Paradise Lost return with Icon 30, a re-recording of their 1993 album Icon that trades the raw death-doom of their earlier years for something grander, heavier and more theatrical. This is not a straight copy. Nick Holmes’ vocals sit deeper, the arrangements are fuller, and the band’s sound moves further away from the crushing doom metal of Lost Paradise toward a grander, more symphonic approach.
Embers Fire Through Joys of the Emptiness
“Embers Fire” sets the tone immediately. It is slow, heavy and atmospheric, with Holmes delivering lines about fire and ruin in a way that feels more operatic than brutal. “Remembrance” follows, a shorter, more melodic piece that leans into the band’s gothic side without losing the weight of their earlier work. “Forging Sympathy” is the first real statement of intent: a track that builds from a quiet, mournful introduction into a full-throated, almost anthemic chorus.
“Joys of the Emptiness” closes this stretch. It is a darker, more brooding track, with Holmes singing about emptiness and sorrow over a slower, more oppressive riff. None of these four tracks are filler, but they are the warm-up for what comes next.
Dying Freedom Through Poison
“Dying Freedom” is a standout. The title suggests struggle and loss, and the track delivers on that promise, with a mid-tempo riff that carries real emotional weight. “Widow” is shorter and more direct, a brief, mournful piece that does not overstay its welcome. “Colossal Rains” is the most atmospheric track on the record, built around a stormy guitar motif and a sense of vast, empty spaces.
“Weeping Words” is the emotional peak of the album so far: a track about grief and loss that finds Holmes reaching for higher registers, and it lands with real force. “Poison” closes this section on a note of tension. It is shorter and more compact than the surrounding tracks, a poison delivered in small doses rather than a full meal.
True Belief Through Deus Misereatur
“True Belief” is the other major highlight of the record. It is a sprawling, ambitious track that builds from a simple, dark riff into something more expansive, with Holmes singing about belief and faith in a way that feels genuinely urgent. “Shallow Seasons” is a more atmospheric piece, closer in spirit to the gothic doom of their early records, though the production is cleaner and more polished.
“Christendom” is a track about faith and religion, and it sits comfortably within the album’s themes without reaching the heights of the best material. “Deus Misereatur” closes the record on a brief, solemn note, a fitting end to an album that has spent its runtime building toward something larger than itself.
How the Tracks Compare
| Track | Position on the Original | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Embers Fire | Opener | Solid start |
| Weeping Words | Early middle | High point |
| True Belief | Late middle | High point |
| Deus Misereatur | Closer | Brief but fitting |
Final Word
Icon 30 is a confident, well-executed re-recording that shows a band still capable of delivering grand, heavy doom metal with real emotional weight. The highlights — “Weeping Words,” “True Belief” — are genuinely excellent, and the lesser tracks hold the record together without dragging it down. Holmes’ heavier vocal approach gives the album a distinctive identity, and the band’s mastery of grand gothic doom remains intact.
This is a worthy addition to the Paradise Lost catalog, and a strong example of how a re-recording can honor the past while sounding fresh.
- Embers Fire4:51
- Remembrance3:28
- Forging Sympathy4:41
- Joys of the Emptiness3:29
- Dying Freedom3:43
- Widow3:08
- Colossal Rains4:31
- Weeping Words3:51
- Poison3:05
- True Belief4:33
- Shallow Seasons4:54
- Christendom4:33
- Deus Misereatur1:53
