Paradise Lost / Cwfen – Ascension of Europe Tour 2026 Part 2 live gallery and review from The Academy Dublin 21.03.2026

The Academy Dublin welcomed a sold-out crowd for an evening that celebrated both the enduring legacy and evolving future of gothic metal, as Paradise Lost arrived in Ireland for Ascension of Europe Tour 2026 – Part 2. The night paired established pioneers with emerging talent, creating a bill that balanced reverence for the genre’s history with a glimpse of its next chapter.

Opening duties fell to Glasgow gothic/doomgaze outfit Cwfen, a relatively unknown name to much of the audience at the outset. Any initial unfamiliarity quickly dissolved once the band launched into their opener, “Bodies.” Their sound, a carefully layered fusion of ethereal textures, brooding atmosphere, and slow burning heaviness, proved immediately captivating. Across a concise six song set, Cwfen demonstrated impressive control of dynamics, allowing moments of fragility to swell into crushing crescendos. Tracks such as “Wolfsbane,” “Whispers,” and “Embers” highlighted both their melodic sensibility and their ability to build immersive sonic landscapes. By the time they exited the stage, the response suggested they had converted a sizeable portion of the early crowd into new followers.

With anticipation fully primed, Paradise Lost took the stage to a rapturous reception. Opening with “Serpent on the Cross,” the Yorkshire veterans wasted no time asserting their authority, delivering a performance defined by precision, atmosphere, and confidence born of decades on the road. The Academy’s intimate setting amplified the band’s signature blend of melancholy and weight, allowing every riff and vocal nuance to land with clarity.

The 16 song setlist was expertly curated, weaving together material from across the band’s extensive catalogue. Classics and newer selections coexisted seamlessly, reinforcing Paradise Lost’s continued relevance within the genre they helped shape. Highlights included the towering “Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us,” the sombre intensity of “Requiem,” and the crowd pleasing “Say Just Words,” each greeted with enthusiastic sing alongs from a devoted audience.

A three song encore provided a fitting conclusion, culminating in “Silence Like the Grave,” whose emotional gravity brought the evening to a powerful and reflective close.

More than a nostalgia driven performance, Paradise Lost’s Dublin appearance served as a reminder of the band’s enduring creative vitality. Paired with Cwfen’s promising opening set, the night stood as a compelling snapshot of gothic metal’s past, present, and future, delivered with conviction to an audience eager to embrace all three.

Cwfen photos & set-list:

Set-list:
Bodies
Wolfsbane
Reliks
Whispers
Penance
Embers

Paradise Lost photos & set-list:

Set-list:
Serpent on the Cross
Tragic Idol
True Belief
One Second
Once Solemn
Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us
Pity the Sadness
Salvation
Nothing Sacred
Tyrants Serenade
Requiem
Mouth
Say Just Words
Encore:
No Celebration
Ghosts
Silence Like the Grave

Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic