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Review: Paragon - Chalice of Steel
Paragon
paragon-metal.com
Chalice of Steel

Label: B.O. Records
Year released: 1999
Duration: 51:22
Tracks: 12
Genre: Heavy Metal

Rating:
3.5/5


Review online: February 8, 2005
Reviewed by: Sargon the Terrible
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 4.08/5 (81.54%) (13 Votes)
Review

"Chalice Of Steel" is the third album from Germany's true metal defenders, and despite being one of the more hallowed entries in the band's catalog, I can't say that I really think it is that awesome. I mean, this is a Paragon album, so it by definition does not suck. Paragon couldn't make a bad album if you threw them off a cliff – these guys are metal right down to the bone.

"Chalice" has all the elements of a Paragon album: heavy, crispy riffs on top of fast drumming and the Udo-esque vocals of Andreas B. But the pieces don't seem to come together here as well as they could, and do on later albums. None of the songs here are bad, but only a few of them are really memorable, and even the catchier ones are not up to the level of this band's standards. Oddly, the self-produced "Final Command", which preceded this, is much better, despite not being as well-produced. It pains me to rate a Paragon album below 4, but despite the fact that I wanted to love it, "Chalice Of Steel" is just not that compelling. If you want to start on Paragon, then go for "Law Of The Blade" or "The Dark Legacy". Paragon are an awesome band, and I look forward to the upcoming "Revenge" with keen anticipation, but I have to admit that "Chalice Of Steel" is not their best work.

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Review: Forgotten Prophecies (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Hell Beyond Hell (reviewed by Bruno Medeiros)
Review: Hell Beyond Hell (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Law of the Blade (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Metalation (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: Metalation (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Revenge (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Screenslaves (reviewed by Larry Griffin)
Review: Screenslaves (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Steelbound (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: The Dark Legacy (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
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Interview with Jan Bünning (bass) on August 27, 2003 (Interviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
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