Paradise Lost (band)

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Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost during Metalmania 2007 festival in Katowice, Poland.
Paradise Lost during Metalmania 2007 festival in Katowice, Poland.
Background information
Origin Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
Genre(s) Death/Doom (early)
Gothic metal
Synthpop(See Synth Era)
Years active 1987-present
Label(s) Century Media Records
Music for Nations
Koch Records
GUN Records
Peaceville Records
Website paradiselost.co.uk
Members
Nick Holmes
Gregor Mackintosh
Aaron Aedy
Steve Edmondson
Jeff Singer
Former members
Lee Morris
Matthew Archer

Paradise Lost are a metal band formed in 1987 in Halifax, England.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Along with countrymates Anathema and My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost are credited for creating the subgenre known as Death/Doom Metal. Their first three full-lengths (although the latter two incorporated some more melodic and gothic features) are considered as prime examples of this style. However with the seminal albums Icon (1993) and Draconian Times (1995), Paradise Lost became known as godfathers, and many people still consider them as true inventors, of the gothic metal subgenre [1] With the changing of the music style, the vocalist Nick Holmes also changed his singing style. He used a death grunt-style of singing on the band's first three albums; however, upon the release of Icon, he refined his voice to a cleaner tone. Later on they made an experimentation with more electronic style but after four albums returned to gothic metal.

While less so in their home country, they have been extremely popular in mainland Europe for many years, especially in Greece and Germany, where they are regarded as mainstream rock stars. Paradise Lost's line-up has remained remarkably consistent for a long-standing heavy metal band, consisting of singer Nick Holmes, guitarists Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy, and bassist Steve Edmondson. Holmes and Mackintosh are the principal composers, with almost all of the band's songs credited solely to them. Only the band's drumming position has changed, with original sticks man Matthew Archer leaving in 1994 to be replaced by ex-Marshall Law drummer Lee Morris. In March 2004, Morris also left the band. Drummer Jeff Singer took Morris' place and has played on all subsequent releases, though he was not listed as a permanent member of the band until the release of single The Enemy in 2007. In a recent video interview, Mackintosh and Holmes revealed that Singer already auditioned for the band when Archer left, but they chose Morris instead because "[Jeff] had a pink drumkit".[2]

[edit] Early Years

Paradise Lost were early on inspired by Kreator, Celtic Frost, Candlemass, Death, Morbid Angel and Repulsion.[3]

Up to 1989 Paradise Lost have recorded for demo cassettes. The band made a contract with Peaceville Records for producing their first album Lost Paradise.[4] Their debut was well received by press and fans alike.[3] In November 1990 Paradise Lost go back into Academy Studios, working for a second album. 1991's Gothic, also on Peaceville Records, was the band's first success[5] and one of the most influential albums within the scene. The album was labeled as a "classic" and high-rated by both fans and critics.[6] The album expanded beyond the traditional death/doom metal format, being more melodic than the death metal-inspired debut, featuring symphonic orchestra and female vocals by the singer Sarah Marrion. [4][7] With this album the band pushed the term "gothic" into the metal scene and started the creation of gothic metal. Paradise Lost was signed to Music for Nations label, and returned in 1992 releasing the album Shades Of God in July.[5]It contained the song "As I Die", later released as a single/EP, which still appears as a hymn for all Paradise Lost fans.[8]. In summer 1993 the band commenced work on their fourth full-length - Icon which was released in September the same year.The album hit the national German charts at number 31.[4] The album is considered as a masterpiece of gothic metal and has hardened the band's position in the mainstream metal scene.[6] Draconian Times, one of the band's most successful albums [8] arrived in June 1994.A limited edition digipack offered a second disc dubbed 'Live Tracks, Demos & B-Sides', comprising five live recordings as well as demos and outtakes. For promoting the album, Paradise Lost went on a huge tour through countries in Europe,South America and Australia, and played even in Japan [7]

[edit] Synth Era

Paradise Lost returned in 1997 with a brand new look and a changed musical style which confounded fans and critics alike with their perpetual taste for experimentation. On the album One Second (1997), which was distributed by hip hop label Jive Records, the band began to experiment with Depeche Mode-styled synth pop and electronica.[9] The album turned out to be one of the band's most important releases, cracking the national German and Swedish top tens and gave the band a boost everywhere it seemed except the UK.[4] And although some of the fans of the band's older material were disappointed, Paradise Lost gained much new supporters.[7] The band later contracted EMI Electrola in Germany for producing its next album - Host, released 1999. In the album Paradise Lost continued to experiment,losing their metal roots and jumped to synth rock.[10] In the next album, Believe in Nothing 2001, Paradise Lost continued the synth experimentation. In may 2002, the band signed to the label G.U.N. In the full-length that followed, Symbol of Life, the metallic roots of the band were resurfaced. [9]

[edit] Present Days

Paradise Lost released their 10th, self-titled album in 2005 on G.U.N. records.The electronic side of the music was still present, although the band had rely much more on the guitar-based sound.[11] The release started the process of returning to the gothic metal roots. The eleventh album, In Requiem was released in Spring 2007 on the label Century Media[12] The album was generally well-accepted and high-rated both critics and fans, pleased to see the band's returning to their heavier, gothic metal sound similar to that of earlier albums like Draconian Times.[1][13] The album also won "The Best Gothic Metal album" from "Metal Storm Awards 2007" [14] The full-length was followed by a single, The Enemy.

