Yorkshire steel
Paradise Lost
One of Britain's premiere heavy metal bands of the past decade, from their 1990 debut Lost Paradise right up to the present with 2001's Believe In Nothing, dark lords of rock Paradise Lost have always moved with the times, often to well respected acclaim. The Buzz Magazine took time out with the Yorkshires finest metallers' frontman Nick Holmes to talk tours, albums and the last ten years. True Belief: Andy Law
From your first record through to your current LP Believe In Nothing, what would you like to have been seen as achieving over the last ten years?
Nick - Consistency.
What has been the groups most unforgettable moment during that time as a whole? Nick - All of it, I can't wait to bore people stupid in pubs when aim 50!
What in your eyes has being the showcase moment of Paradise Lost's distinguished career? Nick - I could say Dynamo but there's being loads of good moments - although most are a blur.
Your last studio album Host (1999) was largely fuelled by electronica - this sound is displayed on to a lesser extent on Believe In Nothing. What groups have being the main influences on such moments? Nick - Greg (Mackintosh, guitarist) likes one thing, I like something else. I can't say I'm really influenced by other bands anymore, I just know what I like.
While appealing to a new audience, its fair to say you alienated some fans on the last record. Nick - Yes! Change is always a risk, but someone has to do it. Its only one album, we actually have a career, if it was our second record I could understand some of the negativity. It's a guitar thing...
The last few albums have seen more singing as to all out screaming - while not a reflection of the music's style, the vocals seem to have an almost glam rock tint to them that suits the last two Paradise Lost albums perfectly. Nick - AAAARRRRRGGGGHHH… No, not glam! Oh, f**k, I'm leaving!…
The record chucks in a bit of everything that Paradise Lost's sound has conjured up over the years. How do you think the album rates alongside quintessential albums such as Draconian Times and One Second? Nick - For the time, perfectly, another Draconian Times style record would sound incredibly dated.
When will you be trekking around the World to promote Believe In Nothing? Can we expect Paradise Lost to be playing at any metal festivals such as The Bulldog Bash? Nick - I doubt if we'll play at the Bulldog Bash, but we'll be playing at lots of festivals in Europe though.
In the light of the recent resurrection of traditional metal, will you consider this style for future albums as you touched on in songs such as Pity The Sadness, True Belief, Hallowed Land etc.? Nick - That's doubtful, I'd rather do a total metal record or totally not.
What is your current view of the UK metal scene? What do you rate of nu-metal bands? Nick - If Linkin Park are nu-metal then so are we... they sound more 80s than Axl Rose. If you mean Papa Roach etc, well, it's inoffensive, but nothing new to my worn ears! Loads of bands were playing stuff like that in the early 80s. It's just that no majors saw any potential to exploit it and make tons of cash from angry young teenagers then!
Believe In Nothing is a powerful title that echoing the mood of the albums lyrics - was this a purposeful intention? Nick - Yes, it sums up life for me.
You seem to have let the tunes do more of the talking by themselves rather than relying up solos to fill songs up on the last two albums. Nick - It's to do with the way we write and our musical direction, we don't feel we have to satisfy our egos with self- indulgent solos. If they fit with the song we use them, if not we don't - simple as that!
A good third of your set-list consists of Believe In Nothing numbers - you must have had a lot of confidence in the albums abilities. Nick - Of course, we wouldn't record songs if we didn't think they stood up against other songs.
Similarly, you've kept two or three numbers from Host in the set. Will the electronica-tinged element of Paradise Lost's sound still be around for a good few years to come? It seems like a place you like to be at. Nick - I don't know, I can take it or leave it really; personally I would like to strip things down a bit for the next one, but we'll see.
Although you are running the risk of upsetting fans by playing so few long term established classics in the set. Nick - Haven't heard any complaints so far!
Your sound has evolved over the years, mixing all elements of metallic styles into your sound. How have you managed to maintain a sense of individuality at the same time? Would you see your sound over the years as a progression? Nick - Predictably, yes! Originality just happens - it's not something you can make.
Do you ever regret not sticking to the same musical script on more often an occasion? Nick - If we were fuelled totally by making money, perhaps, but for some reason we follow our hearts - music is one of the only areas in our lives where we can have true freedom.
So your intentions have been to change with the times for your musical benefit, not to be fashionable or compromising? Nick - We never compromise, we have always played music that we are into. If its more commercial, that's because we are listening to more commercial stuff, there's no point in playing music your not into - that would be like having a real job!
What would you say to Jerry Ewing's recent criticism of in Classic Rock magazine that your only problem now was proving that your day hadn't already passed? Nick - The UK is totally controlled by media, its up to them to decide who's fashionable or not, and the majority of the British public follow like startled sheep. That's how it works over here, we don't feel we have anything to prove in this country, it's all about fashion and trend - not music!
Andy Law 05/06/01
We were quite fashionable for a while in the UK, but now it's passed. It's to be expected, but it doesn't mean we still aren't a great band! The question is, do you follow trends or the music? That's how you find who your real fans are - we are very lucky to have a very dedicated loyal following. As for Jerry, he likes us!
Now that Greg (Mackintosh, guitarist) owns his own home studio, if there a possibility that the next Paradise Lost album will be recorded there, with the band co-producing? Nick - Doubtful, he wouldn't want anyone entering his world. Besides, have you ever heard a record produced by the band themselves? With the odd exception, it doesn't work! It's good to have a third party involved.
