On disc: Paragon

 
- World Of Sin
 
- Volker Raabe -
 
 


 
- Law Of The Blade
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
- Law Of The Blade
 
- Volker Raabe -
 
 

Law Of The Blade

(Remedy Records - 2002)



 
 

 

Wow, what a killer album! Only a cookie pusher would make the following statements about Paragon's latest output:


It sounds too much like Grave Digger!!
It sounds too much like Iron Savior!!
It sounds too much like Gamma Ray!!
It sounds too much like... Aaaarggg!!



FUCK YOU! This just sounds like pure metal! Raw, pure, brutal and heavy! They have a big, fat production and with Andreas Babuschkin they have a first class metal shouter, both are the trademarks of this album. One murder riff after another... At least with the metal hymn Armies Of The Tyrant (what a chorus!!) you ask yourself: What's better Paragon or sex? At the moment.... Paragon! This is metal par excellence!

Sure, the Hamburg-based band didn't create a new metal genre and they didn't be very innovative, but the quintet offer 80's metal with that day's charm and spirit in a nowadays sound. 11 extremely outstanding killer tracks are on Law Of The Blade... Including a metal hymn (Palace Of Sin), fast speed metal tracks (Abducted, Law Of The Blade) as well as catchy mid-tempo songs like Across The Wasteland. Again all songs are part of a concept and as a kind of bonus they put Saxon's To Hell And Back Again at the end of the CD. Cool!! Law Of The Blade is a killer album!!! Very impressive and now I just miss a gig promotion tour....
 

 










Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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Law Of The Blade

(Remedy Records - 2002)



 
 

 

Another band from Hamburg which is musically located in the true metal / power metal sector is Paragon. Founded in 1990 by guitarist Martin Christian the band been through line-up changes, their albums been released by different labels. Their debut World Of Sin was released by Tricolor Music and but through a lack of money not promoted. In the late 90's Martin and a new line-up recorded The Final Command with producer Harris Johns. After another album and some festival appearances the band recorded in 2000 Steelbound which is produced by Iron Savior mainman Piet Sielck. The album and the tour with Iron Savior helped the band to make new friends. Their latest release Law Of The Blade is again produced by Piet Sielck. A good decision! They are no copycats, but there are reminiscences to Running Wild, Grave Digger and Iron Savior. Armies Of The Tyrant is one of their fast tracks and in the tradition of the mentioned bands. With Across The Wastelands they have a mid-tempo track which reminds me a little bit of U.D.O. from the heaviness of the tune which also have an anthem-like chorus we all know from Accept, even if not that 'fat'. Perhaps the track which presents the band best, is the album opener Abducted. Or try Allied Forces, but that one is not representing the album at all.... Perhaps Empire's Fall, a fast song is what you are looking for...

As a bonus track on the limited digi-pack you find a cover version of Saxon's To Hell And Back which is much heavier than the original. A decent work, but I miss the certain something which makes the track special... Personally I prefer the original, but that's just my opinion!

A decent album which is a step forward for the Hanseatic band.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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World Of Sin

(Tricolore Music - 1995)



 
 

 

Did the Hanseatic power metal heads of Paragon finally made it to release their first full-length album? Not really! At least the band added two songs of their Into The Black mini album. Not enough creative ideas? The com­positions are pretty good. It seems that Paragon like bands like Metal Church which some songs show a little bit too much. Thrash elements make the songs heavy and powerful and delete the idea they can be copycats. If singer Kay Carstens work on his vocals, we can expect a lot from this band in future!
 
 










Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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