There are bands who are cool because they sound like other similar bands and bands who are legendary, because they sound like themselves, in spite or precisely because of their  metamorphoses and experiments throughout the years.

Paradise Lost are exactly one of those.

No matter if they're in their Depeche Mode period, which lasted about 6-7 years, or in the more revered by the metalheads remainder of their 20+ years' career, they cannot be mistaken, in spite of the circumstances.

Whether you listen to them live, in the comfort of your own living room on the expensive Japanese sound system, or the wind blows them from  someone's car stereo to the coffee queue in the cold festival morning somewhere in the Finnish backwater, Nick Holmes' voice and the meandering guitar wails of the deity Greg Macintosh, suggest that this is indeed Paradise Lost.

And guitars is something most definitely not lacking in “Tragic Idol” - Greg Macintosh and Aaron Aedy have built a wall of monstrous guitar sound, Steve Edmondson's bass is rumbling ominously, while Nick Holmes is particularly meticulous in his singing. From the first to the last song it is crystal clear that this is Paradise Lost, and in top shape, at that.

Purely academically it can be noted that “Tragic Idol” is the third in the similar sounding series, which started with “In Requiem” and rather logically sounds somewhat like a continuation of the latest “Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us”. Only heavier. And while in the previous two there were some extras like loops here and there, a piano and orchestra, church choirs and other airs and graces, the sound of “Tragic Idol” is bared to the bone and slams onto your head like a bag of cement.

We were forewarned what to expect by “Crucify”, which was generously released for free download by Century Media a couple of months ago and was duly put in rotation by the rock stations here and around the world.

The official single “Honesty In Death” sounds somewhat like “True Belief” from the classical “Icon”, though the video is quite dull (the last Paradise Lost video worth remembering being “The Enemy”). The beginning of “The Glorious End” sounds exactly like the beginning of “Blood of Another”. There's nothing wrong with that, just sayin'. Besides the song is quite good.

My personal favourite is “Fear of Impending Hell”, which for some reason impressed me from the first listening and so far remains the only one, which I remember after several dozens of spins.

Actually, the wholesomeness of 'Tragic Idol' can be considered as something of a shortcoming.
It is a fact that our ears are spoiled by the radio stations and the messed up situation with the music industry, which prefers to sell singles on iTunes a dollar apiece, instead of entire albums. It is also a fact that in the genres I prefer, whole albums are still sold and bought, but I still need a tune, which will send chills down my spine.

Something, which will grab my ears, will stick in my head and every time I hear it, I will know and anticipate the melody, something I  will whistle in the shower, if you like. And this is exactly what is missing in “Tragic Idol”.

Undoubtedly, it is a very solid and good album, containing all the beloved Paradise Lost beauties. It can be safely said that the band has finally stepped back on the road they walked in the recently re-released and much loved “Draconian Times” - they even have reverted to the band logo from those days of yore.

But while “Draconian Times” contains at leas three songs, which in the comfort of your living room will make your eyes water with excitement and played live will cause you a mild tachycardia, “Tragic Idol” contains none.