"I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. Although I have taken the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all man as I am no man and therefore I am… a God!" -Caligula
A few short years ago, Paragon Impure’s fourth release (after two demos and a compilation) was among the finest black metal offerings of 2005. As a historian with a great affinity for Roman history, I was obviously enthusiastic about the theme Paragon Impure embarked upon for “To Gaius (For The Delivery Of Agrippina).” Breaking from the tired and cliché Viking theme, this is a concept record based on the personage of the infamous Roman Emperor Gaius Caligula - one who is historically renowned for excessive cruelty, immoral sexual escapades, and disrespect toward not only the Senate but also time-honored Roman tradition.
The band is comprised of two members: Noctiz, who is responsible for composing the majority of the music, and Storm, who deals with percussion. They’re also known for playing in other bands like Gotmoor and Verloren. “To Gaius…” is as pure as black metal gets. Comprised of four excellent tracks, the musicianship on the record is blisteringly unrepentant and rife with scathing and raw riffs that are complimented by exceptionally aggressive vocals. I wait impatiently for Paragon Impure’s next masterwork release because they are not only among the best that Belgium has to offer, but the band delivers some of the finest black metal I have heard in the last ten years. Give us a new release already!
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