Paradise Lost – Icon 30
Release Date: 1st December 2023
Label: Self Released
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Genre: Gothic Metal
FFO: My Dying Bride, Anathema, Type O Negative.
Review By: Paul Cairney
30 years ago, one of my favourite ever albums was released. Rightfully called a ‘masterpiece’ by many, ‘Icon’ by British gothic metal pioneers, Paradise Lost was released, completing the metamorphosis death/doom metal to a true gothic powerhouse!
As the album approached its 30th anniversary, the band have decided to re-record the album and release it in various vinyl formats, in order to celebrate the album as well as the fact that they never owned the original album due to their contract at the time. This meant that they couldn’t just remaster or do any other funky shenanigans with the original recordings. Cunningly titled ICON 30, we are treated to a celebration of music.
The result is quite simply spectacular. With modern technology, Paradise Lost have made the album heavier than the original. Most of the band have been there from the start, with only drummers changing through the years, and so with 30 years more experience, they are even better musicians. This comes across in the tracks, with the riffs having more bite and the improvement in Nick Holmes vocals is tangible.
One of the great things about Icon 30 is the sheer consistency of the tracks. There are absolutely no weak songs, it is perfectly structured and, despite being a gothic album, it maintains the doomy heaviness to keep Metalheads happy. The result of this is that different people will have different favourite tracks. ‘True Belief’ is the best track on the album for me, but others will swear by ‘Embers Fire’, or ‘Forging Sympathy’ or any other track. It is a truly immense recording.
In reviewing this, I listened to the original recording to compare and, perhaps, contrast the differing versions. What was great to see is that the meat and bones of each track was predominantly the same, but subtle changes, no doubt inspired my numerous live renditions of the songs, have managed to improve the album. No mean feat to say this about an album that forced the band onto the mainstream in a very competitive time for heavy music in the UK.
Ultimately, Icon 30 is a release for the collectors. Releasing it in vinyl format is a stroke of genius. In the early 90s, CDs were relatively new, streaming wasn’t a thing and most Metalheads had turntables of various quality. The original Icon sounded best on vinyl, what better way for Paradise Lost to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of a classic is there than for ICON 30 to be a double vinyl album. An album that is an improvement on the original.
(5 / 5)
