Photo: MrPanyGoff, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Our Top 10 Paradise Lost songs looks is an English gothic metal band formed in 1988 and considered by some to be among the pioneers of the death-doom genre. Based at Halifax at their formation time, the band has been regarded as the main influence for the later gothic metal movement. And to prove this, popular and successful bands such as Lacuna Coil, HIM, Nightwish, and Moonspell, among others, have cited Paradise Lost to be their influence. Some bands have gone even further to do covers of the Paradise Lost band’s greatest songs.
Thanks to the union between vocalist Nick Holmes, guitarist Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy, and bassist Steve Edmondson, Paradise Lost band was formed with their union surviving since the band’s inception. The only major changes over the years have been on the drummer, with their current one being Walteri Vayrynen. Notably, vocalist Nick Holmes and guitarist Greg Mackintosh have been the band’s principal composers, making almost all lyrics for most of the band’s songs. Paradise Lost has, over the years, been able to release sixteen studio albums, with their most recent, Obsidian, released in 2020. Here are the top 10 Paradise Lost songs of all time.
# 10 – Fear of the Impending Hell
Last but not least in our top 10 Paradise Lost songs is the song “Fear of the Impending Hell” from the band’s 2012 album, Tragic Idol. The lyrics of the song offer both truth and optimism to the listener, and thanks to Nick Holmes’ experience as a father, he was able to bring quite some moving lyrics. According to Holmes, the song “Fear of the Impending Hell” is about the things in life that may be coming to us or not. One of the most feared subjects is death having many fear it. However, when asked by his kids, Holmes tries to answer that will leave them happy despite being left bewildered, just like his kids.
# 9 – One Second
Featured in the band’s album, One Second, this song is marginally metal, but thanks to the somber atmosphere and mood, the song retains quite some metal aspects. “One Second” has its lyrics take on a major departure from the religious imagery of the Paradise Lost past, having the song concentrate more on the personal problems of the modern era. The song recalls how life can change for better or worse within a second. Well, probably most of us can relate to this with the hope for life to turn better one day enshrines in everyone no matter the situation, age, or status.
# 8 – Darker Thoughts
Taken from Paradise Lost’s latest album, Obsidian, the song “Darker Thoughts” brings in some deceptive elegance and dual atmosphere. It is songs like “Darker Thoughts” in the band’s recent album that reveals their masterful control of tons of vital ideas. as revealed by Holmes, the song’s lyrics are about choosing the wrong path or rather failing to look before you leap. And as expected, this will always have one deal with the sire consequences of the dubious decisions and choices.
# 7 – Honesty in Death
In their 2012 album, Tragic Idol, the song “Honesty in Death” has a creepy title. And when asked whether people need to be confronted with death to truly open their eyes to reality, Nick Holmes said that death is usual. And when he wishes that not upon anyone, he admits that we all have to go through losing a loved one and in that process. But, to Holmes, at the moment, death was the only honest thing in life.
# 6 – Say Just Words
Among the songs that were a hit in Paradise Lost’s 1997 album, One Second was the song “Say Just Words.” From a past interview, Nick Holmes says that the song was a reaction to how people wanted the band not to succeed, having them badmouth Paradise Lost. And true to the word, the song’s lyrics bring in some powerful message about people who try to tear you down, which in the result is a tricky affair. Notably, Paradise Lost addressed their haters from the North who had no sound reason to hate the band.
# 5 – Small Town Boy
While Paradise Lost has had tons of bands look up to them and making covers to their songs, the song “Small Town Boy” proved to be too good not to cover. Featured in their 2002 album Symbol of Life, the song “Small Town Boy” was originally done by the Bronski Beat synth-pop band back in 1984 in their debut album The Age of Consent. With the song being quite great, it was a big commercial success; it remained quite popular over the years, and thanks to Paradise Lost for bringing back the song to life in their 2002 album Symbol of Life.
# 4 – Erased
From the beginning, the song “Erased” hooks you to the rhythm thanks to its strong instrumentals. Drawn from the band’s album Symbol of Life, the song brings to stage the lyrical prowess of Greg Mackintosh and Nick Holmes. The deep lyrics are open to myriad interpretations. However, one of the most sounds of all is about when you think you’ve forged some strong bond with someone just to have everything shredded to dust. Sadly, it means that the efforts and strength towards making the bond work only existed in your mind.
# 3 – No Hope in Sight
Paradise Lost’s 2015 album, The Plague Within, proved to be a great one thanks to songs like “No Hope in Sight,” a global hit. Speaking of “No Hope in Sight,” Holmes reminds people that the end might be near with a sense of inner peace or a youthful fight. He continues to say that many things can soften the blow, including our families and friends. Hence, we can choose to welcome it or fight against it with the resilient enough having his way.
# 2 – Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us
In a world where everyone holds different opinions over whatever topic, very few things unite us. However, it only takes a listen to the song “Faith Divides Us- Death Unites Us” to know what unites us all as the human race. Featured as the fifth song in the band album Faith Divides Us- Death Unites Us, the song possesses some of the most surreal lyrics that everyone can relate to. The song also brings in Paradise Lost in a new and heavier style than in most songs.
# 1 – Beneath Broken Earth
Featured in their 2015 album, The Plague Within, the song “Beneath Broken Earth” is the best song ever performed by Paradise Lost. From the start to the end, the guitar-driven ballad does not disappoint, bringing the true gothic metal vibe that Paradise Lost is famed for. In addition, you ought to love Nick’s growls which work best to bring out a new version of the vocalist in the metal music genre. And the doom and turmoil articulated by the beats also add to the song’s relevance to the album title.
Top 10 Paradise Lost Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
Classicrockhistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business or any organizations is allowed to republish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission.
![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
