Behind the scenes it hasn’t been smooth sailing for Paragon in the five-year interim between studio records. Members left to the point that nearing the end of 2022, consideration of Metalation being the final studio record plus plans of a farewell tour were in the pipeline. Fortunately, the ship steered in calmer waters by Easter 2023, as Jason Wöbcke joined permanently on drums, Martin Christian reaffirmed his position on guitar and the necessary work put into this album came to fruition. When it comes to pure heavy metal that straddles aspects of old school European power, thrash, and speed dimensions, this quintet continually keeps the playing, songwriting, and additional accents firmly on the pulse of purity – regardless of what’s in vogue or fashion.
What’s always been impressive this deep into the band’s discography is the development of material that employs diversity when it comes to styles, tempos, and atmosphere shifts. One minute the band explores epic, doom-oriented riffs with this classical, semi-horror lead break texture for “Beyond the Horizon” that conjures classic Candlemass or Dio-era Black Sabbath to the forefront – only to shift into thunderous, heads down Teutonic speed metal madness on the follow-up “MarioNET” where the gang-like background vocals serve as call to action for Andreas ‘Buschi’ Babuschkin’s always reliable main raspy singing duties. The guitar work between Martin and fellow axe compatriot Jan Bertram aligns to the best metal duos of the 80s and 90s – able to rip out key rhythms, filling space with supplementary runs, as well as produce flourishes of heroic magnitude, as songs like “The Haunted House” and opener “Fighting the Fire” illustrate. The lyrics run the gamut between our affinity for metal as a sickness in the title track to battle warriors for “Battalions”, as well as social isolation, the trappings of burning money in modern civilization, and so much more – perfect symmetry to the engaging musical foundation displayed.
Producer Piet Sielck (along with co-production duties with bassist Jan Bünning) continues his tough as steel values behind the boards, picking up those key dynamic accents from acoustic guitars to high pitched melodies beyond those savage gang-oriented vocals and smaller keyboard parts that add deeper character to the songs. CD owners will get a re-recording of “Hellgore” as a bonus track, originally appearing in 2008 on the Screenslaves album and given a robust production boost, the energy pulsating through your speakers as the heavier riffs and double kick foundation assaults your speed metal soul. The artwork once again by Aldo ‘V’ Requena has the right warrior / color scheme elements to be poster board material – ideal for those vinyl maniacs who love to stare deeply into the visuals as the songs pour out of your speakers.
Through the trials and tribulations, Paragon comes out strong in the end through Metalation. Let’s hope that they have a few more irons in the fire for another record or two, as it would be a shame to not experience more anthems in this arsenal.