There are multiple metal bands out there with the moniker ‘Paralysis’, but the one I am listening to here is the New Jersey-based thrash/crossover unit formed by singer/rhythm guitarist Jon Plemenik back in 2010. He is the only one still there from those early days, but both Patrick Harte (bass) and Ron Iglesias (guitar) were on the previous album, 2017’s ‘Life Sentence’, and drummer Sam Mogollon has also been there for a few years. This does not come across as an album of today, but rather something that was coming out of the New York Scene in the Eighties as they mix early Anthrax with Biohazard to create something which will appeal to both camps. Iglesias is a very smooth soloist but for the most part Paralysis come to thrash more from a hardcore angle and concentrate more on aggression and buzzsaw riffs. There is also a lot going on with the bass, with a lot of melodies and countermelodies happening behind the locked-in guitars while Plemenik has a raspy aggressive style which suits the music.

One has to turn up the album incredibly loud to get the power, and for me the main issue with the album is the production which doesn’t capture the force of the band, but given this is a self-release they should be forgiven. If they continue to release material like this, then surely it can only be a matter of time until a major metal label comes knocking on their door. This is a very sold album indeed, and while never earth shattering, is well worth investigating for those who enjoy the genre.

Rating: 6/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/paralysisnj/
https://www.nodustrecords.com/