Paradox
Electrify

THE REVIEW

I remember very well when the first two albums by Paradox were released, as I bought them "direct from the source," and I'm referring to "Product Of Imagination" from 1987 and "Heresy" from 1989, both published by Roadracer Records (a historic subsidiary of Roadrunner Records). They were two perfect examples of thrash metal (on the verge of speed), with an evident European influence, yet capable of looking across the ocean to the Bay Area scene in the United States, which surely influenced the songwriting of the band led by singer and guitarist Charly Steinhauer. The fact that a significant start was followed by a long period of silence (indeed, it wasn't until 2000 that the third album, "Collision Course," came out) is one of those cases that the music industry often gives us. But it's important to point out that the lack of productivity (another eight years passed, although this time the reasons were very serious) has always been accompanied by a high quality of musical offerings. The new "Electrify" is no exception to the rule, a broadly scoped heavy metal work, fundamentally melodic as well, where such a feature does not derive from mere catchiness but from the choice of appreciable instrumental solutions. While it's clear that the thrash roots remain immovable, it's also impossible not to notice how the songwriting has been further enriched with different elements: traditional American metal, yet modern (like the one from Nevermore, to understand each other) on one side, and power more tied to the German school of the genre on the other. An aggressive sound and a perfect production and mixing job (to which Jacob Hansen contributed) only serve to apply the seal of approval.