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Icon

by Paradise Lost

Released: September 28, 1993

Gothic metal, doom metal

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"Icon" is the fourth studio album by the British heavy metal band Paradise Lost, released on September 28, 1993. It played a crucial role in establishing Paradise Lost as pioneers of the gothic metal genre. It marked a significant evolution in the band’s sound, moving away from their early death-doom style towards a more accessible and melodic gothic metal approach.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

This shift helped them reach a broader audience…

This shift helped them reach a broader audience and gain more mainstream appeal.

The album is notable for its clean production…

The album is notable for its clean production and more prominent use of clean vocals by lead singer Nick Holmes, which differed from the harsher vocal styles used in their earlier work.

"Icon" features a mix of atmospheric and heavy…

"Icon" features a mix of atmospheric and heavy guitar riffs, melancholic melodies, and introspective lyrics that explore themes of loss, despair, and existential ponderings.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Paradise Lost - Icon

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Then

Reception

Critics and fans praised "Icon" for its innovative blend of doom-laden heaviness with goth rock elements and for its mature songwriting.

Now

Legacy

Some standout tracks from the album include "Embers Fire," "True Belief," and "Forging Sympathy." Overall, "Icon" is considered a landmark album in Paradise Lost's discography and has been influential in shaping the direction of gothic metal in the 1990s and beyond.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Icon" is the fourth studio album by the British heavy metal band Paradise Lost, released on September 28, 1993. It marked a significant evolution in the band’s sound, moving away from their early death-doom style towards a more accessible and melodic gothic metal approach. This shift helped them reach a broader audience and gain more mainstream appeal.

The album is notable for its clean production and more prominent use of clean vocals by lead singer Nick Holmes, which differed from the harsher vocal styles used in their earlier work. "Icon" features a mix of atmospheric and heavy guitar riffs, melancholic melodies, and introspective lyrics that explore themes of loss, despair, and existential ponderings.

Critics and fans praised "Icon" for its innovative blend of doom-laden heaviness with goth rock elements and for its mature songwriting. It played a crucial role in establishing Paradise Lost as pioneers of the gothic metal genre. Some standout tracks from the album include "Embers Fire," "True Belief," and "Forging Sympathy."

Overall, "Icon" is considered a landmark album in Paradise Lost's discography and has been influential in shaping the direction of gothic metal in the 1990s and beyond.