Release date: 2/27/26

Label: Dying Victims Productions

Hello, my name is Greg. I’m 44 years old, and this is the first full Pagan Altar album I’ve ever heard. Now, color me a poser if you’d like, but I think a real poser would lie about that. I’m late to the party, but at least I showed up, right? Regardless, this reissue seems to be fortuitously timed as the band has also been excellently covered in tribute on the recent Orodruin/Iron Void split release on Nameless Grave Records. “Mythical & Magical”, as you may already know, is a collection of songs largely written between 1978-1983. As such it comes off as almost evolutionary to what metal was, and what it was becoming. A very unique journey given that timeframe, and makes it extra interesting.

The album opens with an ominous soundscape of wind, laughs and church bells. It ruled then, rules now, will rule tomorrow. Some tropes just work like a great movie. It leads nicely into the first proper song “Samhein”. The track marches along with confident purpose, and really sets the tone for the rest of the album to come, while also not showing their full hand. “The Cry Of The Banshee” hits next with a little more intensity and I could tell already that the vocals of the late Terry Jones were gonna keep me locked in. It’s earthiness is refreshing. His voice seems more rooted in the proto metal or progressive rock style, which would make sense given the era of band formation, and it really behooves these songs well. Gives me a little bit of a Mark Shelton vibe, which isn’t a bad thing for sure.

As the album continues, I found myself getting more and more engrossed by the layers of the onion peeling off. Songs like “The Crowman”, “The Sorceror”, “Dance Of The Druids”, & “The Erl King” really lay into that epic, lush, progressive feel. Seeing that some of these songs are almost 50 years old, I think these tracks are where a certain timelessness kicks in. Restraint, shade, build. These are all hallmarks of compositional mastery. I don’t know if the female vocals were in play back in the late 70’s/early 80’s for them, but if they were it had to’ve been quite novel. That said, for all the braininess of this album, it doesn’t shy away from knocking around some heads. “The Witches Pathway”, and “The Rising Of The Dark Lord” provide all the knuckling a proper hardrocker or metalhead could want, the latter track starting with some classic guitar heroics from Alan Jones. The Heavy Metal genre as we know it was still kind of in its nascent stage, and as such there wasn’t really any “rulebook” yet. Bands were bold, chances were taken and they probably didn’t even know they were taking chances. This band could just as easily appeal to Judas Priest fans as it could to Opeth fans.

If I had to identify a “weak spot” on the album, I’d just say the production could’ve done with a little more muscle at times. A pittance of a gripe because when the songs are good, who gives a fuck, right? Not I. Performances by all involved in this album are well done. Save for the aforementioned vocals, nothing really grabbed me as extraordinary, but why do they have to? How many times have you heard a band with shit songs, but an awesome guitarist, or drummer? Too many times for this author to count. What we have with Pagan Altar, as I am learning, is that the whole is indeed greater than the parts. Everything is right where it needs to be, and that’s ALWAYS more important than one fantastic thing floating in a sea of mediocrity.

Conclusion

In my eyes, Pagan Altar is a great example of “too soon”. It’s usually a present loss, and if you’re lucky, a future win. Luckily they’re tied in with a movement that has only picked up more interest with time, and so long as people are interested, people will find Pagan Altar. Great labels keeping them in print will only help keep them in the sphere of the cult follower, and recruits. The term/genre NWOBHM often just means “they sound like Maiden” to someone, which as anyone who really knows will attest, is inaccurate. The NWOBHM was an era in a certain location, not a singular cut & dry style. Pagan Altar had/have a approach that certainly takes more time & attention than your Diamond Heads, Jaguars, Venoms, Satans, Tokyo Blades, Tygers, etc. would demand, but maybe that’s why they still carry interest? Their initial strike may have come late in the movement, but in creating something transcending time, it’s apparent Pagan Altar was playing the long game.

TheNwothm Score: 9/10

Links

Bandcamp:The Story of Pagan Altar | Pagan Altar (Official)

Facebook:Official: Pagan Altar – Alan Jones | Facebook

Instagram:Official: Pagan Altar – Alan Jones (@paganaltar1) • Instagram photos and videos

Label:Dying Victims Productions – German Underground Metal Label