Paragon - Forgotten Prophecies

Published Sept. 18 2007

*=Staff's pick	Hammer Of The Gods Arise Face Of Death* Halls Of Doom Revelations Forgotten Prophecies* Agony Souleaters* Gangland Wargods* Deny The Cross*

Genre	German Metal	Andreas Babuschkin	Vocals
Tracks	11	Martin Christian	Guitar
Runningtime	52 Min.	Günny "Luigi" Kruse	Guitar
Label	Remedy Records	Dirk Seifert	Bass
Release	29 June 2007	Christian Gripp	Drums
Country	Germany	-	Keyboard
Similar artists	Metalium, Iron Savior

Just read the titles! Face Of Death, Halls Of Doom, Wargods… it simply cannot go wrong if you start with such great lyrical ideas. This is true metal, true German metal at its finest. To hell with happy, keyboard-oriented, schlager-metal. This is the real thing. What more can I say? They strike again. This is as heavy, dark and yet catchy as the classics Steelbound, Law Of The Blade and The Dark Age, just to name a few.

The band has stated their intention of putting their live energy into a studio album. Well, history has learned that this is not as easy as it sounds. But at least Paragon continues to play power metal as it should be played - with power! Worth to note is that this is the first time since Chalice Of Steel (1999) that Piet Sielck has not been producing the band. Steve Quellmalz and Arne Wachtmann have brought a slightly new touch to the whole machinery. Still the sound is mostly highly recognizable - not as hard as The Dark Legacy and Revenge, but rather in the vein of Law Of The Blade. Hammer Of The Gods and Arise is a great opening with nice riffing, but a bit weaker choruses. But on Face Of Death we are taken that extra step to metal heaven. The hammering bass in the verses are simple but yet genius.

The fast title track and the heavy, angry midtempo composition Souleaters are other favorites. But what is a record without a special object of hate. Gangland's absence of anything worth to call a chorus unfortunately destroys a song that could have been something. Fast and furious Wargods repairs the damage at once. Last we get a brilliant cover of Overkill's Deny The Cross (Taking Over 1987). Generally another great performance from one of the most reliable bands in German metal today. Maybe not one of their absolute best albums, but that of course becomes harder to achieve for every top class release.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
8	7	8	7	8

Summary
8 chalices of 10 - David