Paradise Lost (band)
Paradise Lost are an English gothic metal band. Formed in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1988, they are considered to be among the pioneers of the death-doom genre and regarded as the main influence for the later gothic metal movement. Bands that have cited Paradise Lost as an influence, or have covered them, include My Dying Bride,[5] Anathema,[5] The Gathering,[5] Amorphis,[6] Cradle of Filth,[7] Katatonia,[8] Moonspell,[9] Lacuna Coil,[10] HIM,[10] Nightwish[10] and many others. As of 2005, Paradise Lost have sold over two million albums worldwide.[11]
Paradise Lost
Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
1988–present
Aaron Aedy
Steve Edmondson
Nick Holmes
Gregor Mackintosh
Guido Montanarini
Matthew Archer
Lee Morris
Jeff Singer
Adrian Erlandsson
Waltteri Väyrynen
Their line-up has remained stable for such 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 to them. During the years, the band has only changed drummers.
History[edit]
Early years and Peaceville Records (1988–1991)[edit]
After their formation in 1988, Paradise Lost released three cassette demos, Paradise Lost, Frozen Illusion, and Plains of Desolation, before being signed to Peaceville Records in 1989. They recorded their debut album, Lost Paradise, at Academy Music Studio in December of that year. The album was released in February 1990.[12]
In November 1990, Paradise Lost returned to Academy Music Studio to record their second album, Gothic, which was released in March 1991. The band began to move away from the death/doom sound of their previous releases by adding keyboards and female vocal accompaniments.[13]
Style and influences[edit]
Originally coming from death metal,[54] Paradise Lost exerted a decisive influence on the development of death doom and gothic metal in the early 1990s,[55][56] with their 1991 album Gothic being considered style-defining and name-giving for the latter genre.[57][58][59] Nick Holmes cited Iron Maiden's singer Bruce Dickinson in his main influences along with Metallica for their Master of Puppets album.[54] Holmes said that the band's early influences were Black Sabbath and Dead Can Dance: "the old Black Sabbath, that's, to me, the inspiration for when we started the band".[58] Guitarist Mackintosh said that he took inspiration from "Tony Iommi a lot" and also "Johnny Marr [...] Jimi Hendrix and classic music", mixing all these styles with metal music and rock music.[58] Mackintosh also stated that gothic rock was an influence, citing bands like "Southern Death Cult and early Sisters of Mercy, Siouxsie and the Banshees, early Cure".[60]
The band experienced a considerable shift in style between 1997 and 2002, on their albums One Second through Symbol of Life; One Second saw the heavy use of electronics and keyboards and Holmes using clean vocals,[61] with Host moving even more towards synthpop / dark wave. Believe in Nothing moved the band to a more alternative rock direction, with Symbol of Life re-establishing a heavier gothic metal tone. Both Mackintosh[62] and Holmes[63] expressed ambivalence about this period of the band, citing personal problems within the band at the time.[62]