Host (Paradise Lost album)

Host is the seventh studio album by British gothic metal band Paradise Lost.

Background and content
Following One Second, Host saw the band moving further away from their previous metal sound to something more akin to a melancholic style of synth-pop incorporating downtempo, leftfield, and trance electronic styles. Songs were constructed primarily of programmed drums and synthesizer melodies, with simple, rock-style guitar added for choruses. Vocalist Nick Holmes resolved to simple melodies with his clean singing style, often doubled and harmonized; the resultant material resembled crossover acts like Psykosonik and electronic band Depeche Mode.

Release and promotion
The singles "So Much Is Lost" and "Permanent Solution" both have music videos released; in an interview, Holmes and Mackintosh explained that the videos were higher budget compared to other videos they made.

Due to an injury, Gregor Mackintosh often played keyboards instead of guitar while touring the album with his guitar technician Milton "Milly" Evans playing his guitar parts.

Reaction and legacy
While the album was critically well received, opinion about it continues to be split. Holmes commented on this album in 2007, stating:

"'From Host through to Believe in Nothing, we didn't really kind of know where we were going. We were really in a dilemma.'"

Aedy said Host is the "darkest" Paradise Lost album, but noted the band was not happy with the production. The album was remastered and re-released in 2018.

The album eventually served as the inspiration of Holmes' and Mackintosh's side-project Host; in the press release about the formation, Mackintosh noted that "We always stood by Host as an album".

Paradise Lost

 * Nick Holmes – lead vocals and lyrics
 * Gregor Mackintosh – lead guitar (tracks 1–11, 13–16), keyboards, programming, string arrangements (1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 13), and all music
 * Aaron Aedy – rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "Year of Summer"
 * Steve Edmondson – bass
 * Lee Morris – drums, backing vocals

Cellists and other string arrangements

 * Audrey Riley – strings arrangements and cello (1, 4, 10)
 * Sally Herbert – string arrangements (2, 6, 13)
 * Dinah Beamish – cello (2, 6, 13)

Violists

 * Sue Dench – tracks 1, 4, 10
 * Claire Orster – tracks 2, 6, 13

Backing vocals

 * Shereena Smith – chanting on "Harbour", backing vocals (4, 6, 13)

Production

 * Howie Weinberg – mastering
 * Steve Lyon – engineering, mixing, programming
 * Matt Cullen – engineer assistance

Album design

 * Paul Postle – photography
 * Stylorouge – design, art direction

Violinists

 * On tracks 1, 4, 10
 * Chris Tombling
 * Leo Payne
 * On tracks 2, 6, 13
 * Anne Stephenson
 * Gini Ball
 * Jocelyn Pook
 * Julia Singleton
 * Sally Herbert