Customer Reviews

Draconian Times

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
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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!

Draconian Times is a classic Paradise Lost Album. It is one of their heavier and more aggressive albums, but mixes in the same dark elements that made other Pl albums great. Nicks vocals are hard, aggressive, and sometimes dark and moody as well. This album rocks!

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 Gothic (W/Dvd) (Spec) 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 Icon, 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.

This is one of the best albums in the atmospheric metal scene. In the beginning i didn't like it so much but after some times hearing it i loved it. Not only this i can hear it every time - its so good. Very good heavy riffs and guitars - fantastic solos and amazing vocals. The bass is very atmospheric and the so rhythmic drums follow so nice that they complete this masterpiece which called draconian times. A must buy for anyone who likes atmospheric metal or metal generally

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

Being one of Paradise Lost's best albums, and considering that Paradise Lost is one of the best Gothic Metal bands ever, "Draconian Times" packs a powerful punch. This is real headbanging metal. Yet it is so moving and emotional. If you are looking for "average" music, look elsewhere. This is good stuff. This CD turned the critics ears when it came out in 1995. Having finally got it for Christmas, I can safely say this is one of my favorite albums. If you like Gothic Metal, you should have heard of Paradise Lost by now. This is the third album I've bought of this band. Certainly, all other British bands pale in comparison to this one. Only the Swedish band Katatonia reeks emotion quite as much as these guys do.

I was searching around on my ipod and saw this so i decided to listen to it. This is some headbangin tunes from good ole Paradise Lost, a gothic metal type band. I would better classify this album Just good hard rock coming from the soul. Kind of like a mix between old Metallica, soil and a kind of old band like Spineshank, or even older like Alice in Chains. I'll be listening to it again and again after my first listen, i really like the force of energy this band has. U can really feel the chorus "forever failure", an Epic track... The musicianship quality of this band glows. It's great when a band can put out good rock records like this still. and good music in general if you are a true rock fan! I will give this album 5 stars for it's energy. Peace out yo. -Nitrus Da Pizza Master_