Monday night at Sydney’s Factory Theatre, and the place was packed with metal fans, all there to welcome British gothic metal legends Paradise Lost back to Australia after nearly a decade.

Melbourne’s Victoria K got things underway, their haunting vocals and headbanging riffs proving a fitting introduction to the night’s darker proceedings. The five-piece delivered a powerful dose of gothic metal, warming up a crowd that was more than ready for what was coming.

Then it was time for Paradise Lost. Formed in Halifax in 1988, the band helped invent gothic metal, mixing crushing doom riffs with dark melodies and Nick Holmes’ unmistakable vocals. Nearly four decades later, their influence remained undeniable, and the performance made it easy to understand why.

Drawing on a catalogue that stretched from Icon and Draconian Times to their latest album, Ascension, Paradise Lost reminded Sydney why they’ve remained such an important force in heavy music. The riffs were huge, the energy was electric and the classics got the reception they deserved.

Not bad for a Monday night. Paradise Lost were back, and Sydney’s metal faithful couldn’t have been happier.

Images AEC Pix.

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