Charly Steinhauer, Kai Pasemann

Paradox

Riot Squad was real blast from the longtime running Thrash band PARADOX. METAL TEMPLE could leave this chance go unexploited and hooked up with Charly Steinhauer and Kai Pasemann to discuss about this album and more...

By Caterina Zoi

• December 8, 2009

Interview with: Charly Steinhauer and Kai Pasemann from PARADOX

Hi Guys, greetings from METAL TEMPLE! Let's begin with your new album; I can say that I didn't expect such a great album in year 2009. Well done!!

CS: Hey, thanks very much! We are pretty satisfied with Riot Squad ourselves. We get great reviews everywhere, especially in Japan and Germany. We're on the right way.

Tell me about the work behind Riot Squad. When did you start summoning ideas for this CD? Did you find any obstacles petting you down in any way? Really, now that things have settled down for you, can you give us a more objective opinion about this album?

CS: Well, when we finished Electrify and played some gigs we knew we'd have to hurry and really produce our next album without a long pause. We listen to what fans say and heard, that many people would like to hear a thrashy, fast album. So, we planned to do just that. I spent very many hours composing, recording and producing this album and I'm still hot just to go on and work on the next one.

KP: We didn't really have any obstacles except that our cover-designer moved from England to Chile so he had a pretty delay. The album has a very clear sound, but we think, we'll optimize the guitar sound next time.

Many Thrash bands try to change their music style so that it's appealing to new metalheads. What do you think about it? Do you consider PARADOX a strictly-old school band or you believe you filter more up-to-date stuff in your music as well?

KP: We are old guys but not really straight old school. We are open to new elements and styles. But that is, because we are metal fans and like other styles and progressive elements or modern sounding productions.

It took 8 years after Collision Course to record a new album. I guess this happened because of some unfortunate events...Is there anything you would like to say about it? What did keep the band remaining strong till these days, anyway?

CS: Well, it took a long time because I got very sick and almost passed away. I had finished some Electrify songs after Collision Course, we then had some problems concerning the lack of time of Alex Holzwarth (drums) and Oliver Holzwarth (bass)). It took me very long to recover and I am glad I am able to sing , carry guitar and play gigs, at all.

On the contrary, how come there's only one year past between your last 2 albums? Is it a matter of creativity from the band?

KP: No, Charly could probably create one album after the other, but this time we really hurried up and we had no greater obstacles.

With a sufficient discography, which of your albums is the best in your opinion? And which is the most representative, the one you'd recommend to someone not familiar to PARADOX so far? You know, many people separate one category from the other, haha!

CS: Well, in the moment I would say Heresy and Riot Squad.

Which is the best band for you to hit the road with and why? You've toured excessively all these years and you've surely shared the stage with countless bands.

KP: I'd say: TANKARD, DESTRUCTION, ARTILLERY, HOLY MOSES, SODOM, because they're all friends of ours.

Are there any bands that you would like to play live with and why? Do you support the opinion that a gig should have bands in the billing not of 100% identical style...

CS: I'd like to play some gigs with HEATHEN or FORBIDDEN, because they are old Thrash-heroes to us. I think it doesn't matter, if the bands are not exactly the same style, but you can't expect people to join a concert which features like Death Metal and also indie-rock....

KP: ...or poser Metal and Thrash, harhar.

Speaking of gigs, I've seen that you have arranged only a few live dates so far. Are you going to announce anything else, too? Are there plans for playing in any big festivals or it's too early for this anyway?

KP: It seems that until now our booker didn't get a chance to get us to festivals and we are informed it is a bit too early yet, we don?t really know what's going on. We just hope we will get some good offers for 2010, because we're really hot to play live !

Are there any plans for playing live in my country (Greece) again? You still have a respected fan base over here, you know!

CS: We hope to. Maybe this time we can play some bigger festival in Athens and also in other cities like Thessaloniki. Please forward this to the organisators...

Gigs, albums, fests... What are your plans for the future? Do you feel you're standing faithful to your ideals as a band all these years?

KP: We hope to do something special for the next album, maybe add a DVD. It's hard to plan anything, but we want to play gigs. We hope to play in Japan, where we also have a big fanbase.

Thanx a lot Charly and Kai! Is there anything you would like to say to your fans worldwide? We surely want more fine albums like Riot Squad, you know this!!

KP: Greetings to all our Greek friends ! Let?s mosh together again 2010 !

CS: Visit us on www.myspace.com/paradoxbangers or www.paradox-bangers.de and leave us your comments! I love Greece!! Metal Up!

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