The Plague Within
Paradise Lost · 2015
55 min · 11 tracks · doom metal
A haunting blend of gothic melodies and crushing doom, enveloping listeners in a darkly atmospheric soundscape.
Top tracks — play these first
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No Hope in Sight Start here — The opening track sets a powerful tone with its heavy riffs and melancholic melodies, encapsulating the album's themes of despair and existential dread.
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Beneath Broken Earth — This track combines crushing guitar work with haunting vocals, representing the album's exploration of inner turmoil and loss.
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Flesh From Bone — With its driving rhythm and evocative lyrics, this song exemplifies the band's ability to blend heaviness with emotional depth, making it a standout moment on the album.
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Return to the Sun — As a climactic closing track, it juxtaposes light and darkness, offering a reflective conclusion that resonates with the journey throughout the record.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends gothic melodies with doom metal elements, showcasing strong songwriting and production.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks maintain a heavy, mid-tempo pace with layered guitar riffs and deep growls, creating a dense atmosphere.
- Several songs incorporate orchestral elements, particularly in the final track, which adds depth to the overall sound without overwhelming the core metal instrumentation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- haunting atmospheric reflections
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Marks a significant return to death-doom roots, acclaimed for its ambitious sound.
- Themes
- inner turmoil· gothic despair
- Career context
- The Plague Within is Paradise Lost's thirteenth studio album, marking a significant return to their death-doom roots after a series of experimental releases. Following the 2012 album Tragic Idol, this record showcases a deliberate shift toward heavier and darker themes as the band sought to reconnect with their early sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- My Dying Bride· Anathema· Cathedral
Tracklist
- 1 No Hope in Sight Start here 4:51
- 2 Terminal 4:28
- 3 An Eternity of Lies 5:58
- 4 Punishment Through Time 5:13
- 5 Beneath Broken Earth 6:08
- 6 Sacrifice the Flame 4:42
- 7 Victim of the Past 4:28
- 8 Flesh From Bone 4:18
- 9 Cry Out 4:31
- 10 Return to the Sun 5:43
- 11 Victim of the Past (orchestra version) 5:13
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
The Light at the End of the World
My Dying Bride
Shares a similar blend of melancholic melodies and gothic doom atmospheres.
Songs from the North I, II & III
Swallow the Sun
Combines crushing riffs with haunting melodies, echoing themes of despair and beauty.
Weather Systems
Anathema
Explores emotional depth with lush soundscapes and introspective lyrics akin to gothic doom themes.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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