It’s been a long time coming, but like all things in this miserable world, the best are worth waiting for. And so, as England's legendary PAGAN ALTAR release their long awaited second full length official release, we the faithful have our prayers answered...

Where to begin? It is clear that time has not dulled the bands ability to write and record possibly the greatest contribution to English heavy metal in the past twenty years, the old gods are decadent and decaying in their palaces of rock excess and debauchery in comparison. Only PAGAN ALTAR remain true to their chosen path without deviation - their name is synonymous with integrity, passed from fan to fan, the word spreading and with each utterance, becoming an incantation to raise higher the banner of truly HEAVY metal!

Those familiar with "VOLUME ONE" will know what to expect, those not soon will be, and initiated into one of metal's most arcane cults. "THE LORDS OF HYPOCRISY" will not disappoint the old guard – so, opening with the title track already heard by a few lucky souls on the bands aborted Live LP is a wise move. Setting the tone with its haunting church organ and ethereal female vocals intro, it isn't long before this supremely powerful song is thundering out of the speakers in full force. PAGAN ALTAR'S sound indeed is the most wonderful hybrid of early 70's Hard Rock and Epic Folk music. Totally doom filled and highly unique, of course the Sabbath comparisons will be made but I personally would disagree. This is a band that has evolved seemingly in a different world. The vocals of TERRY JONES have the ability to move the listener to tears such is the passion the man conveys in his delivery, whilst the Guitar work of ALAN JONES is without peer in this field. His grasp of melody mixed with melancholy and incredible fluent lead work evident throughout each individual song are along with Terry's vocal's the main driving force behind PAGAN ALTAR'S sound.

"SATANS HENCHMEN" stands out as the albums shortest song, and despite its length packs a hefty punch. Possibly the closest to the traditional "Heavy rock" song if there is such an archetype. A little more up-tempo than the majority of the bands compositions - but no less heavy for it. Under the toll of funeral bells, acoustic guitars and vocals the "SENTINALS OF HATE" slows things down again, and by the gods! This is what I call heavy, a great Epic twin guitar line, before we are yet again dragged literally into the gloom filled twilight that PAGAN ALTAR inhabit - super heavy riffs all the way. For all the darker side to PAGAN ALTAR'S music, I find always that there is something inspiring, uplifting about them. Like BROCAS HELM, they stand like titans watching over us all.

Taking the tempo up again "ARMAGEDDON" weighs in at a hefty 10.31, and this my friends is the test of any band's mettle. To compose songs of such length and hold the listeners attention is a skill held by only the mightiest. Some outstanding playing from TREVOR PORTCH on bass guitar and MARK ELLIOT on drums as the changing tempos twist and turn show's they are no amateurs either, complimenting the Jones boys finely!
Indeed "ARMAGEDDON" ranks high in the bands musical output as one of their greatest creations. I can only imagine that this was one hell of a song to close their set with back in the eighties. Epic riff after epic riff, pounding rhythms and an ever-changing soundscape.

Switching neatly into "THE INTERLUDE" seamlessly, a ponderous and quiet moment in the album, we are given respite briefly before its back to the heaviness with "THE AFTERMATH". All three songs are connected lyrically of course, but I'll leave it to you the potential listener to hear the content for yourself. Suffice to say, "THE AFTERMATH" and its two predecessors are some of my favourite PAGAN ALTAR tunes, having spent countless hours listening to the live LP over the past few years.

Truly this album is the work of master craftsmen; you cannot fake this kind of material. Many bands try to hide their lack of talent behind expensive productions and grotesque semi pornographic or "blasphemous" artwork. Herein is not the case, PAGAN ALTAR adopt a simple dry sound with embellishments on the lead breaks and vocals here and there only. No need for entire orchestrated bullshit, no need for keyboards to hide mediocre riffs. And true to form closing with "THE MASQUERADE" and "MARCH OF THE DEAD" we are left with two more incredibly heavy pieces. In "THE MASQUERADE" I detect an even more diverse approach to their sound (A hint of the Sixties maybe?), and of course "MARCH OF THE DEAD" may be already known to you from the bands demo's from several years ago, finally issued here in all its glory. Put simply "MARCH OF THE DEAD" is phenomenal. It's cyclopean riff truly conjures a visual depiction of the lyrics. All brooding menace and fear of the unknown

To summarise. This is the album of the year along without a doubt. Anyone who declares otherwise is a charlatan and should be horsewhipped. Buy it. And buy it now. PAGAN ALTAR transcend the NWOBHM, Doom metal or any other tag you wish to place on them. For me they are the Greatest English metal band ever. I bow before the Altar. Hail!