I've loved these guys for years, and it's great to see the Koch label finally releasing all their albums in the States - long overdue! This earlier version of their goth-rock sound is basically Type O Negative meets Metallica. That simple. And yes, that good! Very moody and dark, but very metal. That would change with subsequent albums like "One Second" and especially "Host", where more electronics crept into the mix, along with the singer's decreasing reliance on the James Hetfield-isms of their earlier albums - i.e., better singing! The latest album "Believe in Nothing" returns them to a harder, guitar-oriented feel, while not losing the increasing electronic texture, which I think makes for their most compelling sound (and album) yet. God only knows what the new CD "Deus" is going to sound like! One of the best-kept secrets in goth-metal, but hopefully not for long!

Originally released in 1995, Draconian Times was the fifth album from UK gothic metal legends Paradise Lost. This is the album where Paradise Lost seemed to complete their transition from the doom/death days of

to the gothic metal sound they're so well known for today. We caught glimpses of it in the "Metallica meets Sisters of Mercy" sound of

, but Draconian Times is where it all came together.

Fans of the band's early sound tend to hate this album, but Draconian Times is by far my favorite Paradise Lost release. The band seemed to find the perfect balance of doomy heaviness and gothic melancholy (and melody). Songs like the thrashing "Once Solemn" transition perfectly to more melodic, almost danceable songs like "Shadowkings" without losing the overall feel and emotion that Draconian Times has so much of. Nick Holmes alternates between a James Hetfield-like bark and a smoother vocal style, and Gregor MacKintosh's guitar work weaves effortless between thrashing riffs, doomy rhythms and more melodic passages. This is one of those rare albums where every song is perfect and the whole thing holds up extremely well no matter how many years have gone by.

If you're a fan of the modern Paradise Lost sound, Draconian Times is a mandatory purchase. It's just a fantastic metal album in general, and is probably the definitive Paradise Lost album. It's also a touchstone of the whole gothic metal genre. So buy it already!

Edition Notes: Draconian Times was reissued by Music for Nations in 2002. The reissue features a pair of bonus tracks. The first is a cover of the Smiths' single "How Soon Is Now" that totally fits the album's character. The second is the song "Fear," which was a b-side to the Forever Failure single. For me, it was well worth replacing my older copy to get these two bonus tracks. Your mileage may vary.

i am one of paradise losts biggest fans and this is there best album bar none it simply rocks has amazing riffs and gothic overtones there albums since and before this aint as good but not far off shades of god is a masterpiece also and icon if anyone likes rock or metal they should have this if they dont wellk they havent a clue