On November 26th, 2007 Century Media released the documentary "Over The Madness" displaying the impact Paradise Lost has had on Gothic Metal and giving an insight into the mindset and workings of Paradise Lost. Disc 2 includes further interviews, rehearsal footage plus backstage and memorabilia sections.[15]

Having supported the Finnish Symphonic Metal band Nightwish in North America, Paradise Lost will return to Europe in December, with support from Novembre, Godsplague and Swallow The Sun, later supporting Finnish Rockers HIM.[1]

[edit] Members

Nick Holmes on Metalmania 2007 festival in Katowice, Poland.
Nick Holmes on Metalmania 2007 festival in Katowice, Poland.

[edit] Current members

[edit] Former members

  • Matthew Archer – drums (1988-1994) (became of VJ for Euro-MTV)
  • Lee Morris - drums (1994-2004) (ex-Marshall Law, ten)

[edit] Discography

Band performing on Metalmania 2007 festival
Band performing on Metalmania 2007 festival

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Singles/EPs

  • In Dub (1990)
  • As I Die (1992)
  • Gothic EP (1994)
  • Seals the Sense (1994)
  • The Last Time (1995)
  • Forever Failure (1995)
  • True Belief '97 (1997)
  • Say Just Words (1997)
  • One Second (1997)
  • Permanent Solution (1999)
  • So Much is Lost (1999)
  • Fader (2001)
  • Mouth (2001)
  • Erased (2002)
  • Forever After (2005)

[edit] Compilations/Live

  • Live Death (1990) (Live VHS and later DVD)
  • The Singles Collection (1997)
  • Reflection (1998)
  • Evolve(Live DVD w/Promo Videos) (2002)
  • At The BBC (2003)
  • B-Sides and Rarities (2006) (bootleg)
  • Over the Madness (Film documentary) (2007)
  • The Anatomy of Melancholy (Live DVD) (2008)

[edit] Demos

  • Morbid Existence (demo) (1988)
  • Paradise Lost (demo) (1988)
  • Frozen Illusion (demo) (1989)
  • Plains of Desolation (demo) (1990)

[edit] Videography

Video Album Length Year Copyright
Pity The Sadness Shades of God 4:05 1992 Music for Nations
As I Die Shades of God 3:43 1992 Music for Nations
Widow Icon 3:07 1993 Music for Nations
True Belief Icon 4:29 1993 Music for Nations
Embers Fire Icon 4:45 1993 Music for Nations
The Last Time Draconian Times 3:37 1995 Music for Nations
Forever Failure Draconian Times 4:45 1995 Music for Nations
One Second One Second 3:30 1997 Music for Nations
Say Just Words One Second 4:05 1997 Music for Nations
So Much is Lost Host 3:39 1999 EMI Electrola
Permanent Solution Host 3:27 1999 EMI Electrola
Mouth Believe in Nothing 3:47 2001 EMI Electrola
Fader Believe in Nothing 3:20 2001 EMI Electrola
Erased Symbol of Life 3:22 2002 GUN Records
Forever After Paradise Lost 3:30 2005 GUN Records
The Enemy In Requiem 3:43 2007 Century Media
Praise Lamented Shade In Requiem 4:02 2007 Century Media

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fr/paradiselostin.htm
  2. ^ Accueil TDKprod vidéo metal et production indépendante
  3. ^ a b Alexander (1998), from the liner notes of Reflection.
  4. ^ a b c d http://www.rockdetector.com/officialbio,6722.sm
  5. ^ a b http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:j9fpxqw5ldte~T1
  6. ^ a b http://www.pioneernet.net/merlyn/pl.html
  7. ^ a b c http://www.tartareandesire.com/bands/Paradise_Lost/1266/
  8. ^ a b http://www.thegauntlet.com/bio/319/Paradise-Lost.html
  9. ^ a b http://basementbar.com/DefaultN1.asp?GoTo=CurrSelN1.asp?ID=2860&Page=Archive
  10. ^ http://www.discogs.com/artist/Paradise+Lost
  11. ^ http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-3827_paradise_lost_paradise_lost.aspx
  12. ^ http://www.centurymedia.com/us/single_artist.php?ID=91
  13. ^ http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/42122/paradise-lost-in-requiem/
  14. ^ http://www.metalstorm.ee/awards/categories.php?cat_id=3
  15. ^ Double doc. DVD 'Over The Madness' for Paradise Lost

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
v • d • e
Paradise Lost
Nick Holmes | Greg Mackintosh | Aaron Aedy | Steve Edmondson | Jeff Singer
Former members
Lee Morris | Matthew Archer
Studio albums
Compilations/Live
The Singles Collection | Reflection | Evolve | At the BBC