Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost is regarded as a cult band by many followers, not only because of its status as a pioneer of the European Doom Death - since being part, with My Dying Bride and Anathema, of the famous "Big Three", like the three British Doom bands signed on Peaceville Records at the beginning of the 90s - but also more widely because of its ability to innovate from album to album, sometimes not hesitating to completely change the musical landscape, even if it robs fans. It all started in 1987 in Halifax (also the birthplace of My Dying Bride, three years later) around Nick Holmes (song), Gregor Mackintosh (guitar, keyboards), Aaron Aedy (guitar), Stephen Edmondson (bass) and Matthew Archer (drums), who chose as the patronymic Paradise Lost, with reference to Milton's famous poem. After four demos, the band won a deal at Peaceville Records and was ready for a first album, which was released in 1990 under the title Lost Paradise . The band then evolves in a primitive, rather violent and massive Doom Death, which allows it to form immediately a solid base of fans, reinforced by a great tour in the form of consecration. It should be noted that while Paradise Lost members are now considered superstars in Europe, they have never met such success on their lands. But the best is to come with the release of Gothic the following year, for many THE masterpiece of the first period of the group, the latter having refined his style for a Doom Death less violent but more structured, more ambiance, better mastered. For information, some consider this opus as the founding record of Gothic Metal. Shades of God broke the nail in 1992, finishing making Paradise Lost one of the most beloved groups in Europe. However, the release of Icon marks the first major turning point in Paradise Lost's career, Holmes abandoning the growl for a more refined stamp, many of which see James Hetfield (Metallica). Purists grunt, but the formation gains new followers by permanently moving away from the Doom to explore more Rock, Pop and even experimental lands. It was at that time that the first line-up change in Paradise Lost's history took place, with Lee Morris replacing Matthew Archer with the battery. Arrive 1995 and the release of what most fans consider to be the jewel of the band's discography, Draconian Times. Mixing Metal, Rock, Pop and atmospheric passages, the formation continues to attract praise and admiration. Yet, once again the English chose to change abruptly with the release of One Second in 1997; evolving in a register close to Depeche Mode barded with synth and electronica, the band astonished by abandoning Metal and even losing a part of its audience, however soon replaced by new fans. Host comes out two years later and appears as the weak point of the band's discography because too electronic, too experimental, too indigestible for most fans. Believe in Nothing (2001) and Symbol Of Life (2002) testify to a return of the formation to more Pop Rock regions, but struggle to convince that the band has emerged from its bad past. In 2003, nothing to get under the tooth, if this is a live album called At The BBC. The following year, Lee Morris left the band and was replaced by Jeff Singer, whose permanent membership status would only be formalized in 2007. In 2005, Paradise Lost made a remarkable comeback with an eponymous album which, although inequitable, shows that the formation has regained its path. This revival of form was confirmed two years later with the release of In Requiem , eleventh studio album very well received by critics. Let's follow two new opus, one in 2009 Faith Divides Us - Death Units Us, the other in 2012, the fabulous Tragic Idol. Paradise Lost reconnects with its glorious past and has finished with experiments. 2015 marks a new turning point in the immense career of the British with the release of The Plague Within , very oriented Doom / Death. 2015 is also marked by the release of a live double CD and DVD, Symphony For The Lost , the concert recorded in Plovdiv (Bulgaria) in 2014 was it with the city's philharmonic orchestra, at least the first 8 tracks, then that the second part of the concert will be played only by the British.
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