The project brings together two members the mighty finish genre shifting locked rock groove project Circle-  Jussi Lehtisalo & Tomi Leppänen . Along with Chicago based Chris Black( whose most known for his 70’/80’s focused metal/ rock project Dawnbringer, but has a handful of other projects).  I’ll have to admit I’ve not heard any of Mr Black’s output, but I more than a little familiar with the work of Circle- having followed the band various bands various twist, turns & sonic detours over the last ten or so years.

First off I guess I’d say this release is fairly un-circle like, sure you have the synth elements, and sometimes locked down riffing- but these tracks are a lot more straight to the point- with none of the tracks going beyond the four & a half minute mark, and most hitting around the three minute mark. Sonically the tracks are a mix of pulsing, up-beat, bright, yet at times quirky/wonky synth work. Mainly tight & clean guitar lines. Basic drum patterns,  and Mr Black Vocals- which sound very 70’s/80’s AOR, with slight Post punk twists.  The thing that stops this from been just another retro sounding project is the odd/ wonky edges, that the three add to the mix- these are never too pronounced or dissuade  from the tuneful feel of the tracks.

I guess you’d say that they sound like a mix of 80’s synth heavy Rush, 80’s/90’sYes( at their more pop-prog), US 70’s/80’s AOR, Voivod( in there more rock period), with a few sprinkles of early 90’s gaming sound-tracking, Post-punk edginess & lite prog thrown-in.

On the whole Paranoia is a satisfying enough debut, which offers up memorable retro focused synth ribbed rock that has subtle twists of prog & oddness here & there. Not really one for those hoping for  all out Circle-ness, but if you enjoy the bands more retro rock focused project( like Falcon) this is worth a look.