PARADOX - Product Of Imagination SLIPCASE CD (Pre-Order)

Charly Steinhauer - Vocals, Guitars
Markus Spyth - Guitars
Roland Stahl - Bass
Axel Blaha (R.I.P. 2023)- Drums

01 Opening Theme
02 Paradox
03 Death. Screaming and Pain
04 Product of Imagination
05 Continuation of Invasion
06 Mystery
07 Kill That Beast
08 Pray to the Godz of Wrath
09 Beyond Space
10 Wotan II

Formed in Würzburg, Bavaria, in 1986, by friends an ex-Warhead members Axel Blaha (drums) and Charly Steinhauer (vocals/guitar), Paradox quickly developed into one of the most important bands of the second wave of Teutonic speed and thrash metal. The line-up was completed by second guitarist Markus Spyth and Roland Stahl on bass. Their first, untitled demo tape, recorded the same year and containing seven self-penned numbers, took the German metal scene by storm. Gleaming reviews in Metal Hammer and Rock Hard followed, and as a result Paradox were soon hailed as the German answer to Metallica.
Signing a deal with Roadrunner Records, Paradox issued their debut album »Product Of Imagination« in October 1987. Again, reactions by fans and press were marvelous, with »Product Of Imagination« being voted “album of the month” by German Rock Hard magazine. A lengthy European tour culminated in a show at the prestigious Dynamo Open Air festival in Eindhoven in 1988 in front of 22,000 enthusiastic fans.
After that, it was time to start work on the second album. Recordings once more began with Kalle Trapp in Münster, but soon Harris Johns took over at his Music Lab Studios in Berlin. Laying down the tracks for »Heresy« was difficult, with Charly Steinhauer losing his voice temporarily and the bassist and guitarist leaving.
Despite all these problems, Charly is quite fond of »Heresy«: “Both albums have become classics of their genre. And I am very proud of that. The production of »Heresy« was much more difficult but I personally think that it’s the better album, it’s more transparent and more compact in comparison to »Product Of Imagination«. The songs themselves make a much more rounded album. »Product Of Imagination« was a very good debut record, and »Heresy« a superior follow-up with a more powerful production.”
Today, Paradox are back on track again, but 1988’s »Heresy« album marked the end of the original incarnation of the band: “The difficult production of »Heresy«, the original line-up splitting, problems to find a new singer and losing our recording contract with Roadrunner, all that contributed to Axel and me losing faith in Paradox. We didn’t see a future for the band. So, we called it quits in July 1991.”