LIVE REPORT : Paradise Lost in The Tivoli Theatre

Playing their first Irish show since 2015, the band are touring in support of their well received latest release Medusa. Inspired by Greek Mythology, the album is widely regarded as a return to form for the band, with a more mature and refined sound.

After diverse support from Outshine and Owlcrusher, the crowd in Dublin’s Tivoli Theatre were hungry for the gothic doom metal pioneers to take the stage. To uproarious applause they open with new track From the Gallows’. The track is a chugging progression of apocalyptic rhythms which begins the evenings journey into the bands vast catalogue. The band are in top form, with front man Nick Holmes poking fun at himself after sombre number One Second saying, “I fucked up the second verse on that one - just in case anyone was recording!” and reminiscing about their last visit to the venue which was during their Icon tour.

Paradise Lost’s trademark hypnotic powerhouse doom is on full display during performances of Enchantment and newer track An Eternity of Lies. The almost cinematic sound of the guitars in the latter crashes off the walls of the Tivoli in a terrific symphony of doom. Holmes then announces that they would now be playing old material, “It will be a pleasant experience for the newcomers. Well, maybe not pleasant…” Vibrant performances of old favourites True Belief and As I Die are met with the enthused crowd screaming the lyrics along in unison. It’s interesting to note that these songs would have been released before drummer Waltteri Väyrynen was born.

Ending the show with a three song encore comprised of the wrecking ball anthem No Hope in Sight and the Draconian Times crowd pleaser The Last Time’ Paradise Lost show they’re still the best at what they do. The founding fathers of gothic doom sound as good as ever.