Dark Metal, my Lord!

Dark Metal represents a subgenre of Extreme Metal that developed in the late 1990s by merging musical and aesthetic elements of Black Metal, Death Metal, Symphonic Metal or Gothic Metal. 

It is mostly characterized by a dark atmosphere with intense screams and fast-paced sections, suicidal themes, also the aesthetics and lyrics are often highly sexualized or satanic. 

Usually, the style blends Doom Metal with Black Metal. 

Additional elements such as electronic rhythms inspired by Darkwave and the famous "beauty-and-the beast" dual vocals are occasionally adopted.

The term is sometimes applied when a band cannot be distinctly categorized into Death Metal, Doom Metal, Symphonic Metal or Gothic Metal traditional scenes. 

The main core stands with influences from bands like Katatonia, Tristitia, Bethlehem, and Deinonychus,

 The popularity of the term "Dark Metal" grew following its use in album titles 
from bands like Katatonia and Bethlehem, which helped establish a distinct musical style 
combining Black Metal guitar work with orchestral keyboard arrangements. Bethlehem's 
focus on a fascination with darkness, as opposed to the satanism in Black Metal, 
set a thematic precedent within the genre. Bands such as Trail of Tears, 
Arcturus, The Kovenant, and Siebenbürgen shared similar stylistic pathways. 

Additionally, Samael, Cradle Of Filth, and Dimmu Borgir significantly contributed to the genre's rise by blending Gothic, Black Metal, and even techno elements into their basic musical structure. While the genre achieved considerable success around the 2000s, its popularity later declined.

 
Today, Dark Metal isn't extensively explored or defined within journalism or 
academia, and artists are usually categorized under Gothic or Black Metal genres instead.

Black-Doom Metal


In a related vein, Black Doom, also defined as blackened doom, combines the slow, 
dense sound of Doom Metal with the intense vocals and distorted guitars typical of Black Metal. 
These bands maintain the satanic themes of Black Metal and integrate the more somber themes akin to Doom Metal, such as depression and nihilism. 

 
 The slower rhythm of doom metal is used to enhance the harsh atmosphere characteristic of Black Metal. Notable Black-Doom bands include Barathrum and Forgotten Tomb.
Woods Of Ypres, Deinonychus, Tristitia, Shining, Nortt, Bethlehem, early Katatonia, 
Tiamat, Dolorian, and October Tide.

...this post will be later on updated, corrected and completed...

Paradise Lost's top guitar solos

Death Metal! The metal style Paradise Lost started with on their demos changed a little bit as "Lost Paradise" the very first album was released.The album saw a perfect balance between Death and Doom Metal, and the music changed from album to album as their technical, compositional and experiment capabilities evolved within the effort to find its own, unique musical identity.

All of their songs are composed and written by Nick Holmes and Gregor Mackintosh. Aaron Aedy being responsible only for the rhythm and acoustic guitar duties.

Exceptions are only "Yearn for Change" and "I See Your Face" from "Draconian Times" who has contributions from Aaron Aedy, Stephen Edmondson and Lee Morris.

 

Along with Paradise Lost we have a lot of, more or less popular bands who, at that time, offered a pleiad of guitar solo performers and their very personal signature : 

Chuck Shuldiner, James Murphy, Rick ”Rozz” from Massacre, Trey Azagthoth from Morbid Angel, Robert Vigna from Immolation, Jack Owen from Cannibal Corpse, Allen West from Obituary, Bill Steer from Napalm Death and Carcass, Patrick Mameli from Pestilence and so on...

Recently (2026), Gregor Mackintosh cited bands like Massacre and Trouble among his early inspiration besides some British Gothic and Punk Rock bands.

 

 

This entry will review Gregor Mackintosh solos from the perspective of a person who doesn't play guitar: 

 

 

Lost Paradise

1.Intro - (Instrumental).
2.Deadly Inner Sense - Short solo, String-bending lead, tapping solo. The main solo. Place 5 (nothing       special!)
3.Paradise Lost - Solo following the rhythm guitar. Cascade-like followed by string-bending lead and       tapping, following the general music line. Place 6 (nothing special!)
4.Our Saviour - No solo!
5.Rotting Misery - Best solo so far!!! Place1, almost similar to the solos on ICON album. String-              bending lead at the end.
6.Frozen Illusion - Solo! Place 4. Solo following the rhythm guitar at the end.
7.Breeding Fear - Solo following the general music line - tapping. Cascade-like solo almost lead.
8.Lost Paradise - Place 2!
9.Internal Torment II. - Melodic follow, tapping solo. Rapid Death-Metal-ish lead followed by melodic     following the riffs. Place 3.
   Again melodic following the riff at the end. 

