Review: Paradise Lost “Believe In Nothing (Remixed/Remastered)”

PARADISE LOST Believe In Nothing
Nuclear Blast Records

Paradise Lost finally believes in Believe in Nothing. No pun intended.

For everyone who watched their Over the Madness DVD, the band and especially Greg had negative comments about the aforementioned album. That Believe in Nothing does not exist for him: for the way their label at the time EMI controlled the whole recording (every band member recorded their parts individually), drums were sampled, the album was mixed around 3 times, changing the track list, sending them back to the studio to record new songs.

Sounds like most of the Celtic Frost history.

So you really can’t blame the band for feeling alienated from its own album, especially for a band that is diverse as Paradise Lost which in that time have released Host; their most polarizing offering. Believe in Nothing definitely feels as their most conventional and safe album for the time. Adding back more guitars but still having the electronic elements which were most present in Host.

Host as well, got the similar treatment some time ago; being remastered and getting a boost in its sound. Difference is definitely not day and night but is a welcome addition and it gives the fans a chance to revisit bands more experimental era in its enhanced sound.

But Believe in Nothing is totally different story. This is a quite different version then the initial one; guitars are quite upfront, almost taking Nicks vocals in the background. Some songs like “Look at me Now” and “Sell to the World” were reworked in the composition, nothing drastically but these changes are more than welcome and a nice surprise. The album is far beyond just boosting up the volume remaster version.

Production on this one almost reminds me of their last album Medusa, it’s far more raw and guitars are quite distorted that at times it feels out of place in some more mellow songs in the album. But in songs like “Something Real” it totally rips. So much that is hard in what order to put the album; its way more aggressive then Symbol of Life and even their tenth album.

But in a more aggressive approach the album kinda lost is elegance in some parts and Nicks vocals are a bit tuned down, like in the best song of the album World Pretending, you have a feeling like he’s singing a mile away from you.

This reworked addition is far from hit and miss offering, but some original charm is lost along the way. Having in mind that this comes from a guy actually liked Believe in Nothing for what it is. In the end it all comes back to what you more prefer from a diverse band such is Paradise Lost.

It’s by all means worth checking out and revisiting bands more interesting endeavors, if you didn’t liked Believe in Nothing for the same reason you disliked Host, this might be a good surprise for you.