PARALYDIUM (Dynazty members) – Worlds Beyond (2020)
Continuing in their ongoing quest to release albums by the most inventive and exciting prog musicians they can find – and expand their mostly Melodic Rock / AOR roster – Frontiers Music is releasing ‘Worlds Beyond’, the debut album by Swedish quintet PARALYDIUM.
Founded by guitarist John Berg (ex- Dynazty) and including current Dynazty rhythm section Jonathan Olsson (Bass) & Georg Harnsten Egg (Drums), Paralydium’s music is quite innovative mixing progressive metal with melodic metal / hard rock, accessible & catchy, and elaborated at the same time.
After listening to ‘Worlds Beyond’ it’s fair to say that there are few acts who can match Paralydium’s delivery of melodic, rhythmic and powerful songs.
There’s no question that Paralydium knows how to set up an enthralling story, as the opening notes of “Enter Paralydium” are as enticing as the introductory soundtrack to a stunning movie. It’s the perfect setup for a quest of epic proportions, and sets the tone for the rest of the album with a rainfall of keys and strings.
Next “Within The Sphere” a brilliant bombastic tune, one of this record’s more straightforward moments: a palate-cleanser, you might say, in preparation for more extravagant flights of fancy.
“Synergy” is where Paralydium truly take off, somehow straddling Symphony X-like crunch & precision and the gleaming melodic rock power FM and H.E.A.T., while cleverly avoiding sounding too close to either one.
Vocalist Mikael Sehlin has a highly adaptable voice, which he delivers with a gravelly snarl where necessary but otherwise with utmost purity of tone. He has previously sunf in metal bands, but this is the kind of classy performance that will draw mainstream ears.
His Paralydium bandmates have certainly provided him with a thrillingly distinctive backdrop, best exemplified on the single “Finding The Paragon”. The song is an absolute gem, with spiraling, proggy keyboards, electro trimmings and an underlying groove.
“Crystal Of Infinity” repeats the trick, but with greater economy; four minutes of classic prog metal pomp, but continually subverted with elegant production touches and a hazy but unmistakable sheen of futurism.
There’s great potential for “Worlds Beyond” to appeal as well fans of more melodic acts in the genre such as Threshold or Dream Theater. With that refined melodic bent ensuring that every song is eminently memorable and radio-friendly, Paralydium could hardly be criticized for not covering all bases.
“Into Divinity” heads even further into the progressive realm, but still with myriad colossal hooks and much irresistible slickness.
Closer “Seeker Of The Light” is one of those gargantuan, lighters / phones-in-the-air mega-epic ballads that will pierce the hardest of hearts, with Sehlin a warm and wide-eyed focal point.
It’s one of numerous deeply satisfying moments on an album that delivers the goods with aplomb while gently suggesting that Paralydium are only just getting started.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Paralydium have conjured one of the melodic metal debuts albums of the year. We put ‘melodic metal’ trying to sum up the overall sound & style of ‘Worlds Beyond’, because there’s something for everyone here: from progressive metal to melodic hard rock, and all cleverly done. Best of both worlds, innovative indeed.
Armed with the same rhythm section as fellow Swedes’ Dynazty, who have already dropped an absolute melodic-ripper this year, this band operate on similar territory, but “Worlds Beyond” is a deceptively unconventional beast.
HIGHLY Recommended
01. Enter Paralydium
02. Within The Sphere
03. Synergy
04. Finding The Paragon
05. Crystal Of Infinity
06. Awakening
07. The Source
08. Into Divinity
09. Seeker Of The Light
Jonathan Olsson – Bass (Dynazty)
Georg Harnsten Egg – Drums (Dynazty)
John Berg – Guitars (ex- Dynazty)
Mikael Sehlin – Vocals (Degradead, ex-Septima)
Mikael Blanc – Keyboards
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