Customer Reviews

Faith Divides Us-Death Unites Us

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

More like a perfect TEN!

I never forget my first contact with the godly "Icon". I was still living in Poland (a little country between Germany and Russia, if geography is not your passion) and I bought it at the record store, thus effectively depleting my monthly allowance. At the time, my ears were mostly dominated by the likes of Megadeth and Metallica, so "Icon", undoubtedly influenced by the latter (influence Metallica will repay by sounding like PL on the "House that Jack Built" from <Load>), was right up my alley. I was so in awe of dark masterpieces like "True Belief", "Joy of Emptiness" and "Embers Fire", I sought out their back catalog and found the slightly disappointing, but still solid "Shades of God".
Now, even before I heard "Icon", a friend of mine introduced me to "Gothic" on tape. I remember that I loved the music but hated the vocals. I thought "Icon" remedied that problem while upping the quality of songwriting.
Two years later, while already in the U.S., Paradise Lost enchanted (no wonder, the first song is called "Enchanted") me with another masterpiece "Draconian Times".I had to have it sent from Poland because the American stores didn't even bother ordering it anywhere. All the songwriting of "Icon" was there, the vocals improved, but the record was definitely less intense or complex in terms of metallic fiber. Still, the mood and climate of it was unmistakably PL. Although today I think it's a brilliant album and the next logical step for PL, at the time I thought it was a step back from "Icon".
Finally, another 2 years after they came up with "One Second". There was no doubt now - PL from their '93 masterpiece was dead and gone. Having said that, I like Paradise Lost's experimentation, even "Host". I know many people hated this one, calling them "poor man's Depeche Mode". However, "Host" was better than some DM's work like "Ultra" and "Exciter". Those albums are good and I own them but "Host" seemed to have been better DM than DM. At least until Depeche Mode came back with "Playing the Angel".
For the unwary ones- hello, PL was flirting with DM style since "Draconian Times". The 10th track, "Hands of Reason" may be metal, but it is already encased in DM-like climate and dynamic, especially the main chorus reminds me of "Rush" from "Songs of Faith and Devotion". Besides, Greg McIntosh, PL's guitarist, in '95 interview confessed to being in awe of that DM's album. Of course the influence will become more pronounced on "One Second" Just so you know, DM is my favorite non-metal band and it influenced many metal bands, i.e. In Flames, Dark Tranquillity (Projector). So, like I said, I liked that side of PL. However, I secretly also wanted them to return to their metal roots after "Host".
Alas, the next step for PL, "Believe in Nothing" is, in my opinion one of the weakest albums PL has ever released, next to the self-titled. It was neither DM nor metal, just something in-between and it seemed as though the guys were quickly running out of muses to employ in the creation of their music.
Then, "Symbol of Life", a strong album, signaled a more aggressive approach. DM is still present, notably on the excellent "Pray Nightfall" with very impressive vocals of Nick. What's more, this was the first album since "One Second" that could easily be put in the metal basket. It is very well written and shows a lot of progress, and hope for even more metal next time around. Still, miles away from "Icon".
The next release, the self-titled, seemed like a half-hearted effort. On one hand, this was the first album to feature guitar work at least worthy of competing with "Icon" or "DT" (Close your Eyes). On the other, the songwriting was probably some of the worst PL ever featured on the album. Yes, it was even worse than "BIN".
Then came the mighty "In Requiem". The boys were (almost) back in town. This was at "DT" level, but not quite "Icon" yet. Greg remembered he had a guitar and Nick how to write good songs. And "Requiem" or "Ash and Debris" were not only well-written, melodic but AGGRESSIVELY metal, something not heard since "Icon". I remember PL guys promising that it was only the beginning.
"Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us" (ain't that the truth?) completes the journey back to 1993...then it goes back all the way to the Doom/Death of "Lost Paradise", their FIRST album! The riffs, climate, songwriting + the melodies make me want to agree with the guy who gave it 9.5 (E.Pugliese). This just may be their best work ever (or at least "Icon"'s equal).
Ignore the ones who say PL regressed. They took all the elements of their "nu" era and encased it in effing DOOM of their first four albums. This album makes "Draconian Times" sound like Evanescence in comparison. It is HEAVY, folks. If you are looking for PL from "One Second" thru the self-titled, you will score this new album like David Parker in his utterly unfair, 2 star review. But if you want the very soul, the beauty and the genius of Paradise Lost where they actually sound like Paradise Lost, get this.
There's even some OPETH influence (The Rise of Denial, 2:33-3:36 mark) here and SPEED. When was the last time PL actually wrote a fast song?
Along with the new Megadeth "Endgame", "Faith Dived Us - Death Unites Us" is an album that's a band's quintessence. Like Megadeth, Paradise Lost had once wondered off the mighty road, almost slipping into a sesspool, signaled their return to greatness with a few albums (most notably Megadeth's "United Abomninations" shared "In Requiem's" objective) and are finally both back.
And whereas Megadeth's new album, while leaving "Countdown to Extinction" in dust (along with everything else they did until "Endgame") doesn't quite reach the perfection of "Rust in Peace" or "Peace Sells but Who's Buying", despite heavily borrowing from both,with "FDUDUU" Paradise Lost takes the cake by creating their absolute magnum opus.

