Metal Warfare - Irish Metal Forum

Metal Discussion => Gigs and Festivals => Topic started by: seangan on October 07, 2025, 04:29:03 PM

Title: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: seangan on October 07, 2025, 04:29:03 PM
I just discovered that Paradise Lost are playing Belfast, Dublin and Limerick over the solstice weekend next March. I remember liking them back in the 90s but haven't listened to them since then. I must give them another listen to see what they're like these days.

https://paradiselost.co.uk/tour-dates/
https://mcd.ie/artists/paradise-lost
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Uinsion on October 07, 2025, 08:28:36 PM
Brilliant News, I was very disappointed I didn't see Ireland on their part 2 poster, but obviously have added these on since.
They did the 3 places in September 23.
Looking forward to it already.. :abbath:  :abbath:

pl.jpg
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: HeartWorm on October 08, 2025, 07:11:42 AM
Decent announcement.
I'm not too gone on the new album though.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Pagan Saviour on October 08, 2025, 07:15:41 AM
Was at the last run of shows. They're not the most exciting live proposition these days. This coupled with the new album being meh this isn't filling me with the excitement it once would have.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Don Gately on March 02, 2026, 09:09:06 AM
If anyone has a spare ticket for this please dm me . Limerick show
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Floss on March 20, 2026, 10:19:46 AM
As much as I love these guys (a lot) they were never a great live band. Fantastic music and albums, but just not the world's most exciting live band. But I always go, probably the band i've seen live most maybe at this stage....
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Pagan Saviour on March 20, 2026, 11:50:16 AM
I'm the same but sitting this one out. They're pretty dull live, and they stick to the same old tracks from the older records. Last time I seen them was Limerick and wasn't one surprise in the set just straight down the middle.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Blizzard Beast on March 20, 2026, 01:52:54 PM
I always found PL very hit and miss and certainly not as good as the early My dying Bride, early Anathema when the trinity is mentioned.
Il head to this as Ive never seen them live before and the last album was decent.
Hopefully well get to hear some old stuff played.
Any idea of stage times?
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Carnage on March 20, 2026, 02:17:36 PM
Saw them a couple of times (Gothic & Draconian Times tours) and they were good if unexciting to behold. Nothing they've released in the last 30-odd years would bring me out to see them again.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: jobrok1 on March 20, 2026, 04:12:19 PM
Sunday night... This will surely start/finish a bit early.

Any mention of times yet?
Couldn't find anything yesterday.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Uinsion on March 21, 2026, 05:07:19 PM
Quote from: jobrok1 on March 20, 2026, 04:12:19 PMSunday night... This will surely start/finish a bit early.

Any mention of times yet?
Couldn't find anything yesterday.

You probably got the same email, but here anyways.

pl.png
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: jobrok1 on March 21, 2026, 05:13:29 PM
Half an hour for support and change over...  :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh:
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Snare on March 21, 2026, 07:08:42 PM
Times definitely "subject to change"!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Blizzard Beast on March 21, 2026, 08:15:40 PM
Quote from: Uinsion on March 21, 2026, 05:07:19 PM
Quote from: jobrok1 on March 20, 2026, 04:12:19 PMSunday night... This will surely start/finish a bit early.

Any mention of times yet?
Couldn't find anything yesterday.

You probably got the same email, but here anyways.

pl.png
Sound!
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Kailash on March 21, 2026, 08:24:48 PM
was anyone at the Belfast gig? any good?
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: HeartWorm on March 21, 2026, 09:26:16 PM
Bad Reputation facebook says Dolans times:
Cwfen at 8.
Paradise Lost at 9:15.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Uinsion on March 21, 2026, 10:39:40 PM
Thanks, going by Belfast and Setlist.fm, that's a 10.40 pm finish.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Brenny on March 22, 2026, 12:40:37 AM
I've a Limerick PL ticket for sale if anyone is interested - can meet in Dolan's before gig. DM me if interested
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Hellyeah on March 22, 2026, 09:10:31 AM
Was at the dublin gig last night, have to say the band sounded as good as ever. Good mix of new and old. Defo get in early for the support act, worth seeing.  :abbath:
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: HeartWorm on March 22, 2026, 11:12:56 PM
Really enjoyed Cwfen tonight,good set and great vocals.Paradise Lost were decent but it felt a bit lacklustre from them for some reason.Good setlist though covering every part of their catalogue.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Brenny on March 23, 2026, 09:29:06 AM
Saw PL last night. 3rd time seeing them. Love the music, loved the setlist, but I've just come to the conclusion that they're not a good live act (I've come to the same conclusion regarding Opeth). Something just missing from them
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Pagan Saviour on March 23, 2026, 09:53:09 AM
100%. Just very dull and phone it in most of the time. Love the music but having seen them many times I think I wouldn't bother again unless it was an album or era specific setlist.

