That’s how it was with PARADISE LOST

Automatic translation. Improvements are constantly being worked on.

Support: Saturnus, Shores of Null
March 05, 2026, Hanover, Capitol

On the second leg of their “Ascension” tour, Paradise Lost will also be visiting the capital of Lower Saxony. On board is a well-balanced setlist spanning almost all of the Brits’ albums. They kicked off with the latest “Serpent on the Cross” before firing two older songs, “Tragic Idol” and “True Belive”, into the very well-filled Capitol. Frontman Nick Holmes is in a good mood by his standards and even addressed a few warm words to the audience. We’ve seen it done differently before. With “Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us”, the immortal oldie “Pity the Sadness” or “Say Just Words” from the poppier phase, there is something for everyone, and the light show in blue tones fits in wonderfully. A few days before the gig, guitarist Greg Mackintosh published a press release about his dramatic weight loss, in which he admits to being seriously ill but is undergoing medical treatment. On stage, he is not quite as agile as usual, but shakes the remaining mat extensively before the band disappears for the first time.

The encore section then leaves some question marks, because instead of singing “As I Die”, “Shattered” or another classic, Paradise Lostsay goodbye with “Slience Like the Grave”, which is also from the latest album.

The Danes from Saturnus will heat up the crowd in the opening act. The band was founded just three years after Paradise Lost in 1991, but has learned a lot from today’s main act. Some songs are very reminiscent of Holmes and co. Nevertheless, the gig is fun, especially as you can’t admire the band around frontman Thomas Akim Grønbæk Jensen at every milk churn. And with “Veronika Decides to Die” (2006), the Northern Lights have also released a real hit album. Shores of Null have to go even earlier and bravely defend their title as “an Italian band can’t sound more English” champions of death/doom. Open chords dominate the scene, the first rows go along well and celebrate the southern Europeans, even if not too much of the songs stick. All in all, it was a successful evening of thunder with three different yet similar funeral willows.

Text (Hanover): Marc Halupczok
Photos (Leipzig): Stefan Otto

Setlist:
“Serpent on the Cross” – “Tragic Idol” – “True Belief” – “One Second” – “Once Solemn” – “Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us” – “Pity the Sadness” – “Salvation” – “Nothing Sacred” – “Tyrants Serenade” – “Requiem” – “Mouth” – “Say Just Words” — “No Celebration” – “Ghosts” – “Silence Like the Grave”