With more than three decades of shaping the sound of gothic and doom metal, Paradise Lost remain a cornerstone of the genre. Their 17th studio album is about to see the light of day, and anticipation is running high. Known for their dark, atmospheric soundscapes and lyrical reflections on life, death, and resilience, the band continues to push forward without losing touch with their roots. We sat down with frontman Nick Holmes to talk about the new record, the challenges of keeping a voice intact after years on the road, the timeless themes in his lyrics, and the band’s plans for the future.
M.I. - Hello, Nick. How are you doing?
I’m good, thanks.
M.I. - I have to say, I’ve been a fan for more than 30 years. It’s a pleasure to be here talking to you.
Likewise, thank you very much. I appreciate that.
M.I. - The new album is coming out next week. How do you usually feel before a new release?
It depends. Historically, before the internet, it was always intriguing. You didn’t know how well the album had been received until you played a concert and saw how the fans reacted to the songs. Now you release singles and give sneak previews, so it’s not the same as in the ’90s. But people seem very positive about the singles so far, so hopefully everyone’s going to love the album - touch wood. It’s always the start of a new chapter. Then we go on tour, and the next couple of years are shaped by that.
M.I. - And what do you usually do the week before release day? Do you get some free time?
No free time at the moment. We do interviews every day, and we need to rehearse because we’re playing a show in Leeds next week where we’ll play some new songs. Then we’ll do some in-store signing sessions in the UK, which takes us right up until the tour in a few weeks. We’ve only just finished the summer festivals, so once the promotion cycle starts, it’s like a roller coaster, you just keep going.
M.I. - Where do you get all the energy from?
I have no idea. You just go with it: where are we tomorrow, where are we the day after? You don’t stop to think about it. The older we get, the less energy we have, but the concerts themselves aren’t tiring, it’s the travel between shows, especially festivals, because the logistics can be hectic. Touring with a bus is easier, you get plenty of rest, and the only really active part is the concert itself.
M.I. - As the voice of the band, how do you protect your instrument from weather changes, wind, and all that?
The best thing is sleep, plenty of it. And I avoid talking too much, bars, drinking, shouting. That’s the worst for your voice. In the ’90s I did all that, but not anymore. On tour I avoid pubs and bars like the plague. Maybe on a day off I’ll have a drink, but shouting while drinking is terrible for the voice.
M.I. - You seem quite peaceful, almost zen.
I’m just old! (laughs) Probably more to do with age than anything else.
M.I. - What have the reactions to the new songs been so far?
Really good. The three songs we’ve released so far have been well received. The album is very varied, some people thought it would all be growly death metal vocals, but there’s plenty of clean singing too. Hopefully everyone likes the whole thing.
M.I. - Some songs echo Icon. Was that intentional?
Certain songs definitely tapped into that mentality. Rerecording Icon reminded us of how we wrote and structured songs back then. If we hadn’t rerecorded it, we probably wouldn’t have thought about it. Every experience rubs off on you, consciously or subconsciously. It was interesting to revisit that time…1993, 1994 feels like a lifetime ago.
M.I. - Do the lyrics flow easily for you?
Writing lyrics is always a process. I draft and come back to them again and again, but they always have to fit the music. I like ambiguous, dark lyrics, but with a hint of positivity sometimes. I enjoy using unusual words, sometimes I’ll grab a thesaurus just to avoid clichés.
M.I. - I used AI to analyze your lyrics, and the top five words were: fear, pain, death, forgiveness, and sadness.
(laughs) That sums it up really. A good summary of our career.
M.I. - The album title is about rising up in life despite adversity. Have you done that in your own life?
You just try to make the best of bad situations. Life knocks you around, and the longer you live, the more you experience that. Especially at our age now, when friends start dying, which is frightening. But it’s about rising above and doing your best with the time you’ve got.
M.I. - Do you fear death?
Not really. I don’t fear dying itself, more the pain of how it might happen. Ideally, I’d like to go to sleep and never wake up. When I write lyrics, I get into that mindset, but outside of that I don’t dwell on it, I’d go insane if I did.
