‘Draconian times’ needs no introduction. Often cited as a fan favourite (although Paradise Lost fans frequently squabble over exactly which album is best, such is the high quality of the band’s output), it certainly has stood the test of time and it is now here on blood-red vinyl courtesy of Peaceville’s remarkable campaign to reissue the very best of their extensive back catalogue in exclusive and stunning collector’s editions.
A full review of the album seems somewhat superfluous given the reams of material already written about it, but to offer a brief reminder ‘Draconian times’ is the album that saw Paradise lost shoot into the public consciousness after a string of increasingly successful albums with a set that maintained their earlier power but coupled it with a grasp of melody hitherto only hinted at and Nick Holmes’ strongest vocals to date that saw him compared to James Hetfield. With hindsight, ‘Draconian…’ was not a stunning leap forward from ‘Icon’ (with the band, embattled over the deeply underrated ‘one second’ album joking that it was their sell-out album because they knew exactly who their audience were) but the songs were just so much more immediate and so perfectly rendered that the combination was irresistible. Songs such as ‘Enchantment’, ‘forever failure’ and ‘once solemn’ still sound as astonishing today as they did when the album arrived in 1995 while it’s fair to say that there is not a single ‘filler’ track on the album despite its length.
So what does this re-issue offer? Well, Peaceville have put the usual care and attention into the packaging, showing this amazing record the respect it deserves. Packaged in the most beautiful gatefold sleeve yet seen (and let’s face it, the art work for ‘Draconian Times’ by artist/photographer Holly Warburton always looked stunning) complete with printed inner bags featuring lyrics and liner-notes from producer Simon Efemey the discs themselves are printed on a deep, blood-red 180 gm vinyl which looks and sounds amazing and the mastering job has preserved every detail from Lee Morris’ rock solid percussion to Steve Edmondson’s throbbing bass making it sound and look more spectacular than it ever has before. Limited to 2000 numbered copies this is a spectacular addition to any fan’s collection.
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