Along with countrymates Anathema and My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost are credited with creating the subgenre known as Death/Doom. Their first three full-length albums (although the latter two incorporated some melodic and gothic elements) are considered prime examples of this style.[weasel words] However, with the release of the seminal albums Icon (1993) and Draconian Times (1995), Paradise Lost also became known as pioneers of the Gothic metal subgenre. In accordance with the change in musical approach, vocalist Nick Holmes changed his singing style. He used a death grunt on the band's first three albums, but on Icon refined his voice to have a cleaner tone. Later (circa 1997), the band began experimenting with electronic styles but after four albums reverted again to Gothic metal.
They have been more popular in mainland Europe than in their own country; particularly in Greece and Germany they are regarded as mainstream rock stars. Their line-up has remained remarkably stable for such a long-standing heavy metal band, consisting of singer Nick Holmes, guitarists Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy, and bassist Steve Edmondson. Holmes and Mackintosh are the principal composers, with almost all of the band's songs credited to them. During the years, the band has only changed drummers, with original member Matthew Archer replaced in 1994 by ex-Marshall Law drummer Lee Morris In March 2004, Morris also left the band; Jeff Singer took Morris' place and has played on all subseque...