Icon: How Paradise Lost Created a Gothic Metal Masterpiece
What if I told you that there is a metal album that combines the
heaviness of Metallica, the atmosphere of Celtic Frost, and the emotion of The
Sisters of Mercy? You might think that such a combination is impossible or
absurd, but there is one band that proved otherwise. That band is Paradise
Lost.
Paradise Lost is a British band that started their career as a
doom/death metal act in the late 80s. They were part of the so-called
“Peaceville Three”, along with Anathema and My Dying Bride, who pioneered the
genre of doom/death metal in the UK. However, Paradise Lost soon evolved into
something more than just another doom/death metal band. They experimented with
different styles and influences, and in 1991 they released their second album,
Gothic, which is widely regarded as the first gothic metal album ever. Gothic
metal is a genre that blends doom metal with gothic rock influences, such as
female vocals, keyboards, strings, and dark atmospheres.
Paradise Lost continued to evolve and refine their sound on their next
albums, Shades of God and Icon. The latter, released in 1993, is widely
considered their best work and a landmark of gothic metal. Icon is an album
that showcases Paradise Lost’s unique sound, songwriting, and themes. It combines heaviness and emotion, power and subtlety, simplicity, and
complexity. Countless bands and genres in
the metal scene have been influenced by this album.
In this blog post, I will explain why Icon is such a brilliant album and
how it showcases Paradise Lost’s unique sound, songwriting, and themes. I will
also provide some examples of songs from the album that illustrate my points.
The evolution of Paradise Lost’s style and sound
To understand why Icon is so special, we need to look at how Paradise
Lost changed their style and sound from their previous albums.
On their first three albums, Paradise Lost used death metal vocals, slow
and heavy riffs, and gothic elements such as female vocals and keyboards. Their
sound was influenced by bands like Celtic Frost, Candlemass, Black Sabbath, and
The Sisters of Mercy. Their vocals were harsh and guttural; the riffs were
low-tuned and crushing; the gothic elements were eerie and haunting. The sound was dark and gloomy, but also atmospheric and melodic.
On Icon, however, Paradise Lost adopted a more streamlined and powerful
approach, influenced by bands like Metallica and Black Sabbath. They changed
their vocals, riffs, production, and atmosphere to create a new sound that was
still gothic but also more modern and accessible.
The opening track, Embers Fire, sets the tone for the album with its
catchy riff, aggressive vocals, and melodic chorus. The vocalist, Nick Holmes,
abandons his death growl and adopts a clear and expressive voice that resembles
James Hetfield’s. He sings with passion and conviction, delivering the lyrics
with emotion and intensity.
The guitarists, Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy, create a perfect balance
between crushing riffs and mournful melodies. They use power chords, palm
muting, and down-tuning to create heavy and catchy riffs that drive the songs
forward. Solos, acoustic guitars, and harmonies create melodic
and atmospheric passages that add depth and emotion to the songs. You can hear influences from Tony Iommi, James Hetfield, and Kirk Hammett, but
they also have their own distinctive style that makes them stand out.
The production of the album is also much improved from their previous efforts. The sound is crisp and clear, but not over-polished. The drums are
punchy and solid; the bass is thick and groovy; the guitars are heavy and
sharp. The album sounds modern and timeless at the same time. The producer,
Simon Efemey, did a great job in capturing the essence of Paradise Lost’s sound
and enhancing it with his skills.
The atmosphere of the album is also different from their previous
albums. While they still retain some of their gothic influences, they also
incorporate some elements of classic metal and hard rock. The album has a dark
and gloomy mood, but also a sense of energy and passion. Far from being monotonous
or boring, it has a lot of variety and dynamics.
Icon is an album that marks a turning point for Paradise Lost. It is an
album that shows their evolution and maturity as a band. It defines their identity and style. It also sets them apart from
their peers and influences.
The songwriting and the melodies
Another reason why Icon is such a great album is the songwriting and the
melodies that Paradise Lost crafted on this record.
Paradise Lost managed to create songs that are both heavy and emotional,
simple and complex, powerful and subtle. They used a variety of techniques to
achieve this effect, such as tempo changes, guitar solos, acoustic passages,
strings, and female voices.
True Belief is also a song that showcases Greg Mackintosh’s signature
guitar style. He plays a solo that is both melodic and technical, adding a lot
of emotion and flair to the song. He also plays an acoustic guitar in the intro
and outro, creating a contrast and a balance with the electric guitar. Harmonies and effects are used to create a rich and diverse sound.
Christendom is also a song that showcases Sarah Marrion’s amazing vocal
skills. She sings with a clear and angelic voice that contrasts with Nick
Holmes’s rough and harsh voice. She sings with emotion and grace, adding a lot
of beauty and elegance to the song. The Latin in the outro adds some mystery and mysticism to the song.
The songs on Icon are not only well-written but also well-performed. The
band plays with skill and passion on every track. The vocals are expressive and
emotional; the guitars are melodic and powerful; the bass is solid and
supportive; the drums are tight and dynamic. The band sounds like a cohesive
unit that works together to create something amazing.
Icon is an album that showcases Paradise Lost’s excellence in
songwriting and melodies. It is an album that has a lot of hooks and catchiness, but
also a lot of depth and emotion. It appeals to both the head
and the heart.
The themes and the lyrics
Finally, we need to talk about the themes and the lyrics of Icon, which
are dark, gloomy, and pessimistic.
Paradise Lost explored topics such as religion, death, despair,
betrayal, and loneliness on this album. They used poetic and metaphoric
language to express their feelings and views on these issues.
Dying Freedom is also a song that reflects Paradise Lost’s personal
views on religion. The band members have stated that they are not religious and
that they are critical of organized religion and its influence on society. The
song was inspired by their observations and experiences with religion and its
followers. The song was also influenced by some of their favorite authors, such
as George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, who wrote about dystopian societies and
totalitarian regimes.
The themes and the lyrics of Icon are not for the faint of heart. They
are dark, depressing, and sometimes disturbing. They reflect the band’s
disillusionment and frustration with the world and themselves. They also show
the band’s courage and honesty to express their thoughts and emotions without
fear or compromise.
Icon is an album that showcases Paradise Lost’s depth in themes and
lyrics. It deals with some of the most important and relevant
issues in life. Moreover, it challenges and provokes the listener to
think and feel.
Conclusion
Icon is not only Paradise Lost’s best album but also one of the best
metal albums ever made. It is a must-listen for any fan of metal, gothic rock,
doom metal, or atmospheric music.
If you haven’t heard Icon yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. You won’t regret it.
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