The Anatomy of Melancholy

For some reason Paradise Lost felt it necessary to unleash not one but two live DVDs less than a year apart from one another on their image starved fans. The biggest differences between the two is that this DVD is mainly a live DVD where as the other is the history of the band. You have the option to see the show or some random band/fan interviews as well as the latest albums two promo videos.

The DVD itself has great production and a simple layout. We get to see the band playing some of their archaic material in 'Eternal' & the ever popular 'Gothic'. The five men that make up PL have very relaxed attitudes while on stage and appear extremely comfortable in the spot lights. Musically speaking, there are no real screw-up’s from any one member with the arguable exception of Greg's near flawless leads and Nicks less aggressive vocals.

The band is incredibly tight live. The guitars are mammoth and unrelenting. There isn't much band/crowed interaction (which depending on who you are isn't a bad thing) but early on in the set someone shouts something to Nick who responds by telling them they could get thrown out for that kind of behavior. The main time Nick talks to the crowd is when he's introducing the "controversial" song from the even more controversial "Host" album. The band really get into it and its interesting to see them take the simple synth Goth song and make it Metal.

The biggest complaint about this would be that Nick has backing tapes. He will always have problems hitting the higher clean notes, this much is apparent, but its simply pathetic when you hear his pre-recorded voice coming through the speakers accompanying his live vocals. In all fairness it only happens on some of the newer songs. Another point of contention would be that the drummer is listening to pre-recorded guitars and a click track. He says this in a choppy interview and its just plain sad.

The set list lacks a bit to be desired in some aspects. While it was good that the band played the two Gothic tracks they were noticeably reluctant when the time came for them to play some of the older fan favorites like "Pity the Sadness", & "As I Die". Songs like "Say Just Words", "Mouth", "Grey" & "Red Shift" simply took up space that could've been more effectively used to add more selections from Gothic, Shades of God, Icon & Draconian Times. Especially considering that the band got the most cheers from the Gothic tracks.

The videos are nothing too special. "The Enemy" is just strange and confusing. Unless, perhaps, you look at it from the stand point of the band rising to the top of the Doomdeath Metal heap only to turn their backs on their fans and get shot. In the end, they are resurrected and wander off into the mountainside covered in mud and nursing bullet wounds. 'Praise Lamented Shade" is just a live performance with the studio version of the song over top. Lastly we to yet another preview for the already released 'Over the Madness' DVD documentary.

All in all, this isn't a bad representation of a more "modern" Paradise Lost. This will surely scare the dreadful Sheppard’s Bush concert out of the collective minds of those put off by it.