REVIEW : PARAGON / Hell Beyond Hell (2016)

To be honest with you here, the band Paragon was a strange to me till now that I received the promo of its brand new record "Hell Beyond Hell". Paragon is a German power metal/speed metal band that since its creation, 1990, has released many albums and has participated in many gigs with big names such as SAXON, VIRGIN STEELE and GAMMA RAY among others.

As I already mentioned above, Paragon is a band that plays pure and classic speed/power metal in an old-fashioned way. The guitars are sharp and big, the vocals are in-your-face and generally the whole thing sounds like it came out of the Euro speed/power metal scene of the mid 80's.

For those who like bands like early Helloween's or Rage, Paragon's newest work will put a smile in your face. Andreas Baduschkin's vocals are powerful, aggressive and in-your-face and the guitar duo of Jan Bertram and Martin Christian will blow your head off!! The rhythm section is tight as hell and the songs 'smells' mid 80's from miles away.

Songs like "Rising Forces", "Hell Beyond Hell", the Accept-esque "Meat Train" and "Buried In Blood" will bang your head and make you wanna scream and shout loud!! There are, also, a couple of songs, "Heart Of The Black" and the 'darker' "Devil's Waiting Room", that the band shows its more melodic side and includes some really inspired harmonies and melodies.

Pure and heavy "Hell Beyond Hell" comes to remind us that the classic heavy metal sound of the mid 80's is alive and kickin' !!!!

Rating : 8/10

Track Listing : RISING FORCES, HYPNOTIZED, HELL BEYOND HELL, HEART OF THE BLACK, STAND YOUR GROUND, MEAT TRAIN, BURIED IN BLOOD, DEVIL`S WAITING ROOM, THUNDER IN THE DARK