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Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost

WHEN THEY emerged from Halifax in the late '80s as part of the fledgling British doom scene - alongside such 'gloominaries' as My Dying Bride, Cathedral and Anathema - with their cripplingly heavy 'Lost Paradise' debut, nobody could have predicted that within five years they would have laid the foundations for an entire genre, gained huge success in both the British and continental metal scenes, and be perched on the edge of true greatness with one of the finest British metal albums ever made. But that's just what happened. Through constant musical innovation, Paradise Lost morphed from a horrific, sluggish doom beast to a slick, gothic metal band with the world at their feet following 1995's 'Draconian Times', while still keeping their trademark musical darkness, fuelled by Nick Holmes' deeply cynical lyrics and curmudgeonly delivery. Their constant - sometimes controversial - evolution may not have repeated such success, but their influence on the likes of HIM, Within Temptation, Nightwish and Lacuna Coil is completely undeniable.

Draconian Times
Name: Draconian Times Label: MUSIC FOR NATIONS Year: 1995
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Review: A ROARING commercial and critical success, 'Draconian Times' put Paradise Lost at the forefront of the British metal scene, and saw them hit a peak that remains unequalled. From the haunting 'Enchantment' and 'Forever Failure', to the metallic stomp of 'Once Solemn' and 'Hallowed Land', this slice of melodic, sweeping heavy metal perfection is simply an essential record.

Gothic
Name: Gothic Label: PEACEVILLE Year: 1991
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Review: WHAT'S IN a name? 'Gothic' picked up the heaviness of 1990's brutally bleak 'Lost Paradise', but added an atmospheric twist that would see it as the basis of an entire subgenre of heavy metal. Many have tried, but no imitator has come close to matching the malevolence of songs like 'Dead Emotion', or the two-fingered spite of Holmes' snarling vocals.

Icon
Name: Icon Label: MUSIC FOR NATIONS Year: 1993
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Review: IF 1992's 'Shades Of God' was a massive step for the band, away from the sludge misery of their early works into more melodic territory, then 'Icon' was a leap beyond the point of no return. Sharper than its predecessor, it was here that the template for the 'classic' PL sound was laid, and would echo right up to last year's sterling self-titled album.

One Second
Name: One Second Label: MUSIC FOR NATIONS Year: 1997
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Review: FACING POTENTIALLY massive success in the wake of 'Draconian Times', 'One Second' was a bold move. Not only because it was a huge step to the left of its predecessor, but also because the heavy use of keyboards and electronica was a move too far for some fans. Regardless of that, this proved that Paradise Lost could turn their hands to much more than heavy metal.

Believe In Nothing
Name: Believe In Nothing Label: MUSIC FOR NATIONS Year: 2001
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Review: UPON ITS release, this received a venomous one-K battering, causing fans to show their disgust at the scribe's analysis of what the band had turned into by printing up shirts bearing the catchy slogan 'Dave Everley Is A C**t!'. Heavy handed he may have been, but he also had a point, 'Believe In Nothing' represents the nadir of Paradise Lost's career.

    Key Paradise Lost Tracks
  • ALL YOU LEAVE BEHIND

    IT MAY be a full-on heavy rock stomper, but that doesn't stop them sounding mightily miffed that 'The sun has gone forever'.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Paradise Lost', 2005.
  • AS I DIE

    THE BEGINNING of their foray into more melodic territory, and a continuing live favourite. All together now, 'As I diiiiiie!'.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Shades Of God', 1992.
  • DEAD EMOTION

    IN ONE of his most sneering, cynical performances, Holmes could almost be laughing with rage on this furious, fist-pumping slab of darkness.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Gothic', 1991.
  • EMBERS FIRE

    A SLIGHTLY groovier turn for the band, and an even more ear friendly, melodic style. Still miserable as hell, mind.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Icon', 1993.
  • ENCHANTMENT

    WITH ITS haunting piano intro and enormous shining guitar melodies, the opening track off PL's finest hour is a slow burning, atmospheric belter that set the tone perfectly for the masterpiece it was the start of. Years later, it was revealed that it's also, in part, about having a wank.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Draconian Times', 1995.
  • FALLING FOREVER

    A CRUSHINGLY heavy one for those days when you've won the fuck-up lottery, particularly if everyone else is 'Laughing at my pain'. Bastards.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Gothic', 1991.
  • FOREVER FAILURE

    IN THE ideal universe, this would have been welded to the Number One spot. Sadly the single of this never made it into the Top 10. But then again, snails-pace gloom, utter worthlessness and Charles Manson samples have never really been known to set the charts alight.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Draconian Times', 1995.
  • GREY

    LAST YEAR'S self-titled album was one of PL's best, and 'Grey''s danceable groove and massive chorus is a good indicator why.

    Find on iTunes Find It: Paradise Lost', 2005.
  • HALLOWED LAND

    HEAVY, ROCKING, and huge, this is Paradise Lost's arena-metal side in all its Metallica-shagging The Cult-glory.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Draconian Times', 1995.
  • HOW SOON IS NOW

    ONE LOT of gloomy northerners covering another, as PL give this classic Smiths track a once-over.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Say Just Words' single, 1997.
  • I AM NOTHING

    FOLLOWING AN electronic intro this kicks in with a trademark colossal riff, marking one of the few genuine high points from 'Believe In Nothing'.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Believe In Nothing', 2001.
  • ONE SECOND

    A CONTROVERSIAL move it may have been away from the traditional metal, but 'One Second''s title-track is proof enough that a more experimental electronic direction didn't signal a drop in quality.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'One Second', 1997.
  • OUR SAVIOUR

    'WHERE IS your God now/As you're dying alone?' spits Nick Holmes on this colossal, scathing attack on organised religion. Cheerful as ever, then.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Lost Paradise', 1990.
  • PITY THE SADNESS

    THEY MAY have found a new sense of speed, but Nick Holmes still sounded as grumpy and cynical as ever on this rollickingly punchy Sisters Of Mercy-esque rocker. Result!

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Shades Of God', 1992.
  • RAPTURE

    A ROLLING headbanger of a tune, this stuck out among 'Gothic''s more intense moments as a sign to where the band were headed in future.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Gothic', 1991.
  • ROTTING MISERY

    A MILLION miles from the slick, melodic metal outfit they would later become, this essential cut from their debut is a harrowing, morbid piece of pure doom filth.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Lost Paradise', 1990
  • SAY JUST WORDS

    SOME OLDER fans were appalled by this awesome Sisters Of Mercy-esque floor filler. But with its disco beats it still featured some whacking great riffs and rightly remains a staple of their live set to this day.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'One Second', 1997.
  • SYMBOL OF LIFE

    THE TITLE-track from the follow-up to the disappointing 'Believe In Nothing' sounds like a really heavy New Order, and was more than enough proof that the band hadn't run out of steam.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Symbol Of Life', 2002.
  • TRUE BELIEF

    A CHUGGING slice of goth-tinged heaviness and gloom, as venomous and chunky as a poisoned Yorkie.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Icon', 1993.
  • YEARN FOR CHANGE

    WITH LYRICS like 'Life is all the pain we endeavour', this ditty about moving ever closer toward the grave is a remarkably upbeat one. In a way.

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Draconian Times', 1995.
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