The four-piece German band Paralyzed plays Rock sounds influenced by the masters of the 70s with a modern and personal touch. They have one EP and two full-lengths to their credit, the new “Heavy Road” was released on July 15, 2022 and contains 8 medium-length tracks. The opener “Devil’s Bride” is the longest in duration, clocking in at over seven minutes and immediately immerses us in the album’s sounds. Heavy guitar riffs, a gritty rhythm section and a powerful, dirty vocal, showing the heavy vein of their sound with forays into the Blues. The tempo changes are an added value, as are the guitar solo inserts, managing to bring the atmospheres of the past into a modern context. A retro flavour that we can also enjoy in the following “Orange Carpet,” an energetic heavy blues with fine interlacing of guitar riffs and organ. The rhythm section is solid and accelerates, while the guitar accompanies us with its well-constructed riffs and solo cues. The vocals are always dynamic and powerful, a very engaging track. “Mayday” shows the band’s more blues-oriented side, with the guitar playing the lead role in energetic, scratchy riffs. The vocals intensely interpret the lyrics in a passionate crescendo, alternating with the guitar solo inserts. The first of two parts “Black Trees Pt.1” is a slow-moving track, full of pathos and a melancholic atmosphere. The vocals are warm and expressive and the intensity increases as the minutes go by, enriching the sound with guitar solos. “Pilgrim Boots” is another track that exceeds seven minutes, with a sound enriched by the guitar and organ solos. The rhythm section is solid with a killer deep bassline, long instrumental sections enhance the band’s technique between solo parts and tempo changes. The retro atmospheres are pronounced, interpreted with the band’s personal touch, skilful in making us travel through time with a piece that mixes genres and styles with ease. The second part “Black Trees Pt.2” opens with rhythmic and addictive drumming, the vocals are powerful and the guitar offers drawn-out solos. A track that compared to the first part shows the more aggressive side of the band’s sound, making the listener go wild as well. A deep and penetrating bass line opens “Coal Mine” characterised by a darker atmosphere than the previous ones, moving slowly to grow in intensity. A musical crescendo with the guitar always at the centre of the sound with long solo textures over a solid and powerful, though slower rhythm section. The vocals are powerful and aggressive, and the song ends by accelerating and inserting hints of hard and granitic Stoner. The album ends with the shortest track “White Jar,” which opens with a deep and powerful bass, excellent guitar work and rhythmic and energetic drumming. The vocal is dynamic and aggressive, a track that powerfully closes the album. It is not easy to create modern-day rock music without falling into clichés or offering something already heard, this band succeeds. Skilled in treasuring the music of the past and modelling it with their own personal and modern touch, they recreate the atmospheres of the past in a contemporary context. Energetic and engaging tracks, dynamic vocals that are well inserted in the sound context, solo inserts with the guitar in evidence are the merits of this record. A recommended listen for lovers of retro rock sounds, re-proposed with a modern imprinting and personal traits.
Tracklist
01. Devil’s Bride (07:38)
02. Orange Carpet (04:35)
03. Mayday (03:59)
04. Black Trees Pt.1 (05:01)
05. Pilgrim Boots (07:13)
06. Black Trees Pt.2 (03:23)
07. Coal Mine (06:39)
08. White Jar (03:10)
Lineup
Michael Binder / Vocals, Lead Guitar
Caterina Böhner / Organ, Rhythm Guitar
Philipp Engelbrecht / Bass
Florian Thiele / Drums