PARAGON (Eng.)
– First off lots of thanks for answering to our questions. Tell us a bit how has been the process and work behind your new album.
Hi Paco, thank you for interviewing us, it’s a pleasure!
– The album is entitled «Force of Destruction». Explain us the title’s meaning and what have you wanted to provide with the record and what is PARAGON singing about in 2012.
The working title for the album was «Iron WIll» and that would have been a perfect fit as we really needed an iron will to make this record possible as we had a lot of issues over the last four years. Anyhow, Buschi our singer most times writes down some kind of concept when he has the instrumental tracks of our songs before he writes his lyrics. So this time the lyrics deal with a our world in a fictional future where no machines and computers etc. are working anymore and men does what he can do best. Killing each other with stone, mace and bare hands. In the end it’s like this already but our weapons now are computers and of course money!
«Force Of Destruction» is a line of the opening Song «Iron Will» and it also describes Paragon playing live very well. We exists fro over 20 years now and it seems nothing can stop us…
– Listening to the album I notice you still are in the same style that has characterized you since your beginnings; fast songs, really heavy mid tempos and quite epic choruses. Are you happy with the result obtained? Has it come up as expected?
Of course we are very pleased. We tried to do something different on the last two albums with different producers but it not turned very satisfying for us and also the fans. So when I rejoined the band in 2009 I made clear that we have to get back to the classic Style we played on «Law Of The Blade» and «Revenge» and in our opinion «Force Of Destruction» is exactly that: A cross between «Law Of The Blade» and «Revenge» and our best album so far.
– You have had again Piet Sielck beind the production duties. Are you satisfied with his work? I guess it may be for you like another member of the band.
Piet grew up with the same bands we grew up with like Judas Priest, the first two Maiden albums, Accept etc. and he knows to capture that classic vibe and sound on CD. That’s why we returned to him and of course we are very satisfied with the result. We always have learned a lot after we finished the recordings and he also became a good friend of us.
– And does Piet cooperate sometimes with any of the compositions?
We were very well prepared this time as we made a pre-production with all songs which ended urn the album. So when we entered the studio Piet already heard the demos and there were not so many parts we changed than on the previous albums. He helped a lot on «Demon’s Lair» that’s why he of course got song credits for it. But of course he altered some details here and there but that is a part of his job and that is the reason we use a producer as he is of course more objective than we are.
– I remember in some of your records, specially during the early years, you used to do some covers. Did you think about that for this new opus? Or were these songs just enough?
On almost all records we did a cover version. Also this time, but it is only on the first Digipack edition of «Force Of Destruction» and it is «Son Of A Bitch» by Accept.
We are always asked which German bands have influenced us but to be honest the only German band which influeced us is Accept and none other! I think the Accept tribute turned out very good and is one of the best cover versions we ever did.
– Here, in Spain, we started to know about you after the release of «Chalice of Steel», and prior to that you did already record a couple of albums. How were the first years of the band like? What are your memories from that period?
I joined Paragon after the first lineup split up which also recorded the first album «World Of Sin». So I can´t say too much about what was going on in the early years. I know that Paragon played a lot in local clubs by that time when classic Metal was not really «in» anymore but they were really good even with the old lineup. When the new lineup started in 1997 classic Heavy Metal became more and more popular again and it was a real exciting time with lots of fun on and off stage with fans and other bands!
– From 2000 on you released record almost in a row. Was that your best era? Do you think you reached your musical maturity and your trademark in terms of sound during that decade?
«Steelbound» from 2001 was a our first real good album but to be honest I think the first time we found our trademark style and were 100% satisfied was when we released «Law Of THe Blade» in 2002. «The Dark Legacy» was also very good but the best record from our old ones is to me for sure «Revenge». The best sound, songs and singing so far and we had a lot of shows and festival appearances like Wacken 2004 in front of 20.000 people and many very good reviews.
But the best is yet to come because we are very hungry with the current lineup and «Force Of Destruction» tops «Revenge» in every term. It´s the first Paragon album without any weak song on it, the sound is very organic, our singer Buschi is in the prime of his life and our new guitar team Wolle Tewes/Jan Bertram shreds lead guitars and riffs you not heard on any Paragon album before!
РOn the other hand, until this new opus you have been 4 a̱os without any studio activity. What have you been up to in the meanwhile?
We had a lot of business and lineup problems. A short while after I rejoined Paragon in 2009 our main songwriter and band founder Martin decided to leave the band because of his commitment to his other(tribute) band and at first it was a big shock. Within a short period we found two new guitar players, started to write songs and played shows. But it was not before the beginning of 2012 just before the studio Jan Bertram our new second guitar player joined us after we fired one of the other guitar players. The album was already recorded in June but then we had to find a record company and there we are!
– When can we expect a live album? Checking out the material you have already released, it could be a double or triple anthological release. Have you ever thought about it?
It´s funny that there are so many request concerning a live DVD or album this time in the interviews. The last years it was not really the best time to do it as we had the problem I mentioned in the last answer. And the market is also very flooded with a lot of releases so a live album / DVD must be something special to sell good enough to get back the money for the production. I don´t know, maybe we will film the show at the Knust in Hamburg in January 2013 and see if it turns out good.
– And on a view to the future, how’s the touring situation for this year or the next one? Do you already have any shows booked?
By the time I am doing this interview the album is not out yet so I can´t say anything right now. We are in negonations with some tours / festival appearances but nothing is fixed yet.
– That’s all from our side, our best wished and hope you’ll come back to Spain, it’s been a long time since you were here with GAMMA RAY. Good luck and thank you.
It was fun doing the interview I hope we will return to Spain soon!
