PARADISE LOST cd collection Believe In Nothing Host In Requiem Goth Rock, Heavy Metal
Paradise Lost are a British gothic metal band formed in Halifax, West Yorkshire, in 1988. Their early albums helped establish death-doom, while Gothic, Icon and Draconian Times laid much of the foundation for the gothic metal movement that followed.
Rather than remaining within one style, Paradise Lost repeatedly changed direction, moving through doom metal, gothic rock and electronic music before eventually returning to a heavier sound. These three albums capture that journey particularly well.
1. Believe in Nothing — Reissue, Remastered, Nuclear Blast
Originally released in 2001, Believe in Nothing continued the alternative rock and electronic direction introduced on Host, but brought more guitars back into the mix.
“Fader,” “Mouth,” “Illumination” and “World Pretending” combine Nick Holmes’ clean, melancholic vocals with Greg Mackintosh’s distinctive melodies. The songs are strong, although the band were famously dissatisfied with the original production and artwork.
The Nuclear Blast edition was remixed and remastered to give the guitars, drums and darker atmosphere greater weight. It is the version to hear if the original album sounded too polished or restrained.
2. Host — Remastered Digipak, Nuclear Blast
Released in 1999, Host remains the most radical album in Paradise Lost’s catalogue. The band moved almost entirely away from metal, replacing heavy riffs with synthesizers, programmed rhythms, strings and Nick Holmes’ clean vocals.
“So Much Is Lost,” “Nothing Sacred,” “Permanent Solution” and “Made the Same” reveal the influence of darkwave, synthpop and gothic rock, with Depeche Mode often used as a comparison.
The change divided fans at the time, but Host has since gained recognition as a brave and deeply melancholic record. Heard without expecting another Draconian Times, it becomes one of the band’s most distinctive albums. This Nuclear Blast digipak presents the album in remastered form.
3. In Requiem — Century Media
Released in 2007, In Requiem marked a decisive return to Paradise Lost’s heavier gothic metal sound. The electronic elements remained in the background, but guitars, drums and doom-laden atmosphere once again took control.
“Never for the Damned” opens the album with renewed weight, followed by highlights such as “The Enemy,” “Praise Lamented Shade,” “Requiem,” “Unreachable” and “Beneath Black Skies.” Nick Holmes also reintroduced a harsher vocal edge that recalled the band’s earlier years.
For listeners who favour Icon and Draconian Times but still appreciate the maturity of the later albums, In Requiem is the strongest starting point among these three titles.