Paradox - Product Of Imagination (1987)

Oh what a great time it was...the soundtrack to my youth. Paradox were a cool, Bay Area style European thrash act, well-crafted melodic speed metal,well produced, and on the seven minute title track showing a maturity that sadly never enabled the band to become as big as many other thrash acts at the time. The guitar work is stunning at time, the riffs cutting and chugging aplenty, a real wholesome record that stabs, jolts, kicks and twists - at times Bay Area thrashers Mordred come to mind. 'Mystery' is an underratede mini masterpiece that can't help but crush the skull with its feverish speed and 'Paradox' could easily be mistaken for early Death Angel in its ferocity. That's not say that Paradox are derivative, it's more than above average thrash that epitomises a great time that sped by all too quickly. 7/10