Paradise Lost – Believe in Nothing: Album Review

This is a review of one of Paradise Lost’s most controversial albums, Believe in Nothing (released in 2001). It’s the band’s eighth album, following Host (1999), which at the time had already shocked fans with a drastic shift in musical direction. Naturally, many fans were eager to see what PL would do next.

The general consensus was that Believe in Nothing didn’t do much to help the band’s reputation. The album was widely perceived as weak. I could end the story here and be done with it.

But… Yes, there’s a huge “but ” gives a whole new perspective on this release and could explain why it was received so poorly.

So, I hope you’ll stick with me for a few more minutes, because after this, you might look at Believe in Nothing from a different angle.

How “Believe in Nothing” Holds Up on Its Own

This is essentially my review of Believe in Nothing album as if it were released in a vacuum, meaning it’s the only album from the band I’ve ever heard. And honestly, that’s exactly how some new fans might experience it. Who’s to say someone didn’t stumble upon this album through Spotify or YouTube recommendations, making it their first introduction to Paradise Lost?

So, if I approach Believe in Nothing as a completely standalone piece of music, like an album from a band I’m hearing for the first time, I got to be honest: it’s great. Not just decent, or OK – no, it’s genuinely great. Even 25 years after its release, the album still sounds fantastic.

If I somehow forgot everything I knew about Paradise Lost (I dunno know, maybe aliens abducted me and erased those particular memories ) and then played this album, I’d defintely enjoy most of the songs in it.

The sound is consistent, there are multiple tracks with very catchy melodies and hooks. The vocals are solid, and there’s enough variety in speed and tempos throughout the album.

The guitars are nice as well, while they are not heavy, you still can definitely hear and appreciate them (like in tracks “Look at Me Now”, and“Sell it to the World”).

This album gets 7.5/10 from me, as a standalone release.

Overall, this is a pleasant alternative rock album. It’s perfect when you’re not in the mood for pop tunes, but also don’t want to dive into heavy metal. It’s the kind of record a moderate rock fan could easily put on repeat.

Its Place in Paradise Lost’s Discography

Now, if am looking at Believe in Nothing from a legacy perspective, and comparing it to the rest of PL discography, I am judging it differently. After all, we got 30+ years of songs and albums to weigh it against.

Oh, and for full disclosure – I am a longtime Paradise Lost fan. I first discovered them back in the late 90s, and loved their unique sound. I’ve listened to their every album, with certain records staying on repeat for years.

From this perspective I’d rank Believe in Nothing a 6.5/10.

It’s definitely not their top album for sure, but it’s above average. Believe in Nothing is miles better than One Second (1997) and Host (1999). It feels like a first step toward recovering from electro-pop sound Paradise Lost had experimented with.

I wouldn’t compare it to iconic albums like Icon (1993) or Draconian Times (1995) because the sound is completely different. For the same reason, it wouldn’t be fair to put it against later albums like Obsidian (2020). But stylistically, it sits somewhere near Symbol of Life (2002) and Paradise Lost (2005), being a lighter version of those.

Original vs 2007 Remixed & Remastered Version

Speaking of different versions of Paradise Lost’s sound, it’s no secret that the band always had major issues with how Believe in Nothing was produced. According to group’s leaders Gregor Mackintosh and Nick Holmes, the band had little creative control over the album, and they had to follow strict instructions from the label at the time.

Unsurprisingly, Paradise Lost wasn’t happy with the final release. So years later, they finally went back into the studio to rework the songs, giving them a different production and, in their words make them “how the songs were meant to sound.”

Well, I did listen to the Remixed & Remastered Version of Believe in Nothing released in 2018. And I wasn’t impressed, to be honest.

The remastered versions don’t really change the original songs in any meaningful way. Most tracks sound almost the same, except the band seems to have tried adding their more recent style into old material. The result is a weird distorted echo-chamber effect in both the vocals and guitars. For me – it didn’t improve the album.

If you’re a Paradise Lost fan, and you’re in you are in exploratory phase, go for it – check the Remixed version. At the very least, it features two new good songs. But I still recommend starting with the 2001 release first.

Final Verdict

For an alternative rock album Believe in Nothing is a good one. It has enough originality and is easy to enjoy. It definitely brings the vibes of the older music era, but it’s a good pleasant feeling.

And in the grand scheme of Paradise Lost evolution, Believe in Nothing marks the band’s turn from their brief electronic fascination toward what, in just a few years, would become their great comeback.

And if you’re looking to explore more of Paradise Lost hits, I’ve got a playlist for you:

Don’t always trust negative reviews, give it a listen yourself!