One third of the Unholy Trinity that led the revival of British doom more than twenty years ago, Paradise Lost have cemented their place in the hearts and history books of metalheads the world over. So it always justifiable to get a wee bit excited about a new record from the dour Yorkshire lads, and Tragic Idol does not disappoint. No-one in the genre has been able to marry such a keen sense of melody with the soul-crushing heaviness, and Paradise Lost continue to have a sound that is genuinely unique - and instantly identifiably theirs.

The main criticism I will level at Tragic Idol is that it is very much more of the same, with little evolution from Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us; and whilst this will please many, it is a touch frustrating for those hoping for further exploration and diversity in the PL sound. There is nothing to fault in the make-up of the album, an oppressive giant of a record that is as catchy as they have ever been. For this it will, rightly, be regarded as one of this year's better genre releases, one worthy of bearing the Paradise Lost moniker.

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