Ascension is the seventeenth studio album by British gothic metal band Paradise Lost, released on 19 September 2025 through Nuclear Blast. It is the first studio album of fully new material by Paradise Lost since Obsidian (2020), marking the longest gap between studio albums in the band's career. It is also their last album to feature drummer Guido Montanarini, who appeared on Icon 30 (2023), and left Paradise Lost in May 2025.
Background On 24 March 2023, Paradise Lost announced on their Facebook page that touring drummer Guido Montanarini had become an official member of the band.
In a November 2023 interview with Portugal's Metal Global, Nick Holmes said that Paradise Lost had been working on new material for the follow-up to Obsidian: "Hopefully at the beginning of next year, we can have a few months downtime so we can actually get working more on the album. But... I think we've got a few songs done; we need to review them. So, yeah, we'll hopefully write an album next year, anyway. Whether it's gonna be recorded [next year], I don't know, but hopefully at least written".
In May 2025, prior to the release of Ascension, Montanarini became the sixth drummer to leave Paradise Lost; he was replaced by Jeff Singer, who had previously drummed for Paradise Lost during the 2000s. On 6 June 2025, the band announced the release date of Ascension, while also releasing the album's lead single entitled "Silence Like the Grave".
Track listing
Personnel Paradise Lost Nick Holmes – vocals Gregor Mackintosh – lead guitar Aaron Aedy – rhythm guitar Steve Edmondson – bass Guido Zima Montanarini – drums
Charts + Chart (2025) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 74 French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP) 5 German Rock & Metal Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 3 Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ) 38 Italian Albums (FIMI) 83 Japanese Western Albums (Oricon) 23 Portuguese Albums (AFP) 68 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) 39 Swedish Hard Rock Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 2 Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 3 US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard) 45
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