Symbol of Life

Symbol of Life is the ninth studio album by British gothic metal band Paradise Lost. It marks a departure by the band from their synth-based approach and returning to a much heavier sound, although not abandoning the keyboards altogether. This album was the final release featuring drummer Lee Morris.

Symbol of Life
Studio album by Paradise Lost
Released	21 October 2002
Recorded	June–July 2002
Genre	Gothic metal gothic rock
Length	52:56
Label	GUN (Europe) Koch (United States)
Producer	Rhys Fulber
Paradise Lost chronology
Believe in Nothing (2001) Symbol of Life (2002) Paradise Lost (2005)
Singles from Symbol of Life
"Isolate" Released: 2002 "Erased" Released: 18 November 2002

Two songs which were written and left out for this album are "I Can Hate You" and "Deus". Neither have been released on any of the reissues of this album, but can be found on the digipak version of the single "Erased"; the aforementioned single has a music video.

Track listing

All tracks written by Gregor MacKintosh and Nick Holmes, except where noted

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Isolate"	3:43
2.	"Erased"	3:31
3.	"Two Worlds"	3:29
4.	"Pray Nightfall"	4:11
5.	"Primal"	4:23
6.	"Perfect Mask"	3:46
7.	"Mystify"	3:49
8.	"No Celebration"	3:45
9.	"Self-Obsessed"	3:07
10.	"Symbol of Life"	3:55
11.	"Channel for the Pain"	3:53

Limited edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
12.	"Xavier" (Dead Can Dance cover)	Lisa Gerrard, Brendan Perry	6:04
13.	"Smalltown Boy" (Bronski Beat cover)	Steve Bronski, Jimmy Somerville, Larry Steinbachek	5:20

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Chart (2002)	Peak position
French Albums (SNEP)[2]	61
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[3]	16
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[4]	56
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[5]	77
UK Albums (OCC)[6]	166

Credits

Paradise Lost

• Nick Holmes – vocals, lyrics
• Gregor Mackintosh – lead guitar, keyboards, programming, music
• Aaron Aedy – rhythm guitar
• Steve Edmondson – bass guitar
• Lee Morris – drums, backing vocals

Additional personnel

• Published by: Zomba Music Publishers Ltd.
• Additional Keyboards and programming by: Rhys Fulber
• Recorded and mixed by: Greg Reely
• Additional keyboards by: Jamie Muhoberac (tracks 1, 2, 4, 11)
• Strings arrangements and Piano: Chris Elliott (tracks 8, 10)
• Additional vocals: Lee Dorian (track 2) courtesy of Dreamcatcher Records, Joanna Stevens (tracks 2, 5, 7) and Devin Townsend (tracks 3, 13) courtesy of Century Media Records
• Assistant engineers: Ewan Davies and Will Bartle (Chapel Studios) and Bart (Dreamcatcher Studios)
• Recorded at: Chapel Studios, Lincolnshire, during June–July 2002 and Dreamcatcher Recording Studios, Bradford, 2002
• Additional recording by: Carmen Rizzo at Studio 775, Los Angeles, California, US
• Mixed at: The Green Jacket, Richmond, Canada
• Additional digital editing by: Chris Potter
• Mastered by: Kai Blankenberg at Skyline Studios, Düsseldorf, Germany
• Artwork by: [sleeve design] – Dirk Rudolph
• Photography [band, screens]: Olaf Heine
• Photography [front]: Nick Veasey