Paradise Lost (band)

Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost live in 2007 with former drummer Jeff Singer.
Background information
Origin	Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
Genres	Gothic metal doom metal death-doom electronic rock gothic rock
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Century Media, Music for Nations, Koch, GUN, Peaceville, EMI Electrola, Metal Blade
Associated acts	Vallenfyre, Bloodbath, The Haunted, At the Gates, Cradle of Filth, Blaze, Kill II This
Website	www.paradiselost.co.uk
Members	Nick Holmes Gregor Mackintosh Aaron Aedy Steve Edmondson
Past members	Matthew Archer Lee Morris Jeff Singer Adrian Erlandsson

Paradise Lost are a gothic metal band that formed in 1988 in Halifax, England and are considered by some to be one of the pioneers of the death-doom genre and of the gothic metal genre. Paradise Lost has proven to be an influential band, with Jonas Renkse of Katatonia saying that his band started off "as Paradise Lost fanboys".

Their line-up has remained stable for such a long-standing heavy metal band, consisting of singer Nick Holmes, guitarists Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy, and bassist Steve Edmondson. Holmes and Mackintosh are the principal composers, with almost all of the band's songs credited to them. During the years, the band has only changed drummers.

After their formation in 1988, Paradise Lost released three cassette demos, Paradise Lost, Frozen Illusion, and Plains of Desolation, before being signed to Peaceville Records in 1989. They recorded their debut album, Lost Paradise, at Academy Music Studio in December of that year. The album was released in February 1990.

In November 1990, Paradise Lost returned to Academy Music Studio to record their second album, Gothic, which was released in March 1991. The band began to move away from the death/doom sound of their previous releases by adding keyboards and female vocal accompaniments.

Paradise Lost left Peaceville and was signed to the Music for Nations label and released Shades Of God in July 1992. The band's musical approach continued to evolve with this album as evidenced by the addition of quieter passages in the song's compositions, the softening of vocalist Nick Holmes's death grunt, and Gregor Mackintosh's incorporation of acoustic guitar to his sound. The album contained the song "As I Die," later released as a single/EP.