Review 10

Pagan Altar sounds like it should be Pagan Metal, but it isn’t, therefore there are no grunting vocals about evil north men and no medieval Metal either, sorry!
Pagan Altar has existed since the late 70s. In the early 80s they made some obscure recordings, which were bootlegged in the U.S.A and then also officially released by their current label Oracle. In the meantime from about 1985/6 onwards they didn’t do much at all and went into retirement, but now they are back. Yeah! The brothers Jones with Terry on vocals and Alan on guitars together with Trevor Porch on bass and Mark Elliot on drums brought some songs from the good old days back to life in 2004 and recorded them, Yeeeeeeeees! The guys were in the studio just last year to record their second album. The songs, all originating from between 78 and 83 and were actually recorded before but what we can hear now are brand new recordings of the same material. Terry certainly didn’t lose anything from his charismatic voice and the band as a whole for that matter has lost none of their ability!
Pagan Altar have continued to present us with their odd cult Metal somewhere between Doom and NWoBHM like Angel Witch but Doomier! If anyone out there cant grasp what I mean imagine Iron Maiden meeting Black Sabbath, not a great comparison, but is as near as I can get.
Sometimes they can be extremely epic like in the 10 minute long opus "Armageddon" or as in the opener and title track ‘The Lords of Hypocrisy’ and yet in total contrast they can rock straight and short through "Satan's Henchman". Terry often duets with himself and to me that sounds just awesome giving a totally different aspect to the vocal lines! Alan plays far more than just the hammer riffs that are a necessary part of the music, he continues to include cool licks or makes full use of solos, always so melodic and with such feel that it can cause Goose pimples with the power in some of those majestic melodies, just listen to "The Aftermath" and you’ll see what I mean!
A lot of modern Bombast Metal bands would give their third legs (penises) away for such a feeling for melody! This Band is just able to write great music! Sometimes beautiful female vocals are added sparingly to accentuate a point as in "The Masquerade" with keyboards and even a church organ support the Metal of the four Englishmen without being in the least bit dominant!
The production though is rather basic but in so being could well have been recorded in the 80s but never the less fits well with the music. Perhaps the Ride Cymbal is just a little too loud for my taste at times but that doesn’t really detract anything overall!
I can certainly recommend this album to any fan of epic Metal. Doom and NWoBHM freaks should get it anyway! The rest of you who want to know how good music should be done go to www.paganaltar.com and you will find a list of mail orders that sell this hammer album!

9 Out of 10