Review by Emily Castles
Photos by Artur Tarczewski
The hordes have gathered outside the glorious vintage music hall that is the Shepherd’s Bush Empire on this cold Friday night, ready for two dark metal legends to give them a pre-Christmas treat of Northern Doom. After a brief stroll past a lacking merch stall (which Nick Holmes later informs the crowd was a result of a dodgy courier), I enter the rammed balcony.
Although a ‘seated’ area for which specific tickets were sold, even 20 minutes before the first band takes to the stage people are struggling to find a seat – it turns into a semi-seated area. In fairness, if there was ever a night to get up on your feet – it’s tonight.
The night opens with Bradford depressives, My Dying Bride. Haunting North England, not to mention the rest of the world, for over 30 years – they will shortly be releasing their fifteenth studio album, A Mortal Binding (19 April, via Nuclear Blast Records).
However, we start old school with ‘The Thrash of Naked Limbs’, the title track from their second EP released in 1993 – this sets the precedent for a nostalgic set of beloved 90s tracks, feeding into the sense that this is an evening celebrating the golden era of death-doom.
The crowd is left mesmerized by the moving violin of Shaun MacGowan during ‘The Songless Bird’. This is slow, deeply dark music that encourages a gentle synchronisation of headbanging across the room.
The guitars are affecting, the switching up of echoing clean vocals to fast, aggressive growls is alluring. Aaron Stainthorpe, ever the showman, thanks ‘the people down here, the people up there, and the people in the toilets – there’s always people in the toilets.’
In a union of Northern brilliance, tonight’s main meal is Paradise Lost, playing the transformative Icon album in all its full glory – celebrating 30 years since it was released back in 1993. It marked a shift in the band’s sound – opting for a gothier edge, whilst still retaining their death-doom roots.
Many of these tracks often bypass the Paradise Lost setlist, so tonight is a real treat for any serious fan.
Launching into the opening track ‘Embers Fire’, Nick growls ‘Let’s go’ and the crowd sings every single word back to him.
They play ‘Forging Sympathy’ and ‘Shallow Seasons’ live for the first time since 1994.
Ever the raconteur and showman, Nick takes time out in-between each song to chat to the crowd – like a mate down the pub.
After playing ‘Remembrance’, he says ‘You know, a lot of people ask me do you remember life now? And I can say, honestly, I don’t. Not since I was 12.’ The dad jokes keep coming. ‘So, have we got anyone from Greece in here tonight? I saw the flag, I was looking for an easy cheer.’
After ploughing through the full Icon album (it’s staggering to hear that many brilliant riffs in such quick succession – Gregor is truly the master), we end with a few extra gifts including ‘Ghosts’ – taken from their most recent studio album, Obsidian.
This was a truly memorable Paradise Lost set for everyone gathered at the Empire this evening, perhaps some of these tracks will never get played live again. Shame about the merch though…
