Raw soul, big amps, and a whole lotta roar.
If someone told you "Rumble & Roar" was a long-lost gem recorded in 1970, you’d believe it. But here we are—2025—and Paralyzed, a heavy psych blues outfit from Bamberg, Germany, have conjured an album that doesn’t just nod to the golden age of rock—it lives and breathes it.
Right out the gate, "Machine With A Soul" hits like a war cry. Fuzzy guitar riffs coil and strike, drums thunder like distant storms, and Michael Binder’s voice—a deep, whiskey-soaked growl—cuts through the haze with serious authority. Then comes "Railroad", a bluesy, riff-heavy stomper that rides the rails between the Stones and Canned Heat. It swaggers. It smokes. It howls.
"Rosies Town" drops you into a smoky bar where The Doors might still be jamming. Caterina Böhner’s organ playing doesn’t just decorate the track—it owns it, weaving through the mix with vintage flair and raw attitude. The whole band plays with the kind of chemistry you can’t fake—tight, loose, groovy, and alive.
By the time "Heavy Blues" hits, you’re deep in it. The Sabbath influence creeps in—dark, weighty, soulful. Then "The Myth Of Love" slows things down, offering a dreamlike detour: tender guitar, mournful vocals, and a moment to catch your breath before the next blast of tube-amp thunder.
"White Paper" slams the gas again with fuzzed-out riffs and a killer rhythm section courtesy of Florian Thiele (drums) and Philipp Engelbrecht (bass). It builds, breaks, and boils over like a classic deep-cut side two scorcher. "Leave You" swings low and slow, blues-drenched and soaked in feeling, while "The Witch" struts in with mystical organ vibes and a deep-pocket groove that’d make even Steppenwolf crack a smile.
The closer, "Truth and Lie", is the big finish—a full-throttle, organ-drenched, riff-laden journey that brings the whole damn trip home. It’s bold, it’s sprawling, and it leaves nothing in the tank.
"Rumble & Roar" isn’t just a great modern rock record—it’s a love letter to a time when music had dirt under its nails and fire in its belly. Paralyzed channel the soul of the '70s without ever sounding like copycats. They’ve got their own voice, and it’s loud, gritty, and full of heart.
Crank it. Feel it. This one’s the real deal.
-Helge Neumann
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