Mask. Close your Eyes is the song which impressed me the most, well balanced between melody and bone-breaking rhythmic bursts, with an attractive, interesting , not predictable, anyway enjoyable musical construction. Grey is definitely more melodic though able to show tightness.

We "Weepers" are surely not forgotten by the band: Nick dedicates the song Mouth to Jon Marks, recognizes and points to Stefan, who is in the photopit, and, still during the concert, also asks where are the Weepers, inviting all of us to raise our arms in order to give a quick sign of our presence.

Well, I could sum up this amazing concert saying that Paradise Lost are so near to their past and so near to their future. They receive a great response from the crowd, beyond the usual and spontaneous sing along's and hand-clapping's: they get so much warm appreciation , so much acclamation, in particular when the encore is called, cause it's in this moment that the "venue" is shouting and calling the band back at the unison, through an impressive chorus and a wall of applauses. It seems the floor is vibrating too.

"PHASED WITH GAMES,
I RESENT A WORLD I ONCE REGARDED

BUT NOW IT SEEMS THE CHANGES MUST BE MADE…
CELEBRATE! TERRIFY ME
DON’T MYSTIFY YOUR LOVE"

setlist:

1. No Celebration
2. Mouth
3. True Belief
4. So Much is Lost
5. Shadowkings
6. Erased
7. Close your Eyes
8. Hallowed Land
9. Mystify
10. Symbol of Life
11. Forever Failure
12. Embers Fire
13. As I Die
14. Perfect Mask
15. Grey
16. One Second
------------------
17. Enchantment
18. Say Just Words
19. The Last Time

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