 

 Gothic

 

1.Gothic - Starting solo following the music line, Melodic moody solo! Place3
2.Dead Emotion - Solo Place7, Melodic and horror-like with tapping.Place2
3.Shattered - A short one. Place4. A horror-like short one. A Cascade solo!
4.Rapture - Mostly following the general music line. Place9
6.Eternal - Solo Place8
7.Falling Forever - Solo Place5
8.Angel Tears - Moody mostly following the general rhythm guitar. Place6.
9.Silent - Melodic-moody following the general music line. Place10. Second solo - Place11
10.The Painless - Solo Place1
11.Desolate - No solo!

 

 Shades Of God


1.Mortals Watch the Day - Solo. Place5
2.Crying for Eternity - Seventhies-like solo. Place3
3.Embraced - No solo!
4.Daylight Torn - Solo following melodic line. Solo with tapping. Place7
5.Pity the Sadness - Solo Place4. Solo Place1
6.No Forgiveness - Seventhies-like solo following the music line. Place6. Seventhies-like solo. Place9
   (Wah-Wah?) Metallica-like solo at the end.
7.Your Hand in Mine - Short one. Place8. Tapping two solos. Place10. Solo following the music line.
8.The Word Made Flesh - Melodic solo following the music line. Place10. Solo Place4
9.As I Die - Cascade-like goth solos. Place2

 

Icon


1.Embers Fire - Solo with tapping and a melodic/melancholic half at the end.Place1
2.Remembrance - Typical cascade-like follows. Solo Place3
3.Forging Sympathy - Typical cascade-like follows. Solo Place2
4.Joys Of The Emptiness - No solo!
5.Dying Freedom - Melodic solos following the music line. (Fiery) Solo Place4
6.Widow - Melodic cascade-like follows. (Fiery) Solo Place6
7.Colossal Rains - Typical cascade-like follows. No solo!
8.Weeping Words - Cascade-like follows. Solo with tapping Place7
9.Poison - Solo Place5
10.True Belief - Cascade-like follows. No Solo!
11.Shallow Seasons - Melodic solo following the music line. Melodic solo Place7
12.Christendom - Typical cascade-like follows. No Solo!
13.Deus Misereatur - (Instrumental). No Solo! 

 

Draconian Times



1.Enchantment - Melodic solos following the music line.
2.Hallowed Land - Solo Place2
3.The Last Time - Solo Place1
4.Forever Failure - Melodic solos following the music line. Solo Place5
5.Once Solemn - Solo Place6 (a very simple one)
6.Shadowkings - Solo Place8 (again, a very simple one)
7.Elusive Cure - Solo Place4
8.Yearn for Change - Solo Place7. Melodic solos following the music line. Solo Place10
9.Shades of God - Cascade-like solos following the music line. Solo Place3
10.Hands Of Reason - Solo Place9
11.I See Your Face - Melodic solo following the music line. No Solo!
12.Jaded - Solo Place11 (a very simple one). 

One second


1.One second - A god one following the harmonic guitar         melodic line.Place2      
2.Say Just Words - No solo!
3.Lydia - No actual solo! He just let the guitar screech / whistle     at the end of the song.
4.Mercy - No solo!
5.Soul Courageous - No Solo!
6.Another Day - A great solo!!! Place1
7.The Sufferer - No solo
8.This Cold Life - No solo! Some electro effects at the       beginning of the song following the guitar melodic lines just      like their cascade solos on ICON.
9.Blood Of Another - No solo!
10.Disappear - Electro-effects at the beginning of the song     following the guitar melodic lines
    Electro or guitar effect following the guitar melodic line at the end of the song
11.Sane - No solo!
12.Take Me Down - No solo!

 

Host


1.So Much Is Lost - No Solo!
2.Nothing Sacred - No Solo!
3.In All Honesty - No Solo!
4.Harbour - No Solo!
5.Ordinary Days - No Solo!
6.It's Too Late - No Solo!
7.Permanent Solution - No Solo!
8.Behind The Grey - No Solo!
9.Wreck - No Solo!
10.Made The Same - No Solo!
11.Deep - No Solo!
12.Year Of Summer - No Solo!
13.Host - No Solo! 

 

Believe In Nothing


1.I Am Nothing - Parallel melodic solo Place2. Solo Place1
2.Mouth - Solo Place3
3.Fader - Solo Place4
4.Look At Me Now - No Solo!
5.Illumination - Parallel melodic solos following the music line. No Solo!
6.Something Real - Solo Place6. Solo Place5
7.Divide - No Solo!
8.Sell It To The World - Short solo Place7
9.Never Again - No Solo!
10.Control - Short parallel melodic solo following the music line. No Solo!
11.No Reason - Parallel solo following the music line. Solo Place9
12.World Pretending - Solo Place8 
13.Waiting For God (Bonus Track) - Parallel solo following somehow the music line. No Solo!

