Icons of goth and doom Paradise Lost has unveiled their brooding second single, “Serpent on the Cross” from the band’s long-awaited 17th studio album, Ascension, due out September 19 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Paradise Lost vocalist Nick Holmes offered a stark reflection on the song’s meaning: “The cross represents stability, prosperity, hope and happiness. The serpent represents trepidation, anguish and overbearing sadness, lurking in the shadows ready to take everything away.”
Ascension’s album cover fittingly features the painting The Court of Death (1870-1902) by renowned British artist George Frederic Watts, which hangs in the Tate Gallery in London. The painting depicts Death as an enthroned angel flanked by allegorical figures of Silence and Mystery guarding sunrise and the star of hope, while a warrior surrenders his sword and a duke his coronet, showing that worldly status offers no protection. The painting’s bleak, prophetic vision embodies Ascension’s dark, tormented soundscapes as mournful verses collide with dire, foreboding riffs.
On the record, Holmes continued: “Ascension is a cavalcade of molten misery, a vigorous sorrow filled stroll through a wicked world of glorious triumph and pitiful tragedy.” Pre-orders are available here. You can also catch Paradise Lost at one of their many tour dates below.
6/7 Berlin, DE Columbiahalle (w/ King Diamond)
6/10 Wiesbaden, de Schlachthof (W/ King Diamond)
6/11 Tilburg, NL O13 (w/ King Diamond)
6/13 Oberhausen, de Turbinenhalle (W/ King Diamond)
6/14 Ludwigsburg, DE MHP Arena (w/ King Diamond)
6/16 Milan, IT Alcatraz (w/ King Diamond)
6/17 Zurich, CH Complex 457 (W/ King Diamond)
6/18 Dessel, Be Graspop Metal Meeting
6/21 Lublin, PL Lublin 2025
6/28 Vana-Vigala, EE Hard Rock Camp 2025
6/30 Manchester, UK Manchester Academy
7/1 London, UK Roundhouse
7/4 Joensuu, FI ILOVAARI Festival 2025
7/6 Sariyer, TR Headbangers’ Weekend 2025
7/10 Malakasa, grockwave festival 2025
7/17 Málaga, is Sun and Thunder Festival 2025
7/31 Bergen, NO Beyond The Gates 2025
8/1 Czaplinek, PL Pol’and’Rock Festival
8/8 Jaroměř, CZ Brutal Assault 2025
8/15 Eindhoven, NL Dynamo Metal Fest 2025
Paradise Lost, Messa, High Parasite & Tears
10/9 Manchester, UK New Century Hall
10/10 Wolverhampton, UK KK’s Steel Mill
10/11 Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK Newcastle University
10/12 Glasgow, UK Glasgow Garage
10/14 Nottingham, UK Rescue Rooms
10/15 Bristol, UK Electric
10/16 Southampton, UK The 1865
10/17 London, UK Islington Assembly Hall
10/19 Oignies, FR Tyrant Fest 2025
10/20 Paris, fr Élysée Montmartre
10/21 Lyon, fr La Radonne
10/23 Köln, DE Live Music Hall
10/24 18th 18-sur-alzette, luc rock halt
10/25 Dornbirn, at Conrad Sohm
10/26 Padova, IT Hall
10/28 Munich, The Backstage Work
10/29 Prague, CZ Balc Acropolis
10/30 Zagreb, HR Boogaloo Zagreb
10/31 Vienna, AT Simm City
11/1 Budapest, HU Dürer Garden
11/3 Geneva, CH PTR/The factory
11/4 Nuremberg, de Z-Bau Biergarten
11/5 Utrecht, NL Pandora
11/6 Antwerp, Be Trix Hall
12/13 Bradford, UK Bradford Live
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