Believe in Nothing

For Nevermore's single, see Believe in Nothing (song). For the British sitcom, see Believe Nothing.
Believe in Nothing
Studio album by Paradise Lost
Released 29 January 2001
Recorded at Albert Studios, London
16 April–June 2000 at The Strongroom, London
June 2000 at Chapel Studios, Lincolnshire
September 2000
Genre Dark rock
Alternative metal
Dark metal
Length 46:00
Label EMI Electrola GmbH
Producer John Fryer, Greg Brimson
Paradise Lost chronology

Host
(1999)		 Believe in Nothing
(2001)		 Symbol of Life
(2002)

Believe in Nothing is the eighth full-length studio album by the British band Paradise Lost, mastered at Skyline Studios, Düsseldorf and mixed at Horus Sound Studios, Hanover between August–September 2000.

Release and Singles

Release

The release for the album was postponed with the first release date being 18 September 2000,[1] before settling to its current date.[2] The band released commented on the reason for the delay stating:

“ As you know near to Christmas many artists all rush to release "Best Of" albums in a hope of increased sales. Paradise Lost feel that the new album is far too special to merely be lost among thousands of others and, by releasing in January will avoid this. ”
 
— Paradise Lost

Singles

There is one song that was written called "Leave This Alone", recorded during the album's studio sessions, but it did not end up being on this album nor the reissues. Instead, it was released on the "Fader" single. The song "Mouth" was remixed and ended up on the "Mouth" single. Both singles have music videos.

Style, Reception and Album Artwork

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [3]

It is one of the last albums in the much lighter sound the band has been doing since One Second and that may have been contributed when composer Gregor Mackintosh stated that "doesn't really exist for him", as it was an album in which the band was out of creative control; the album went under strict instructions from the label. Mackintosh has also said that he feels some songs, such as "World Pretending", deserved a better sound and production.[4] There was more negativity of the album when the band's vocalist Nick Holmes was asked by fans of a Q&A session about in general how does the band choose who does the album artwork, Holmes stated "Don’t ask me about the BIN cover, I think we (the band) had our drinks spiked that day!"[5]

In 2007, vocalist, Nick Holmes commented again into to the details of the album stating:

“ We were never really happy with the production on that album. I think the songs on the album were good, but I definitely wouldn't rank the album overall in amongst out top five albums ever. We were all very confused by a lot of things going on around us at the time, hence the cover! (Laughs) I think they were pretty grim times, and I think that's reflected on the rather dour tone of the songs. Practically all of us were on prescribed drugs at that time! (Laughs) I was taking such strong anti-depressants at the time that I didn't really know what was going on at the time. The artwork for the album is a classic example where our brains were at the time. There were just bees in my head! (Laughs) I have no idea what that cover was supposed to represent. On a personal level, Believe In Nothing represented a really dark time in my life. I don't think anything positive comes out of being depressed or down like that. My personal life was kind of in a bad way at that time, and I think that album is a direct result of that. I know a lot of people really love that album, and I think that's great. But for me, I think the most disappointing element is the production, which I think could have been punchier, and the feelings the album conjures up. From Host through to Believe In Nothing, we didn't really kind of know where we were going. We were really in a dilemma. ”
 
— Nick Holmes

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "I Am Nothing"   4:01
2. "Mouth"   3:45
3. "Fader"   3:57
4. "Look at Me Now"   3:38
5. "Illumination"   4:31
6. "Something Real"   3:35
7. "Divided"   3:27
8. "Sell It to the World"   3:11
9. "Never Again"   4:38
10. "Control"   3:29
11. "No Reason"   3:14
12. "World Pretending"   4:28
2002 Reissue
No. Title Length
13. "Sway"   3:07
EMI Reissue
No. Title Length
13. "Sway"   3:07
14. "Gone"   4:32
15. "Waiting for God"   3:20
Koch Records Reissue
No. Title Length
13. "Waiting for God"   3:20
14. "Sway"   3:07

Personnel

Paradise Lost

Additional Musicians on 3, 7, 9 & "Gone"

  • Sally Herbert - violin, strings
  • Jacqueline Norrie - violin
  • Claire Orsler - viola
  • Clare Finnimore - viola
  • Sophie Harris - cello
  • Dinah Beamish - cello

Production

References

  1. ↑ http://paradiselost.co.uk/news/2000/believe-in-nothing-apr-27.html
  2. ↑ http://paradiselost.co.uk/news/2000/believe-in-nothing-jul-12.html
  3. ↑ Wesolowski, David Peter. Believe in Nothing allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2011-04-25.
  4. ↑ Justin Donnelly. "PARADISE LOST Frontman: 'Believe In Nothing' Represented A Really Dark Time In My Life". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  5. ↑ http://www.paradiselost.co.uk/news/2004/fans-questions-answered-oct-25.html