Recent records have been phoned in too, last time round the tracks from Obsidian were just dead time. I had a look at the setlist there, it is career spanning and I will hand it to them that they try play something from every album. But it's largely the same stuff. e.g If it's One Second it can only be the title track or Say Just Words, you know what they'll play from Gothic, or the later records it's largely the title tracks Tragic Idol, faith Divides etc.

Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: HeartWorm on March 23, 2026, 09:55:28 AM
Quote from: Brenny on March 23, 2026, 09:29:06 AMSaw PL last night. 3rd time seeing them. Love the music, loved the setlist, but I've just come to the conclusion that they're not a good live act (I've come to the same conclusion regarding Opeth). Something just missing from them

I'd have to agree with you. Nick Holmes is a good vocalist but not a very good front man.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Floss on March 23, 2026, 11:21:28 AM
PL have never been a great live band - that's nothing new since they started gigging in the early 90s.  They've always had the songs though - they're very definitely an album/studio band. With songs as good as what they have that's good enough for me anyway.  They're probably the band i've seen live the most going back to the early 90s and its always been like that. Fair play to them for always playing a few Irish gigs, they've always turned up.  Great setlist this weekend here (same each night i think) and great to see Jeff back on drums, the Italian lad was good but just not the right guy. Great sound in Dolans last night, place was rammed. Support sounded good at what they do too. But anyone expecting an exciting, exuberant performance from a bunch of middle aged miserable Yorkshiremen playing goth/doom metal is attending the wrong gig  :laugh:
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: jobrok1 on March 23, 2026, 12:16:42 PM
Agreed!
Performance wise they were exactly as I expected them to be. They're never going to set the stage alight, like. But Gregor did seem to be in the zone for most it.
Set list was good too. Nice mix.
Boggles my mind how they don't at least had Emebers Fire, As I Die or Forever Failure as one of the encores. Massive tracks for them, like.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Pagan Saviour on March 23, 2026, 01:54:02 PM
QuoteBut anyone expecting an exciting, exuberant performance from a bunch of middle aged miserable Yorkshiremen playing goth/doom metal is attending the wrong gig

I disagree. Always thought their peers for example put on better shows well into their respective careers. My Dying Bride, Anathema for example always gave more wallop and they're cut from the same miserable cloth. PL look bored of their own material. Only one into it is Arron Aedy and at that his persona reminds me of those "Drummer is at the wrong gig" viral videos.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Emphyrio on March 23, 2026, 02:53:40 PM
Bit of a funny one. The support band seemed heavier despite largely playing with one guitar. PL were at their heaviest with the One Second and Host songs, strangely enough. I know the backing tracks filled out the sound a lot but it was noticeably less hefty on the songs without them.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Uinsion on March 23, 2026, 06:54:09 PM
Well, I for one was happy to be there, and really enjoyed it.

Great to have a gig like this on this side of the country.

I know they may not be huge venues, but great to see the shows sold out, they might come back.  8)
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Western Viking on March 23, 2026, 08:07:08 PM
I also enjoyed the gig, didn't really expect to after listening to the set list during the week, first time I saw them live was over 30 years ago so fair play to them to still be going, would have preferred more of the old stuff but sure you can't have it all, as said above great to have these gigs over in the west so thanks to Bad Rep and keep the gigs coming.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: leatherface on March 23, 2026, 08:11:38 PM
Was not at these concerts as I am geographically challenged but saw them in 95 in Italy and can attest to the lack of presence on stage, they were like that back then.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Blizzard Beast on March 23, 2026, 11:40:58 PM
Good turn out last night and Dolan's really is a superb venue, the sound was  excellent and you weren't blasted out of it.
First time seeing PL live, nice to hear some of the old stuff (pity there wasn't more)and the songs from the new album sounded decent live.
I wouldn't be in a rush to see them live again but not sorry I went.
Title: Re: Paradise Lost ‘Ascension of Europe’ Tour – March 2026
Post by: Jward on March 24, 2026, 09:28:48 AM
Quote from: Blizzard Beast on March 23, 2026, 11:40:58 PMGood turn out last night and Dolan's really is a superb venue, the sound was  excellent and you weren't blasted out of it.
First time seeing PL live, nice to hear some of the old stuff (pity there wasn't more)and the songs from the new album sounded decent live.
I wouldn't be in a rush to see them live again but not sorry I went.

Same thoughts as this

Sure, 'twas something different for a Sunday night