M.I. - Do you need a special setting to write?
I write alone at home. On tour, I can’t concentrate on lyrics. Sometimes I get into the flow, sometimes I give up and come back later. It’s all about being in the right frame of mind.
M.I. - The artwork, The Court of Death, is striking. What drew you to it?
We always liked the idea of using a grandmaster painting, which we’d never done before. Greg found it, and we both agreed immediately it worked. It’s a massive piece in Bristol, UK. Normally artwork causes disagreements, but this time it just clicked.
M.I. - This album also marks the end of Guido’s time in the band and the return of Jeff Singer. How did that feel?
Very natural. Jeff left years ago to spend time with his family and young children, he wanted to see them grow, which was understandable. We stayed friends, and he even filled in on tours sometimes. Having him back feels very natural, it’s like he was never gone.
M.I. - After such a long career, is there still space for experimentation like with One Second?
Not under Paradise Lost, no. That’s why Greg and I did our side project Host during the pandemic. After so many albums, the world doesn’t need us to suddenly do country and western. (laughs). We're not against experimenting per se, but it's not something we're really thinking about at this point, you know? But never say never.
M.I. - After 17 albums, do you ever wonder what’s left to say?
I thought you were gonna say, "Do you wonder if there's anything left to live for?". (laughs) No. We always believe our best album is still to come. If you think your best work is behind you, you might as well stop. Fans often prefer the early albums they discovered as teenagers… I still love the first three Metallica and Slayer albums… but we keep pushing forward.
M.I. - Do you feel your lyrics circle the same themes?
Yes and no. I look at them from different age perspectives. I was more cynical when I was younger, but I still write about similar themes now. I like ambiguity, I don’t want to write neat 10-line stories. Pop singers write about love endlessly, and people never get tired of it. For me, it’s about finding fascination in ambiguity.
M.I. - Which is your favorite song on the new album?
I like to listen to it as one piece. But if I had to pick, Serpent on the Cross stands out, it has a classic Paradise Lost sound right from the start.
M.I. - About the videos… were you involved in the one where the band doesn’t appear?
No, that was commissioned separately. We’ve done plenty of performance videos, but we prefer ones with stories. Back in the MTV days, videos were really important, so we still like to see that kind of storytelling.
M.I. - Streaming and pre-saves on Spotify don’t really help bands, right?
These days, it’s about live shows and merchandise. You have to adapt. Playing live is the only way.
M.I. - What are your top five Paradise Lost songs to play live?
Beneath Broken Earth, Enchantment, Gothic, Embers Fire, and Say Just Words.
M.I. - I was at your London release show for Draconian Times in December 1995 with Anathema and Cathedral.
Right, I was there too… though I can’t really remember the show! (Laughs) That was a long time ago.
M.I. - Your music attracts both old and new fans. What’s the secret?
Often it’s generational, fans from the ’90s have kids who grew up with our music at home. And the internet makes everything more accessible. Platforms like Spotify spread our name to places where people wouldn’t have found us before.
M.I. - You’re coming to Portugal next summer for a festival. Any chance of a solo show?
Maybe on the second leg of the European tour. We’ll see, it’s often down to logistics. Hopefully next year we’ll come for a headline show.
M.I. - You’ll also be on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise. What else is planned?
We’re looking at shows in America around that time, and hopefully more in the US later next year. We haven’t toured there as much as we could have.
M.I. - How do you remember all the lyrics live?
I don’t, I have them written down. Sometimes I change them for my own amusement. I saw Steven Tyler do it once and thought it was funny. With so many songs, it’s like muscle memory, it comes back once you start singing.
M.I. - What have you been listening to lately?
Nothing, actually. I’ve just been listening to the new album. I’ve had a music-free month.
M.I. - Nick, it’s been a pleasure. I wish you the best with the release, and I hope to see you live soon in Porto.
Thank you, I appreciate the support. Hopefully we’ll get over there next year.
For Portuguese version, click here
Listen to Paradise Lost, on Spotify
Questions by Sónia Fonseca
