Paradise Lost (U.S.)

The country music mecca of Nashville, TN may seem an unlikely home for a progressive-edged hard rock quartet, but that didn’t stop PARADISE LOST. Formed in late-1985 under the name Audience, the group’s core shared a mixed bag of influences including Yes, Journey, The Police, Rush, and U2—not to mention gospel, jazz, and ’70s and ’80s pop.

The troupe rebranded itself PARADISE LOST within a few short years—a banner that vocalist Dave Privett cites as “a name with some mystery that still encapsulated some of the paradoxes in our music,” and eventually secured a deal with major label imprint Gold Dust Records. The undeniably unique existential passion of PARADISE LOST’s musical journey—heavy riffs with soaring melodies, hooks with complexity, and a heavy metal look with a philosophical twist—garnered favorable press locally and abroad; even scoring a 4K review from Kerrang!‘s Dave Reynolds.

In addition to the band’s unsung classic self-titled full-length from 1989, this reissue additionally compiles previously unreleased demos and live recordings spanning 1986-1990: PARADISE LOST’s ear-complete history in more than 30 tracks. This deluxe edition also contains a 28 page booklet with in-depth interview, album lyrics as well as archival photos and press clipping from the band’s vault. For the fans, by the fans.