I wouldn't have believed it possible for a band that's been together for over 20 years to have improved on their sound. But, incredibly, they have. With Faith Divides Us Death Unites Us, Nick has expanded his vocal range, like a James Hetfield evolved into someone wiser, and the instrumentation has been placed just where it needs to be to compliment it. I'm absolutely enjoying it.

Not only is this their best album since Draconian Times( the last album I loved from them), this could be their best album. My God- I'm so blown away from this record, it has taken over my cd player with full force.

This album has it all. Its heavier and harder than Draconian Times, more consistent than Icon and has the moody, doomy sound of Shades of God, but technical and mature in style. The songs are so well-crafted, with hooks, turns, exciting changes and Greg's guitar work is beautiful and dark- straight out of the early to mid 90's. Nick's vocals are all here, to the almost harsh ones, to the hard and rough kind, to the deep gothic to calm and tuneful. After all these years I didn't think they could write a song like Frailty, with so much fresh energy and respect to their metal roots.
Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us is a powerful and fleshed out record, and has become my new Number 1 album for the year. Fans up to Draconian Times- don't let this pass you by, this record is the real deal. Heavy stuff for sure.

9.5/10 It has the potential to be a 10, I just want to give it some time.

I just can't stop listening to this album, it has the best songs Paradise Lost has written in a very long time. "In Truth" and "Last Regret" are totally outstanding tracks but the album as a whole is amazing. Very recommended to old Paradise Lost fans who waited long (as I did) to hear this great comeback.

its a solid album, the track faith divides us - death unites us is by far the standout track though, with a chilling, compelling video clip to go with it. makes the other tracks lesser by comparison though. didnt regret buying it though if u like your metal slow and sad these guys are for you.

Thank you Paradise Lost for producing the first CD after so many years that doesn't pale when compared to "Drakonian Times". Finally the band gave up producing pop music and went back to their roots. Admitted, this tendency was noticable before, but while good will was probably given, the quality of many former releases was simply not comparable to the band's first records (ok, I leave out this terrible very first one, where the drummer is not in timing for a single song). Anyway, "Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us" contains everything that has made Paradise Lost a great band. For all those that have frustratedly watched these guys slipping more and more into becoming the new a-ha, this is more than a good compensation. Thank you Paradise Lost. Thank you!

I've always loved Paradise Lost, but after freebasing this album, I can honestly say that this is one of their finest hours. I don't have a whole lot to add, but I will say this-if you loved 'Icon', 'Draconian Times', or even 'One Second', don't hesitate. Just click on the 'Add to Cart' button, and have your mind blown by some of the finest Doom Metal ever to grace your ears.

Another masterpiece of pure metal works from Paradise Lost, getting back to their roots and back to the Paradise Lost that I first started listening too in the late 90's when they released Draconian Times.

Giving this release less than a [5 stars] rating is an insult to the great work that this band has produced, A march of the metal warriors that they are truly known to be.

Metal For All
Wayne Barron
Carrz-Fox-Fire Promotions ([...])

This is absolutely Paradise Lost at their very best.I am a long time fan, way back from the Shades of God years, and I must say that this album blown me away at first listen.Buy it, listen to it and enjoy the beauty of music craftsmanship from the masters of doom.Definitely the album of the year, perhaps the decade.

In my opinion, this release is million miles away from "Icon" or "Draconian times". Grunt vocals, tempo changes, solos and choruses here and there, the intention is good, but the feeling is absent. Just like putting together all the ingredients does not make a good soup. And contrary to what others are saying, this album is pretty "light", because it is not vocals, distortion, technicality of solos or whatever which make the music heavy, but the message and the feeling. I found this album dissapointing, and at most, amusing, like other (praised but failed) "comeback" attempts of modern-metal era of type Metallica's "Death magnetic".. Okay guys, we know you are in a good shape, but you could do better.