Paradox

Biography

Paradox is a German thrash metal/speed metal band formed in Würzburg in 1986.

History

The group was formed in Würzburg in 1986 by Charly Steinhauer and Axel Blaha. Both founded German cover bands of Overkill, Venom and Warhead in 1981. In February 1986, Markus Spyth joined on guitar and Roland Stahl on bass.
In July 1986, the band recorded a demo. Roadrunner Records produced their first two albums. In 1987, their second demo, Mystery, was a success; the German press called it the best demo of the year. That year, the band started recording their first album, the 10-song, 40-minute Product of Imagination×Product of ImaginationNovember 1987 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Opening Theme1:252Paradox4:153Death, Screaming and Pain5:094Product of Imagination7:155Continuation of Invasion2:136Mystery5:057Kill That Beast4:278Pray to the Godz of Wrath4:449Beyond Space4:4810Wotan II0:17. It was a success in Germany. Metal Hammer named it the best German debut after Walls of Jericho by Helloween.
A year before releasing their second album, Roland Stahl left the band to be replaced by Matthias 'Kater' Schmitt. Shortly afterwards, Spyth left the band and was replaced by Dieter Roth. In November 1989, Paradox released their second album, Heresy×Heresy1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Heresy6:552Search for Perfection4:543Killtime4:304Crusaders Revenge4:275The Burning5:266Massacre of the Cathars4:197Serenity4:538700 Years On5:149Castle in the Wind1:31. The international acclaim the album received helped Paradox attain a worldwide fanbase. In 1990, Spyth was replaced by Kai Pasemann. From this year on, the band remained on hold for personal reasons, and continuing line-up changes did not help their activity.
The band was inactive for almost ten years. In 1998, Charly Steinhauer had plans to reform Paradox. The new line-up featured Kai Pasemann on guitar and brothers Oliver and Alex Holzwarth on bass and drums respectively. In May 2000, Paradox signed with AFM Records and released their third album Collision Course×Collision Course2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Decade of Sorrow0:552Collision Course5:163Rearrange the Past7:474Path of Denial6:015Saviour6:266Blamed for Nothing7:197Prostitution of Society4:528Shattered Illusions4:389Sadness6:0710Overshadowed5:0511Dynamite2:57. Once again the album received positive reviews. After this album, the band again went on hiatus, this time because Steinhauer contracted a serious intestinal disease. In September 2005, he again reassembled the band, with Roland Jahoda on drums and Olly Keller on bass.
In January 2008, Paradox released their fourth album, Electrify×Electrify10 January 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Second Over Third by Force5:122Paralyzed1:023Monument4:374Portrait in Grey5:165Hyperspeed Hallucinations6:026Bridge to Silence6:367Infected6:208Disconnected5:349Cyberspace Romance5:5810Electrify6:01, which became a success especially in Japan.
In October 2009, the band released its fifth album, Riot Squad×Riot Squad16 October 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Suburban Riot Squad5:082Hollow Peace5:333Riptide4:034Rise in Rank4:265Evolution Reset5:316Nothingness5:247No Place to Survive2:568Dream Hero5:089Planet Terror6:4310Psychofficial3:37, the album's main themes concerning the problems and violence present in civilization. The artwork was designed by Italian/Chilean artist Claudio Bergamin who had also created the artwork for Electrify. In December 2012, they released Tales of the Weird.
In late 2013, Paradox began working on their seventh album, which was revealed to be a concept album and a sequel to the band's 1989 album Heresy. However, the band stated on their Facebook page that their new album was not going to be called Heresy II; instead it was titled Pangea×Pangea3 June 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Apophis5:182Raptor5:043The Raging Planet4:184Ballot or Bullet4:015Manhunt7:346Cheat & Pretend5:357Pangea7:058Vale of Tears7:459Alien Godz6:4110El Muerte6:22. Slovenian bass player Tilen Hudrap joined the band in 2015 and recorded the bass for Pangea. The album was released in June 2016 and received great reviews all over the world.
Paradox's eighth studio album, and the long-awaited sequel to Heresy, titled Heresy II – End of a Legend, was released in September 2021. Their next album, Mysterium×Mysterium26 September 2025 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Kholat6:052Abyss of Pain and Fear7:283Grief1:134Those Who Resist5:505One Way Ticket to Die5:136Pile of Shame5:017Tunguska1:178Fragrance of Violence5:389Mysterium6:3110The Demon God7:0611Within the Realms of Gray6:11, was released on 26 September 2025.

Members

Current members

Charly Steinhauer — vocals (1986–1991, 1998–present); rhythm guitar (1986–1991, 1998–present); lead guitar, bass, drums (2024–present)
Former members

Studio albums

Product of Imagination (1987)
Heresy (1989)
Collision Course (2000)
Electrify (2008)
Riot Squad (2009)
Tales of the Weird (2012)
Pangea (2016)
Heresy II – End of a Legend (2021)
Mysterium (2025)