Paradise Lost, Messa, Lacrimas Profundere

Hailing from Halifax, West Yorkshire, the band have forever cemented themselves among the genre's greatest with seminal albums such as Icon, Gothic and Draconian Times. With sixteen studio albums, four EPs, and numerous compilation, reissue and live albums, Paradise Lost have become one of the most influential figures in international extreme metal. Crossing their tenth anniversary, Italian doom masters Messa take another step towards legendary status with their ambitious fourth album, The Spin. The album invites the listener on a breathtaking journey under the infinite skies of their creative imagination, through beautiful landscapes dotted with moods, twists and styles. Drawing on the band's eclectic, self-defined style of Scarlet Doom, The Spin simultaneously rises and falls, broods and bites, comforts and destroys - all combined with an instinctive, magical energy and obsessive, conscious work. Their Latin name means 'to shed tears' - and indeed, Lacrimas Profundere have been treading the path of dark, melancholic music for over two decades. The band originally started out as a major player in the gothic death-doom scene, but over time their sound has shifted towards a more stripped-down, melodic gothic rock/metal direction, with influences such as HIM and The 69 Eyes. With 2019's Bleeding the Stars, however, they rediscovered their early, heavier roots and returned to their iconic sound of dark romanticism combined with heavy riffs. Lacrimas Profundere are one of the most distinctive bands on the classic gothic metal scene, not only in style but also in stage presence - their concerts are raw, emotional and unforgettable.