More than three decades into their career & with over two million albums sold, PARADISE LOST remain the undisputed kings of dark metal. Formed in Halifax in 1988, the band quickly became noted as pioneers of gothic metal. The Yorkshire quintet return with their staggering 17th album, "Ascension," a record that sees their crown continue to gleam as it underlines just how they attained their position. The album has twelve songs, and "Serpent on the Cross" is first, and the darkness casts a shadow on you out of the gate. It's a low, slow, and terribly depressive sound, but not without melody. How do you maintain your sound after 17 albums? This way. The vocals are one of the best parts of the song, which is carefully composed to walk the line between hope and despair.

"Salvation" uses a little more of the atmosphere that the band is infamous for, and a massive riff enters the horizon. It drops like a weight onto the ground, violently shaking everything around it. The harmonized clean vocals are nice, but the sheer weight of the song bowls over all. "Silence like the Grave" features a heavy dose of orchestral arrangement along with the detailed guitar work. This is next level for the band…the weighted riff punches down concrete barriers and the vocals have a deep bite. "Lay a Wreath Upon the World" is a funeral dirge of sorts. Sorrowful tones carry it forward, with trepidation in each step. The band employs other techniques as well, including clean vocal choirs and hooks to reel you in, where their grip around your neck is strong.

"Savage Days" is a gentle little song, at first, beginning with tender vocals and minimal instrumentation. Darkness grows like a disease however, far reaching, and powerful. The riff is as sturdy as any, but the band lets melody through the cracks. "Sirens" is more weighted, with both a heavy bottom end, and from the deep emotional impact. Anger rises in the vocals, and although the riffs are fairly simple, they are also very effective at carrying the burden on their strings. "The Precipice" is a slow mover, like the title suggests, it might be akin to someone making a decision where they lose either way. The precipice seems too beguiling, and you move closer and closer to it. Looking over it however your decision is made.

"This Stark Town" has a more straightforward sound, but still one that is rooted in their dark cloaks. The clean vocals have hooks and the riffs are gloomy, and powerful. It reminds me of the magic of a cathedral after the sun goes down. "A Life Unknown" is the final song, and the album is full of surprises. This rocker is still cast with shadows, but the clean vocals and smooth delivery get stuck in your head. Even after their storied career seems ready to fade into the rear view mirror, PARADISE LOST shows how they got to where they are in the first place with "Ascension." As its base, it is Gothic Metal, as dark as night shadows, but it is also so much more. It's rich, diverse, catchy, and vital. Rather than rely on past success, they forge a new path forward. I have to assume they found the fountain of youth, because how else could one explain the magic on this, their 17^th album to date.