Paradise Lost - Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us (2009)

Paradise Lost returned in 1997 with a new look and style, astounding both fans and critics. On the album One Second (1997), which was distributed by hip hop label Jive Records, the band began to experiment with Depeche Mode-esque synth pop and electronica. The album turned out to be one of the band's most important releases, cracking the German and Swedish top ten charts and giving the band a boost in popularity everywhere, it seemed--except the UK. Although some of the older fans of the band were disappointed, Paradise Lost gained many new supporters. The band later contracted EMI Electrola in Germany for its next album, Host, released in 1999, on which they continued to experiment with new sounds, appearing to shed their metal roots. On the next album, Believe in Nothing (2001), Paradise Lost continued the synth direction, but adding rock elements to the music. In May 2002, the band signed to G.U.N records, and on the album that followed, Symbol of Life, the metallic roots of the band began to resurface.

Paradise Lost released their 10th, eponymous album in 2005 on G.U.N. records, an album combining electronic and guitar-based styles. The album began the phase of Paradise Lost's return to the gothic metal roots. The eleventh album, In Requiem, was released in Spring 2007 on Century Media; it was generally well-accepted and highly rated by both critics and fans, pleased to see the band returning to their heavier, gothic metal sound similar to that of earlier albums like Draconian Times. It also won "Best Gothic Metal album" from "Metal Storm Awards 2007." The full-length was preceded by a single, "The Enemy." In November 2007, Century Media released the DVD Over The Madness, which documents the impact Paradise Lost has had on Gothic metal and provides insight into the mindset and workings of Paradise Lost. Disc 2 includes further interviews, rehearsal footage, plus backstage and memorabilia sections.

On 13 August 2008, drummer Jeff Singer announced his departure from the band on the Paradise Lost official website. He wanted to be with his family, had an upcoming job, and the then-upcoming South American tour would interfere with that. As a result, Paradise Lost had to cancel the South American tour dates that they had planned. Soon after, on 28 August 2008, the Paradise Lost official website announced that the cancelled South American tour has been reconfirmed and that Mark Heron from Oceansize would take over on drums.

At the beginning of 2009, Paradise Lost recorded their new album with producer Jens Bogren in Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. At the time there was no full-time replacement for Jeff Singer and drums were played by Swedish drummer Peter Damin. On March 16, 2009, when the album was already finished with being recorded, the band recruited Adrian Erlandsson (ex-At the Gates, ex-Cradle of Filth) as a full-time drummer for the band.

On June 18, 2009, Paradise Lost officially announced Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us as the title of their upcoming new album, to be released on Century Media Records on September 25, 2009 in Germany, on September 28, 2009 in the rest of Europe and on October 6, 2009 in the US.