Paradox - Collision Course (2000)

A lot of people seem to think that when thrash practically died in the early to mid '90s, that it didn't return until the more recent revival, but Germany's Paradox are proof positive that some of the old school guys were still keeping it metal into the new millennium. 'Collision...' although far more melodic than the bands '80s efforts, is still is a molten ball of volcano spit, featuring some fantastic musicianship, the title track and particularly the awesome 'Path Of Denial' showcasing the bands melody but also their burning pace. It could be said that this frenetic, yet crystal clear opus left off from where the 'Heresy' record finished, but I beg to differ, this far more modern in its sound, the guitars more cutting and the vocals, although relatively aggressive, harbour more tune. The only real downside here is that some of the songs do actually drag on too long ('Blamed For Nothing' a prime example)without really going anywhere, and I feel that a more concise approach would have benefited the record. Even so, it's great to hear a thrash record so seemingly out of time, and yet one which still stands the test of time. I'm hoping that as more and more people get into the new breed of thrash acts they'll have the investigate know how to seek out some of the masters of the genre. Paradox may not have succeeded in the same way as Testament, Exodus, Overkill etc, but they are still very much part of a wide field, and 'Collision...' is a solid record that shines like a beacon during a testing time. 7/10