The Plague Within

I have been a fan of Paradise Lost for over 20 years, and it's clear that they have never shied away from change or experimentation. In my opinion, their best album is In Requiem, closely followed by Tragic Idol and the self-titled Paradise Lost. Personally, I prefer their cleaner style vocals, so I was initially concerned when I heard Nick Holmes would be using a growlier approach this time around. However, I do appreciate bands like Arch Enemy who use death metal vocals in conjunction with fast-paced and exciting guitar-driven songs.

Unfortunately, the music on this album feels repetitive and sluggish, causing one track to blend into another. It pains me to say this about my favorite band, but I found it rather boring. While dedicated fans will still want to add it to their collection, casual listeners may want to sample it first before making a purchase decision.