Nuclear Blast [Release date 16.03.18]
‘Host’ was Paradise Lost’s seventh album and was originally released in 1999 on major label EMI. It certainly caused a major stir amongst their fans at the time with its electro/synth led sound, a far cry from the band’s previous albums and their gothic/doom metal sound.
Singer Nick Holmes commented: ”With the ‘Host’ album we wanted to take the ‘One Second’ concept further and make a very dark album with even more subtlety. It was a bold leap from all our previous albums, a leap too far some would say, but for me, the new remastered version really shows it’s still one of the band’s strongest albums in terms of song writing, atmosphere and sheer misery.”
Songs like ‘In All Honesty’ and ‘Nothing Sacred’ give Depeche Mode a run for their money and if given a decent chance of airplay both could have been crossover hits back then. Guitarist Gregor Macintosh may have had little in the way of guitar duties, however he excelled on the keyboards and string arrangements on the album.
‘Permanent Solution’ highlights the melodic singing style of Nick Holmes (who is back to his heavier style on the band’s latest album ‘Medusa’ which was released last year) and the synths/programming of Gregor Macintosh – both really hit the spot on this one.
If there is a little niggle with the album it is the pace of some of the songs is very similar.
Personally I have always enjoyed Paradise Lost’s synth/gothic pop phase and ‘Host’ deserves a re-visit now it has been remastered and gets a vinyl release for the first time. ***1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
