Diversified Gothic Metal Milestones Rediscovered - A Review of Paradise Lost's At the Mill

Just like their genre colleagues Katatonia, gothic metal pioneers Paradise Lost have decided to play a concert without audience during the ongoing pandemic, in this case at The Mill Nightclub in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The band has decided to play sixteen songs from all eras of the group, including live debuts of three tunes from last studio record Obsidian. The final result is offered as a package including a CD and a blu-ray but there are also digital and vinyl versions available.

This release's main strength is the diversity of its setlist. New songs like the melancholic, melodic and memorable doom metal monster ''Fall from Garce'' work splendidly with the band's excellent chemistry as four of the founding members are still on board and have been playing music together for nearly three decades and a half as we speak.

The recording also includes a few more catchy, commercial and smooth tunes from the middle years such as the short yet gripping and entertaining ''One Second''. It's great to see that this band respects all its records, phases and eras.

Paradise Lost also offers several cuts from its early years that have helped developing the gothic metal genre. The song ''Gothic'' in particular finds  a perfect balance between cold riffs and growls on one side as well as melodic female vocals and beautiful guitar harmonies on the other side.

The sound of this release is clear, energetic and organic. The vocals sound crystal clear at all time, no matter if we listen to clean or harsh vocals. The guitar sound is gripping, melodic and tight in the lead and rhythm department, convincing with both sinister riffs and uplifting solos. The bass guitar is audible, dynamic and vibrant as it provides the backing for the creative gothic metal soundscapes. The drum play by the band's most recent member Waltteri Väyrynen has great flow and swagger as it mixes playful sections with tight passages.

This record is however not without some obvious flaws. First and foremost, this concert would have worked so much better with even just a little audience in front of the band. This release simply can't replace the atmosphere, chemistry and energy of an actual concert.

Up next, some sounds come from a tape. This is not only the case for some soothing keyboard sections but especially for a few female guest vocals. As the latter appear, viewers will confusedly be looking for the additional singer who just isn't there. Perhaps this kind of material with guest musicians who couldn't attend these recordings should have been avoided in the first place. 

Finally, the band members don't communicate at all with the public or even with one another. This leads to a distant, cold and at times awkward atmosphere. One could think that this goes along with the stylistics of a gothic metal band but in the case of an actual concert released for public, it comes off as somewhat unmotivated, lacklustre and antisocial.

At the end of the day, Paradise Lost's At the Mill still has much more benefits than downsides. It offers an excellent summary of the band's impressive career with seventy-four minutes of diversified, energetic and inspired gothic metal music. This release should therefore please fans of old date as much as potential new followers.

Final Rating: 85%