G’day heavy music lovers, Kris Peters here for HEAVY Mag, and boy, do we have an absolute cracker of an interview for you today! If you call yourself a fan of the dark, melancholic, and crushingly heavy, then you better buckle up because the undisputed pioneers of gothic metal are finally making their long-awaited return down under. That’s right, the legendary Paradise Lost are bringing their gloomy majesty back to Australian shores this October, and the excitement across the local metal community is already reaching a fever pitch.
It has been a hot minute since the British heavyweights last graced us with their presence, with their last Australian run taking place way back in 2017. But don’t think for a single second that they’ve been sitting idle. Since they last stepped foot on Aussie soil, the band has kept the creative fires burning incredibly bright, delivering two spectacular releases to their faithful flock: Ascension and the critically acclaimed Obsidian. Both records have further solidified their status as absolute masters of the genre, proving that even after three decades in the game, Paradise Lost is still operating at the absolute peak of their musical powers.
The band is rolling into town with some serious momentum, hot off the heels of a massive, star-studded show in London this past August where they shared the stage with none other than fellow progressive titans Opeth and the dark masters Katatonia. If that monumental gig was any indication of their current form, Australian punters are in for an absolute masterclass in heavy music when the band lands here in a few weeks.
To get the full rundown on what we can expect from this highly anticipated tour, I had the absolute privilege of jumping on a chat with the enigmatic frontman himself, Nick Holmes. We dove deep into the band’s excitement about returning to Australia, how it feels to finally bring these new tracks to life on the other side of the world, and sifting through 17 albums worth of music when choosing a set list. Nick also opened up about the band’s evolving live dynamic, revealing to HEAVY that he probably enjoys hitting the stage now more than ever before. So, grab yourself a cold one, crank up the volume, and check out our full chat with the one and only Nick Holmes below!
