I love PARADISE LOST more than I can put into words but I’m a ‘late to the game’ fan, as I didn’t discover them until the album “Symbol of Life" had been out for a few years. I still hold that album in high regard but, because it was the first one I heard, I tend to stick to that one and all the albums released after more than I do anything before. In all seriousness, PARADISE LOST’s contributions to doom, gothic, and metal in general cannot be overstated. They are absolute legends and they deserve that title more than most other bands that get called that.

“Icon” is certainly well deserved for its title of being a classic as well. I was 10 when it originally came out so I haven’t been enjoying it as long as some but over the years after discovering them, I, of course, delved into all their older albums. It’s hard to beat “Draconian Times,” but “Icon” is just as good in its own right. But re-releasing an album is always a danger for any well loved and respected album, right? It depends. First, this isn’t just a simple re-release or remaster. This has been totally re-recorded. Some might scoff at that, seeing a band trying to recapture their past glory. But considering PARADISE LOST’s modern period is fricking great, there is no glory to recapture because it isn’t lost. Besides, they didn’t re-record this album for such selfish needs. They did it because they had to: they don’t have the rights to the original so this is how they get those songs back. I see nothing wrong with this at all.

Regardless of how you feel about it, fans need not worry. Because my second point is the danger of re-recordings is line up changes. Other than a drummer change, the line up is the same as the original. I’m not saying the drums aren’t important. The original drummer, Matt Archer turned in a great performance but so does the new skin master, Guido Zima Montanarini. But considering the band has only ever lost drummers, the four main guys are the core and with them still here, you know it will be done well. This album is known for being point where the band completely abandoned it’s death/doom style but, despite what some may believe, they didn’t leave doom itself. There are still many slower, doomy parts on this album and it tends to be gloomy. Of course, it is mixed in with more standard heavy metal moments with a greater urgency in tempo but the mix of the heavy/doom styles is pulled off very well.

As far as the re-recording goes, this is pretty damn faithful to the original but it just sounds more modern. Updated, if you will. My biggest complaint with the original was the production was a bit thin in places, especially on the guitars. They have two guitarists of course but the original didn’t have the heft that two should bring to the table. That changes this time around for a more robust and heavier approach in tone. The drums sound a lot better now, especially the snare. The guitars and bass are also much more vibrant, which is great especially for the solos. Greg is quite the shredder when he wants to be and the notes really stand out this time around. Nick’s vocals are still as capable as ever—this guy only gets better as the years start to fade. See what I did there? No? Sorry.

Everyone knows the greatness of fan favorites like the opener “Embers Fire,” “Widow” and “True Belief” but this album was always so good to me because of the lesser known tracks. “Shallow Seasons” and “Christendom” are two of those. They both sound in fine form and have new life breathed into them, each having a new dimension of heaviness. I’m not saying this is better than the original. How could it be? You can’t be the original of anything, not from an historical standpoint. But I am saying it is just as good and is completely faithful to the original. Old school fans won’t find anything to scoff at and newcomers of the band might as well start here. I’d never thought I would ever get the chance to review such a classic album but it was an honor writing about this.