Paradise Lost
Symphony For The Lost
Released: 20 November 2015
Century Media
Review by Joshua Bulleid
Symphony For The Lost is a double-disc, live album, which was recorded in Bulgaria last year with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra. Yet, while the album’s premise is intriguing, it winds being up one of the least-essential entries to Paradise Lost’s prolific catalogue.
Paradise Lost, with their early gothic doom sound, seems custom fit for symphonic dabblings, yet those captured on Symphony For The Lost fall unspectacularly flat. It’s not that the compositions are particularly ‘bad’ per se, but they add little to the experience of Paradise Lost’s music, even if they don’t necessarily detract from it.
There are no real moments that stand out from the orchestral collaboration. More-often-than-not Symphony For The lost recalls the weaker moments of Metallica’s pivotal, live-symphony record S&M in 1999, having more of the effect of being stuck between two radio stations than acting as coherent compositions.
The second disc, whch contains a traditional Paradise Lost live set—sans-orchestra is stronger than the first, yet is similarly uninspiring. The disc is stocked with the usual Paradise Lost live staples; such as One Second, Say Just Words. The Enemy and Erased fared much better, both in more satisfying song selection and more consistent execution. However, it still lacks the essential energy that makes for a worthwhile live release.
I’m a big fan of Paradise Lost and I’ve seen them on a number of occasions. They’ve been nothing short of outstanding each time. However, the energy the band undeniably brings on the live front just doesn’t translate well on Symphony For The Lost. While some of the second disc’s later tracks do see a spike in enthusiasm, the orchestral section never properly coheres and for the most part Symphony For The Lost just seems entirely void of energy.
Those who are still intrigued by Symphony For The Lost’s premise are perhaps better-off picking up the DVD version, which contains a half-hour documentary along with the concert footage, and is likely more-rewarding than the stand-alone CD release.
