Formed in 1988 in West Yorkshire, Paradise Lost established themselves as one of the pioneering bands of gothic metal. Influenced by groups like Candlemass, Celtic Frost, and Morbid Angel, the band very early developed a dark and atmospheric identity, blending doom, death metal, and melancholic melodies. After a notable debut album, Lost Paradise (1990), it was with Gothic, recorded at the famous Academy Studios and released in 1991, that the band left a lasting mark on metal history. Considered the founding album of gothic doom metal, Gothic stands out for its dark atmospheres and the iconic guitar melodies of Gregor Mackintosh, making Paradise Lost a major influence for an entire generation of bands.