At The Mill

Recorded in an abandoned saw mill in the midst of a live music ban in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic, Paradise Lost’s At the Mill features the band playing an epic, career spanning set — including songs from their latest full length, Obsidian — to an empty house in their hometown of Yorkshire. Even without a crowd to witness the performance, the band’s live energy and prowess are palpable, with Nick Holmes’s deep growl sounding as clear and menacing as ever, and Greg Mackintosh’s guitar bringing a sense of urgency and electricity. At The Mill spans their 30 year career, bringing to the forefront hits from their most gothic era, like “Faith Divides Us-Death Unites Us,” “Gothic” — with a female guest vocalist giving it an operatic twist — and “Shadowkings,” a standout from Draconian Times. Paradise Lost’s slowed-down death metal shows up in tracks like “Fall From Grace,” “Blood and Chaos” and “Requiem,” a slow, grinding, doomy song with pummeling guitar riffs and heavy drums. At The Mill is a must listen for hardcore fans of Paradise Lost and a gateway for non-believers.