PARADOX NEW SINGLE & LYRIC VIDEO FOR “Fragrance Of Violence”

“Mysterium” is the ninth studio album by German thrash metal institution Paradox and marks a special milestone in the band’s 44-year history, as founder and mastermind Charly Steinhauer not only played all the instruments and sang, but also handled the production entirely on his own.

“I worked on it day and night until everything was perfect.” Only the mastering was left to Patrick W. Engels competent hands.  The songs on “Mysterium” are thematically linked, without it being a classic concept work. The lyrics – which, as on ‘Tales of the Weird’ (2012) and ‘Pangea’ (2016), were written by Achim “Daxx” Hömerlein (ex-Vendetta) – revolve around mystical stories and world events that have personally moved Steinhauer. Songs like ‘Abyss of Pain and Fear’ (inspired by the movie “Midnight Express”), the instrumental ‘Grief’ (a tribute to co-founder Axel Blaha, who died in 2023) or the title track (about dream interpretation) thus form a common thread.
The cover art, created by Travis Smith (Opeth Death, et al.), picks up on the theme of the title track and shows a sleepwalking woman. “I didn’t want any skulls or other clichéd things,” says Steinhauer. “It’s more reminiscent of a horror film.” In his own estimation, “Mysterium” is the strongest Paradox album to date: “It became my favourite alongside ‘Heresy’ from 1989. The songs all have their own identity, are catchy, and when the album is over, I want to listen to it again straight away.”

The bandleader strongly keeps his focus on studio productions. In fact, he is already thinking about a follow-up album. “I’m a fan of music myself, and CDs or LPs are what I remember, of course in connection with some of the concerts I’ve attended. That is why I need new music, also from myself. And eventually, I want to not have released one single album that has been poorly rated.”
The chances of that happening are good, Charly! “Mysterium” is available digitally as well as on CD (with bonus track), music cassette and vinyl.

TRACKLIST:
01 Kholat
02 Abyss of Pain and Fear
03 Grief
04 Those Who Resist
05 One Way Ticket to Die
06 Pile of Shame
07 Tunguska
08 Fragrance of Violence
09 Mysterium
10 The Demon God
11 Within the Realms of Gray

Watch Lyric Video “Fragrance Of Violence”

LORD OF THE LOST Unveils New Album Trilogy, Beginning With “OPVS NOIR Vol. 1”!

A work, a transformation, a re-entry into the melancholic self – OPVS NOIR is in no danger of becoming an offspring of understatement, neither in its title nor in its musical opulence. And rightly so: Not only will it be the first album as a six-piece band, but it also marks the beginning of an entire album trilogy, set to be released in multiple editions, including, of course, strictly limited collector’s items.
 
Each volume contains 11 songs, totaling 33 tracks that not only conclude the delightfully eccentric chapter of Blood & Glitter, but also initiate an uncompromising return to the dark core of the band. While LORD OF THE LOST previously found themselves in the spotlight of vast open stages, OPVS NOIR Vol. 1, set for release on August 8, 2025 via Napalm Records, represents a confident descent into previously untouched emotional depths.
 
Chris Harms about the album:
“Darkness, melancholy, loneliness – all words that often have negative connotations, that we may associate with danger, sadness and loss, and not without reason. But darkness can also be security, melancholy the warm and sentimental feeling of our memories, and loneliness becomes necessary silence, peace and inner contemplation. OPVS NOIR is a travel guide, or perhaps also a travelogue, through the dark sides of our inner world, which so often move precisely in the area of tension between what we emotionally categorize as positive or negative. And with Vol. 1, all of this is just the beginning of this 3-part journey…”

OPVS NOIR is not only a musically exciting step but also a bold one! This becomes clear when looking at LORD OF THE LOST‘s immediate past: support for IRON MAIDEN on two European tours, followed by their first North American shows in over a decade, sold-out headlining tours, participation in the final of the EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2023, a #1 chart entry with the previous album Blood & Glitter, celebrated performances at the biggest festivals worldwide – they even had the honour of meeting King Charles in person. Hand on heart: How easy would it have been to keep riding this wave of success just a little longer? But that’s not how LORD OF THE LOST operates – the only constant remains change.
 
But what is the essence of LORD OF THE LOST in 2025? That is one of the questions OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 fearlessly begins to answer. Once again, the band proves not only musical excellence but also masterful craftsmanship: Produced by Chris Harms, recorded, mixed, and mastered at the legendary CHAMELEON STUDIOS in Hamburg, the 11 tracks hit with a force and brilliance that immediately transport us into a dark yet colourful ballroom. From there, the tone is set: Dark Wave Metal on an amphitheater scale.
 
Everything is new, yet every note feels familiar. Behind each chorus awaits a surprise, in every line, a new door opens to further uncharted paths within the LOTL universe. This band takes the expectations of its ever-growing fanbase and molds them into songs that transcend genre boundaries – and turn moments into monuments that carry us all along: No one lost behind!
 
OPVS NOIR Vol. 1: To be continued…