A lost paradise of Gothic Metal (Paradise Lost In General)

Member Name: cognition

Product:	Paradise Lost In General
Date:	04/12/08 (263 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Released a lot of classic albums in the 90s

Disadvantages: Arguably they have become somewhat generic or lost their magic touch

THE BAND
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Paradise Lost, the UK Metal band, was formed in 1988 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, named after the famous poem by John Milton. The first year the band recorded three demo tapes, which lead to a record deal with UK label Peaceville. While the first album was a solid Death/Doom metal effort, it was with the release of the second album, 'Gothic' in 1991 that the band had it's stylistic breakthrough, and was recognized for having a achieved a sound that was highly original at the time. From there on the band lost their Death Metal touch and became a Gothic Metal band.


THE ORIGINAL LINE-UP
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Nick Holmes - vocals (1988-present)
Greg Mackintosh - lead guitar (1988-present)
Aaron Aedy - rhythm guitar (1988-present)
Steve Edmondson - bass guitar (1988-present)
Matthew Archer - drums (1988-1994)


THE SOUND
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'Lost Paradise', the band's first album, from 1990, can be classified as old school Death Doom Metal. But from the 2nd album onwards, things changed. The aptly titled 'Gothic' from 1991 introduced a taste of gothic rock into the band's music. Paradise Lost are sometimes credited with being the first, or one of the first, gothic Metal bands, and if that is the case, this is the album that started it. Some of the band's Death Metal roots are still present, in that the songs feature heavily distorted rhythm guitars and the distinct death metal vocal growl is still present. However, together with these elements, there are melodic, melancholy guitar leads aplenty, and one song even features a female guest vocalist on the choruses. Yet the transition was not complete until the release of 'Icon' in 1993, which is when all traces of Death Metal left the band's sound and were replaced by more influences from gothic rock. It's important to note, however, that while Paradise Lost became increasingly more influenced by the Goth sound, they kept a large portion of Metal in their sound: Rough vocals, if not as brutal as death metal growls, the vocals remained angry, and the guitars remained heavily distorted. Most people will say 'Draconian Times' from 1995 is the highlight of Paradise Lost's gothic metal sound, or even of the entire band's career. With the next two albums, 'One Second' from 1997 and 'Host' from 1999, electronic influences became very prevalent in the band's sound. One could even say that for a moment, Paradise Lost had become a synth pop band, although they always had a dark edge, and they always kept guitars in their sound, if not as prevalent as before. Paradise Lost ditched the synth pop sound and got into Rock and Metal again, however, arguably the band lost touch with their past for a while, recorded some generic Rock Metal albums, and then got more in touch with their past again with the release of albums like 'Paradise Lost' from 1995 and 'In Requiem' from 2007. The heavy guitars are back. So is the long hair, which was cut off during the band's synth pop period. Paradise Lost have found themselves again, now playing a modern version of their mid-career Gothic Metal sound of albums such as 'Draconian Times' (1995). However, be not mistaken, Paradise Lost have become a highly focused and commercial band. The intricacies, both in terms of melodies and song structures, of the band's classic albums, are not likely to return. So listen to the classic albums from the 90s first! And then if you're hungry for more, you could try out one or two of the later albums.


SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY [ALBUMS]
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Lost Paradise (1990)
Gothic (1991)
Shades of God (1992)
Icon (1993)
Draconian Times (1995)
One Second (1997)
Host (1999)
Believe in Nothing (2001)
Symbol of Life (2002)
At the BBC (2003, Live)
Paradise Lost (2005)
In Requiem (2007)
The Anatomy of Melancholy (2008, Live)


RECOMMENDED ALBUMS
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'Gothic' (1991) - A unique mixture of Death Doom Metal and Gothic elements
'Draconian Times' (1995) - A classic Gothic Metal album

Summary: Pioneers of Gothic Metal