Paragon - Force Of Destruction

Published October 13 2012

*=Staff's pick	The Last Day On Earth Iron Will* Tornado* Gods Of Thunder Bulletstorm* Blood & Iron Blades Of Hell Dynasty Rising From The Black Demon's Lair Secrecy

Genre	Heavy Metal	Andreas Babuschkin	Vocals
Tracks	11	Wolfgang Tewes	Guitar
Running time	53 Min.	Jan Bertram	Guitar
Label	Napalm Records	Jan Bünning	Bass
Release	19 October 2012	Chris Gripp	Drums
Country	Germany	-	Keyboard
Producer	Piet Sielck
Similar artists	Brainstorm

The German heavy metallers Paragon's ninth full length album. Bassplayer Jan Bünning is back in the ranks again after a shorter absence, but founding member and guitarist Martin Christian has left the building since their latest album, Screenslaves. An album that was a total letdown for me, as Paragon usually stands for heavy metal quality. I don't know what they were thinking when writing and recording that album. Perhaps they tried to renew themselves, but failed big time?

An intro, that builds excitement for what's to come, opens the album and with the following tracks, Iron Will and Tornado, I know that this album will work as a statement of a comeback, as it's already surpassing Screenslaves by far. It sounds more like the albums Revenge and Forgotten Prophecies, or The Dark Legacy for that matter and what fan could be disappointed or dissatisfied with that choice of musical direction?

Diversity? Hell no. This is straight, pounding and massive heavy metal, with some thrash metal elements, almost all through. Just the way it's supposed to be with this band. Demon's Lair has some sort of ballad vibes and Dynasty and Blood & Iron are heavier and slower, but that's it. The latter featuring Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray and Helloween fame, etc, and producer Piet Sielck of Iron Savior on additional vocals.

You know that feeling when you think certain bands should be better off, more well known and sell a lot of records, than they in reality actually do? Paragon fits that description in my book for sure and as a heavy metaller by blood and birth, I have heard so many bands with greater fame than this band, that it is ridiculous and shameless. 8 chalices to Force Of Destruction. They're back, back with a vengeance.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
6	4	6	6	8

Summary
8 chalices of 10 - Tobbe