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PARADISE LOST BIOGRAPHY
Paradise Lost - initally one of the premier death/doom metal bands (along with former labelmates Anathema and My Dying Bride) that later incorporated electronic elements in their music. They formed in 1988 in Halifax, UK. Along with bands like Dream Death, Sempiternal Deathreign, Asphyx, Winter etc... they are also credited for helping develop the subgenre known as "gothic" metal.
Ironically, the band is almost unknown in their home country, but in mainland Europe they have been extremely popular for many years, especially in Greece and Germany, where they are regarded as mainstream rock stars. Although they have also been partially attributable for pioneering gothic metal[1], throughout their career the band have also confounded fans and critics alike with their perpetual taste for reinvention and experimentation, a desire to work with producers from other musical genres, and an oft-stated refusal to repeat themselves for fear of stagnation.
For instance, vocalist Nick Holmes used a muddy sounding grunt-style of singing in the band's early duration (Lost Paradise(1990), Gothic(1991)); Upon the release of Shades Of God (1992), Icon (1993) and Draconian Times (1995), he refined his voice to a cleaner tone almost akin to James Hetfield of Metallica; And on One Second (1997), which was distributed by hip hop label Jive Records, the band experimented with Depeche Mode-styled synth pop and electronica. Despite criticism from traditionalists, this bold approach has also garnered them many new fans along the way, and cemented the loyalty of progressive "old-timers."
Paradise Lost's line-up has remained remarkably consistent for a long-standing heavy metal band, consisting of singer Holmes, guitarists Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy, and bassist Steve Edmonson. 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 was brought in as a session and live drummer for the "Paradise Lost" album, and is now a permanent member of the band.
Paradise Lost have currently released their 11th album "In Requiem" which takes heavier guitar sound and a more aggressive vocal direction than in their past records. Over the Madness, a documentary by Diran Noubar, displaying the impact Paradise Lost has had on Gothic Metal will be shown in 2007.
A single named "The Enemy" from the new album was released on April 13th.
PARADISE LOST GENRES Doom/Death Metal (old), Gothic Rock/Metal (new)
PARADISE LOST LYRICAL THEMES Death, Fear, Anti-God (old), Personal, Life (now)
PARADISE LOST ORIGIN United Kingdom (Yorkshire), formed in 1988
PARADISE LOST CURRENT RECORD LABEL Century Media
PARADISE LOST STATUS Active
PARADISE LOST CURRENT LINE-UP Nick Holmes - Vocals
Gregor Mackintosh - Lead guitars, keyboards
Aaron Aedy - Rhythm guitars
Stephen Edmondson - Bass
Jeff Singer - Drums (ex-China Beach, ex-Kill II This, ex-Blaze (UK), City of God)
PARADISE LOST PREVIOUS LINE-UP Matthew Archer - Drums (Up to "Icon")
Lee Morris - Drums ("Draconian Times" - March 2004) (ex-Marshall Law, Ten)
Guest Musicians:
Kay Field - Vocals
Session:
Vocals:
Sarah Marrion
Audrey Riley
Keyboards:
Robert John Godfrey
Andrew Holdsworth
Chris Elliott
Rhys Fulber
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