Embedded Files
PARADOX “Mysterium”
PARADOX “Mysterium”
By Colonel Angus
Growing up in Chicago in the 80s, there was a local band named by the same name but with two “x”s at the end. I’m writing this because I saw them many times and when a friend of mine gave me tape of “Heresy” by PARADOX, I thought it was the same band only heavier. Little did I know that it was another band from Germany with a similar name. Remember, this was pre-internet and there wasn’t much research I could do other than my metal magazines. Anyway, I really liked “Heresy” and thought they added some great prog elements to their hard-hitting thrash. Their other releases are quite good but nothing seemed to capture the magic for me like the “Heresy” record. Their sequel back in 2021, while good, didn’t match the intensity of that first record.
“Rearrange the Past” came out last year and here we are with another album in just over a year. A few things are different on “Mysterium”. First of all, the whole thing is created by Charly Steinhauer. And when I mean the whole thing, I mean, all the instruments, vocals, and even production are handles by him with only the mastering and cover art being completed by someone else. You might think that a singular vision might make the record sound like one long song but Steinhauer manages to create an album that is cohesive yet contains subtle differences in each of the tracks that leads to a great listening experience.
The disk starts off with a chilling intro before it proceeds to pummel the brain with some precision thrash titled “Kholat”. This is the perfect way to start the album. Right off the bat, you are hit with a crystal clear production that gives every instrument its place to shine without creating a muddled mess. After a brief respite from that thrashy opener, once “Abyss of Pain and Fear” continues the unrelenting pounding but in a more power metal style. This seven minute plus opus also adds in some great little prog moments where I hear comparisons to DREAM THEATER. Making sure that we get a moment to breathe, the somber guitar instrumental “Grief” produces a sense of grief with its haunting melody. This one is a tribute to Axel Blaha who co-founded the band and who passed in 2023.
“Those Who Resist” and “One Way Ticket to Die” continue the thrashier side of this record in the same manner as the opening tune. Both are metal pounders but with the added kick of melody making them memorable. “Pile of Shame” comes in with this great 80’s style of thrash that alternates from slower heavy riffing to speedier tempos that was prevalent in the start of the genre. After three heavy tunes, we get a weird instrumental that starts off with cinematic sounds then launches into a chaotic riff that is over before you know it. At just under a minute and half, “Tunguska” represents the large explosion of a meteor when it hit Russia in 1908. Who knew thrash could give you a lesson in history?!
That very short break gives way to another monster of a tune called “Fragrance of Violence”. Even though much of the record is hard hitting thrash, each track possesses its own identity and this one stands out as one of the better tunes on a record full of great material. The title track delivers another standout moment on the record, fusing power metal’s soaring grandeur with the aggression of thrash. Add in a touch of prog metal complexity to keep things unpredictable and interesting and you have “Mysterium”.
The disk ends with “The Demon God” and bonus track “Within the Realms of Gray”. I recommend purchasing the version with this bonus track as it is another hybrid of prog/trash/power metal that demonstrates the quality of all the material on the album. PARADOX may not have surpassed “Heresy” with this record but “Mysterium” is a very close second and one I would whole-heartedly recommend.
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