We can exclusively reveal the notes that will appear inside the album which have been written by journalist Malcom Dome:
PARADISE LOST
When you start to list the most influential British bands of the past decade, one somewhat surprising name would be close to the top: Paradise Lost. And all you need to do is take a look at the raft of goth-metal style bands who populate Europe to realise that Halifax’s finest have spawned a generation inspired by their darkly hypnotic sound and style.
Having started out in 1988 as an ultra heavy doom band, bathed in monochromatic gloom (check out 1990’s ‘Lost Paradise’ and ’91’s ‘Gothic’ albums), this five-piece quickly grew into something altogether more striking, challenging and innovative. Vocalist Nick Holmes, guitarists Aaron Aedy and Gregor Mackintosh, drummer Matt Archer and bassist Stephen Edmondson truly started to find their mark with their third album, ‘Shades Of God’, and it was at this point they recorded four stunning songs for Radio 1’s ‘Friday Rock Show’.
You only have to hear how current and vibrant these songs still sound to realise that Paradise Lost weren’t just in the vanguard of an exciting, fresh metal movement at the time, but they were well ahead of their time. Check out the fierce passion, shadowy energy and blazing Gothicism of ‘Pity the Sadness’ and As I Die’ for living undead proof that these guys were onto a winner. In fact, if anything the recordings here are rawer and more enticing than those on the album. Mouth watering indeed.
Three years later, with the ‘Icon’ (1993) and ‘Draconian Times’ (1995) albums under their belt, the band returned to the ‘Friday Rock Show’ to celebrate their new line-up (Matt Archer being replaced by Lee Morris), and again they turned in something very special. By now, Paradise Lost were a major name on the European mainland, their pioneering goth-metal spirit inspiring many to follow in their wake. But yet again, they proved with this session just how far they were ahead of the pack. ‘Shadowkings’ and ‘Yearn For Change’ in particular were not only ferocious and uncompromising, but hinted at the way in which the band were already beginning to think ahead. These were by no means mere re-runs of the album versions, but contain the exciting, creative seeds of where the band would go musically during the next few years, namely ever deeper into the diversity of goth.
Here indeed was a band at their height of their powers, always prepared to innovate and activate, never standing still. But, while they were at home in the studio, Paradise Lost were devastating on stage. Witness their live performance captured at Liverpool’s Royal Court in 1993, during the ‘Icon’ tour. Here was one of the best live bands around proving the point with an amazing display of cogent power and cohesion. Were there many British metal bands at the time who could hope to match this lot’s combination of primal fury and technical mastery? You can actually reach in and savour the electrifying atmosphere.
This, then, is Paradise Lost in their prime. Marvel, enjoy and rediscover some great British music that changed history.
Malcolm Dome (TotalRock Radio) February 2003