 

 Symbol Of Life


1.Isolate - No solo!
2.Erased - No solo!
3.Two Worlds - No solo!
4.Pray Nightfall - No solo!
5.Primal - No solo!
6.Perfect Mask - No solo!
7.Mystify - Short introducing solo Place3
8.No Celebration - Solo Place1
9.Self - Obsessed - Solo Place2
10.Symbol Of Life - No solo!10.Symbol Of Life - No solo!
11.Channel For The Pain - No solo!
12.Xavier (Dead Can Dance Cover) - No solo!
13.Small Town Boy (Bronski Beat's Cover) - Solo Place3. Parallel solo following somehow the music line.

 

Paradise Lost

 

1.Don't Belong - Solo Place6.Parallel solo following the music line.
2.Close Your Eyes - Solo Place3.Solo Place4
3.Grey - Short solo Place8
4.Red Shift - Solo Place7
5.Forever After - Short solo Place2
6.Sun Fading - Parallel solos following the music line.No solo!
7.Laws Of Cause - Solo Place5.Solo Place9
8.All You Leave Behind - Solo Place1
9.Accept The Pain - Parallel solo following the music line.No solo!
10.Shine - Parallel solo following the music line.No solo!
11.Spirit - Short parallel solos following the music line.No solo!
12.Over The Madness - Solo Place4

ALL TIME BEST SOLO :

1.Rotting Misery

2.Another Day

3.The Last Time

4.Embers Fire

5.The Painless 

6.Pity the Sadness

7.I Am Nothing

8.No Celebration 

9.All You Leave Behind 

...To be continued and completed.... 

Please allow a comparison between Paradise Lost and Metallica. Let's find out why!

The first reason for this imaginative exercise must be that in metal magazines of that time, it was stated that, after the "Draconian Times" album was released back in 1995, Paradise Lost surpassed Metallica in some of the North-European metal charts, and as a result Paradise Lost received "The European Metallica" nickname. 

The second reason for this approach is that Paradise Lost has been influenced by Metallica's music when they decided to adopt clean vocals, and represents Nick Holmes' first favorite band when he started to listen to metal music!

That being said it can be imagined almost each Paradise Lost album paralleled, somehow to a Metallica LP.

 

Let's start with "One Second" LP and there are some elements to compare it with "Load" album.

Both are the bands' first less metal and more rock oriented albums. One being labelled Hard Rock and the other one Gothic Rock. 

Also, they adopted a new look when they gave up their long hair.

Going back in time, again "Draconian Times" should be the PL's black album, so to speak!

Easily the most appreciated and successful album from their catalog, containing iconic, memorable songs. 

For example "Forever Failure" can be taken as their "The Unforgiven" hit single.

 

Paradise Lost doesn't have a ballad (thanks God for that!) to represent the "Nothing Else Matters" emotional reprise, but the album opens up with "Enchantment" which is a strong epic statement in that respect.

 

"Icon" LP would be their "...And Justice for All" as both has the three points to sustain this plan;

Blackened, ...And Justice for All and One respectively; Embers Fire, Widow and True Belief. 

 

Beneficiary of a strong Arena-Rock sound, and a very compact sonic display from the beginning to the end. The album being their stronger and the perfect combination of doom, gothic and heavy metal.

 

Moving back in time "Shades Of God" should be their "Master Of Puppets" peak!

 

The album has a very "riffy" approach and Gregor Mackintosh, Nick Holmes and Stephen Edmondson stated in an interview, that the main influence for this album is Black Sabbath's "Master Of Reality". Especially at the general guitar sound.

 

On "Gothic" album Paradise Lost found and  consolidates their artistic identity, much like "Ride The Lighning" did. 

Also,it is clear that they marked out the boundaries of the music style they've created, Gothic Metal!

Exactly how Metallica created a stellar and a defining jewel for the Thrash Metal genre there!

 

The debut "Lost Paradise" is a strong musical statement who killed 'em all with the attitude and its big sound, especially at the vocal delivery. 

The album created the Doom-Death Metal subgenre much like Metallica started the Thrash-Metal mania back in 1983.

"Host" is some kind of a natural continuation (some say a little bit exaggerated, as the guitar section was drawn back in favor for the electronica arrangements) of "One Second" and seems to be the Paradise Lost's "Reload" LP.

The infamous (NU-metal?) "St.Anger" has the counterpart collection of songs gathered under the name of "Believe in Nothing".

In Paradise Lost case it is a blend of Gothic-Rock and Alternative-Metal. 

Unfortunately, the band is not very happy with it as they stated that the album contains some compromises and they were in a quite confused, medicated, and pointless dark period in those couple of years.

Even though, the album has at least three strong points ; "I Am Nothing" ; "Mouth" (a very memorable and definitory Gothic-Rock masterpiece) and "World Pretending".

Starting with the "Symbol Of Life" album Paradise Lost re-establish their music within the Metal genre

creating unforgettable songs up to this day much like (one of) their heroes did from "Death Magnetic" and their follow up LPs.

Anyhow, in reality the only link between Paradise Lost and Metallica must be the Black Sabbath main musical influence.