Paragon

Founded in 1990 by guitarist Martin Christian, Paragon emerged from Hamburg as a stalwart of the German heavy metal scene. While they are often categorized as power metal, their DNA is more closely linked to the 'True Metal' movement and the speed metal foundations laid by early Running Wild and Grave Digger.

Throughout their three-decade career, they have maintained a remarkably consistent sound characterized by twin-guitar harmonies, double-bass drumming, and themes of battle, steel, and resistance. Their critical peak occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s with albums like 'Chalice of Steel' and 'The Dark Legacy,' which solidified their reputation for avoiding the 'flower metal' tropes of their contemporaries in favor of a more aggressive, traditionalist approach. Despite numerous lineup changes, the band remains a fixture in the European festival circuit, representing the enduring appeal of no-frills Teutonic heavy metal. They occupy a specific niche for listeners who find modern power metal too overproduced and traditional heavy metal too soft.