Paradise Lost
One of Britain's premiere heavy metal bands of the past decade, from their 1990 debut Lost Paradise right up to the present with 2001's Believe In Nothing, dark lords of rock Paradise Lost have always moved with the times, often to well respected acclaim. The Buzz Magazine took time out with the Yorkshires finest metallers' frontman Nick Holmes to talk tours, albums and the last ten years. True Belief: Andy Law
From your first record through to your current LP Believe In Nothing, what would you like to have been seen as achieving over the last ten years?
Nick - Consistency.
What has been the groups most unforgettable moment during that time as a whole? Nick - All of it, I can't wait to bore people stupid in pubs when aim 50!
What in your eyes has being the showcase moment of Paradise Lost's distinguished career? Nick - I could say Dynamo but there's being loads of good moments - although most are a blur.
Your last studio album Host (1999) was largely fuelled by electronica - this sound is displayed on to a lesser extent on Believe In Nothing. What groups have being the main influences on such moments? Nick - Greg (Mackintosh, guitarist) likes one thing, I like something else. I can't say I'm really influenced by other bands anymore, I just know what I like.
While appealing to a new audience, its fair to say you alienated some fans on the last record. Nick - Yes! Change is always a risk, but someone has to do it. Its only one album, we actually have a career, if it was our second record I could understand some of the negativity. It's a guitar thing...
The last few albums have seen more singing as to all out screaming - while not a reflection of the music's style, the vocals seem to have an almost glam rock tint to them that suits the last two Paradise Lost albums perfectly. Nick - AAAARRRRRGGGGHHH… No, not glam! Oh, f**k, I'm leaving!…
The record chucks in a bit of everything that Paradise Lost's sound has conjured up over the years. How do you think the album rates alongside quintessential albums such as Draconian Times and One Second? Nick - For the time, perfectly, another Draconian Times style record would sound incredibly dated.
When will you be trekking around the World to promote Believe In Nothing? Can we expect Paradise Lost to be playing at any metal festivals such as The Bulldog Bash? Nick - I doubt if we'll play at the Bulldog Bash, but we'll be playing at lots of festivals in Europe though.
In the light of the recent resurrection of traditional metal, will you consider this style for future albums as you touched on in songs such as Pity The Sadness, True Belief, Hallowed Land etc.? Nick - That's doubtful, I'd rather do a total metal record or totally not.
What is your current view of the UK metal scene? What do you rate of nu-metal bands? Nick - If Linkin Park are nu-metal then so are we... they sound more 80s than Axl Rose. If you mean Papa Roach etc, well, it's inoffensive, but nothing new to my worn ears! Loads of bands were playing stuff like that in the early 80s. It's just that no majors saw any potential to exploit it and make tons of cash from angry young teenagers then!
Believe In Nothing is a powerful title that echoing the mood of the albums lyrics - was this a purposeful intention? Nick - Yes, it sums up life for me.
You seem to have let the tunes do more of the talking by themselves rather than relying up solos to fill songs up on the last two albums. Nick - It's to do with the way we write and our musical direction, we don't feel we have to satisfy our egos with self- indulgent solos. If they fit with the song we use them, if not we don't - simple as that!
A good third of your set-list consists of Believe In Nothing numbers - you must have had a lot of confidence in the albums abilities. Nick - Of course, we wouldn't record songs if we didn't think they stood up against other songs.
Similarly, you've kept two or three numbers from Host in the set. Will the electronica-tinged element of Paradise Lost's sound still be around for a good few years to come? It seems like a place you like to be at. Nick - I don't know, I can take it or leave it really; personally I would like to strip things down a bit for the next one, but we'll see.
Although you are running the risk of upsetting fans by playing so few long term established classics in the set. Nick - Haven't heard any complaints so far!
Your sound has evolved over the years, mixing all elements of metallic styles into your sound. How have you managed to maintain a sense of individuality at the same time? Would you see your sound over the years as a progression? Nick - Predictably, yes! Originality just happens - it's not something you can make.
Do you ever regret not sticking to the same musical script on more often an occasion? Nick - If we were fuelled totally by making money, perhaps, but for some reason we follow our hearts - music is one of the only areas in our lives where we can have true freedom.
So your intentions have been to change with the times for your musical benefit, not to be fashionable or compromising? Nick - We never compromise, we have always played music that we are into. If its more commercial, that's because we are listening to more commercial stuff, there's no point in playing music your not into - that would be like having a real job!
What would you say to Jerry Ewing's recent criticism of in Classic Rock magazine that your only problem now was proving that your day hadn't already passed? Nick - The UK is totally controlled by media, its up to them to decide who's fashionable or not, and the majority of the British public follow like startled sheep. That's how it works over here, we don't feel we have anything to prove in this country, it's all about fashion and trend - not music!
Andy Law 05/06/01
We were quite fashionable for a while in the UK, but now it's passed. It's to be expected, but it doesn't mean we still aren't a great band! The question is, do you follow trends or the music? That's how you find who your real fans are - we are very lucky to have a very dedicated loyal following. As for Jerry, he likes us!
Now that Greg (Mackintosh, guitarist) owns his own home studio, if there a possibility that the next Paradise Lost album will be recorded there, with the band co-producing? Nick - Doubtful, he wouldn't want anyone entering his world. Besides, have you ever heard a record produced by the band themselves? With the odd exception, it doesn't work! It's good to have a third party involved.
