A banner year for doom and gothic metal here in 2020 and certainly fitting for the world vibe presently. Strong releases from My Dying Bride, Katatonia, and now Paradise Lost returns with yet another gloomy scorcher. Obsidian triumphs in providing an emotive and masterful listening experience that swirls doom, gothic, and some deathly touches into something more than the sum of their parts, as well as being completely in tone with their melancholic legacy. An all-around winner.
An excerpt from Matt Coe’s 9/10 review, which posted on May 18, 2020:
Obsidian is the group’s 16th studio record and considering four-fifths of the members are still around from their beginnings stands as a testament to the belief and commitment the musicians have to their craft. What should we expect, then? At this point in the Paradise Lost career, it seems like as songwriters and players the band wish to execute a mixture of doom-infused gothic songs with the occasional foray into their death tendencies. The earworms and hooks can be very circular and hypnotic – specific phrases and guitar mechanics revolving in that mid-tempo allure of catchiness and comfort, as “Forsaken” and “Fall From Grace” deliver, although the latter sits a bit more in a slower, lumbering despair as Nick Holmes switches up his semi-growl and clean, lower registers.
Keeping the playback to a tight nine-song, 45-minute window allows for proper absorption without exhaustion. Obsidian showcases the band unified in a mission to go where they want, embodying their metal instincts and logically following up Medusa which should be appreciated by most of the band’s legions and generations of fans.
Read the full review HERE