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.
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.
