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Pioneers of British gothic metal, PARADISE LOST, are set to unveil their long-anticipated 17th album, “Ascension”, on September 19 through Nuclear Blast Records. This marks the band’s first release in five years, following the critically acclaimed “Obsidian” from 2020, and was produced by guitarist Gregor Mackintosh, with mixing and mastering by Lawrence Mackrory.
“Ascension” showcases PARADISE LOST‘s enduring relevance throughout their 35-plus-year career, blending the signature styles of gothic, death, and doom that fans have treasured over the years.
The album cover for “Ascension” features the evocative painting “The Court Of Death” (1870-1902) by the acclaimed British artist George Frederic Watts, currently displayed at the Tate Gallery in London. This artwork portrays Death as an enthroned angel, flanked by the allegorical figures of Silence and Mystery, who guard the sunrise and the star of hope, while a warrior relinquishes his sword along with a duke’s coronet, illustrating that worldly rank offers no real safety. The painting’s somber, prophetic vision encapsulates “Ascension”‘s dark and tormented soundscapes, where sorrowful verses intertwine with ominous riffs.
Commenting on the album, PARADISE LOST‘s vocalist Nick Holmes states: “‘Ascension’ is a cascade of molten despair, a vigorous journey through a wicked world of sublime triumph and tragic defeat.”
Today, PARADISE LOST provides a preview of their melancholic masterpiece with the release of the record’s first single and music video, “Silence Like The Grave”.
The track listing for “Ascension” is as follows:
01. Serpent On The Cross
02. Tyrants Serenade
03. Salvation
04. Silence Like The Grave
05. Lay A Wreath Upon The World
06. Diluvium
07. Savage Days
08. Sirens
09. Deceivers
10. The Precipice
“Ascension” was produced by Gregor Mackintosh at Black Planet Studios in East Yorkshire, U.K., and NBS and Wasteland Studios in Sweden, with mixing and mastering handled by Lawrence Mackrory.
This summer, PARADISE LOST will join KING DIAMOND and perform at festivals across Europe before launching the first leg of their “Ascension Of Europe” tour this fall.
With over three decades of experience and more than two million albums sold, PARADISE LOST continue to reign supreme as the kings of metal’s dark realm. Formed in Halifax in 1988, the band quickly earned recognition as pioneers of gothic metal with their groundbreaking early albums, including 1991’s aptly named “Gothic”, which fused heaviness with ethereal melody and atmosphere.
Consistently evolving, their career reflects a diverse exploration of dark music, from sludgy doom-death roots to significant mainstream success with the lush sonic textures of 1995’s “Draconian Times”, and farther into more experimental electronic influences, ultimately impacting a wide range of artists such as CRADLE OF FILTH, HIM, GATECREEPER, and CHELSEA WOLFE.
Now, in 2025, the Yorkshire quintet returns with their remarkable 17th album, “Ascension”, which reflects their continued brilliance and reinforces their esteemed status. Produced by guitarist Gregor Mackintosh at Black Planet Studios in East Yorkshire, with drums and vocals recorded at NBS and Wasteland Studios in Sweden, its 10 tracks explore the vast array of sounds in the band’s repertoire, balancing intense heavy metal with soaring melodies while maintaining an irresistible minor-key melancholy.
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