Let’s skip the bull-shit and get straight to the point: Paragon’s Force of Destruction is probably the best album you haven’t heard this year. If you are still spinning The Electric Age, Dark Roots of the Earth, or perhaps Phantom Anti-Christ, it is time to set them aside for a moment and sacrifice your eardrums to this German juggernaut. If you’re like me and had never even heard of Paragon before, you are in for a treat. Force of Destruction is an album that features riff after awesome riff, speed balanced with the occasional fist pumping groove, and vocals delivered in a sarcastic salt-water gargling snarl that suites this band so fucking well. The bottom end is as thick as molasses and delivered with enough force to shake the floor beneath you, and the overall result is an album that simply delivers a straight forward metal assault, minus any extra bells and whistles, that leaves you fucked up and grinning from ear to ear.

While Paragon is classified as German Power Metal, Force of Destruction is more of a straight forward speed metal affair to my ears. The “we are all that is metal” attitude achieved here is what the likes of Manowar and their shtick can only dream of. The twin axe attack featured on Iron Will, Tornado, and Rising from the Black is simply top tier, delivered with a Screaming for Vengeance flare. Slower tracks that focus more on the groove like Gods of Thunder and Blood & Iron are no less effective, and do a fine job of keeping the album from getting lost in a single blur of speed. I am not going to sit here and tell you there is a weaker track, when frankly every one of them kicks ass, and choosing a favorite at this point is impossible. Listening to Force of Destruction on the way home last night the only thing that disappointed me about it was that it ended at all.

Paragon has been around since 1995, which means I have a lot of catching up to do, but rest assured that this band has my full and undivided attention. Force of Destruction is one of the finest offerings 2012 has to offer, and a more than worthy competitor for Overkill, Testament, and other contenders this year. Make this album a priority!