OK, this is a little difficult to review. For a starter it dates back to 1978, and had been around on vinyl via a couple of labels since 2004. For another reason; to NWOBHM aficionados it is a rock solid classic. Oh yeah and I’ve had my vinyl copy for eight years. But for the first time this is now available on CD to entice vinylphobes into this rather amazing world.

Since 2006 and their immense comeback album ‘Mythical And Magical’, Pagan Altar have sadly held more column and forum inches by their personnel issues than by their music (which apart from two splits has been absent), so I hope this is the sign of a collective intake of breath and a sign of determination to regain lost ground. And for all its age it is something special.

It is probably true that as the PR says, there is still no one else who sounds like Pagan Altar. Partly due to the distinctive and soulful vocals of band leader Terry Jones and the superb guitar tones of Alan Jones, but really it’s down to the songs. They are a quintessentially English sounding band, steeped in British folklore and capable of both turning in a Satanic rumble like ‘The Black Mass’ (complete with the introductory melody from the Vangelis track ‘Aries’ from Heaven And Hell) and the deeply rural sound of ‘Reincarnation’, or showing why the true doom community have always held them in the highest esteem with ‘Judgement Of The Dead’. Or just having a good old NWOBHM blast down ‘The Time Lord’ and classic opener ‘Highway Cavalier’ which epitomises the stomp and street level swagger of the times.

They are one of those bands who, because they are still so distinct it is difficult  to describe their sound: Jethro Tull without the folk instruments but retaining a touch of the folk phrasing on the electric instruments, clean guitar lines as opposed to fuzzed out riffs but every bit as metal as their counterparts. Racing bass as the twin lead guitar takes flight on ‘The Time Lord’ in an almost Wishbone Ash manner.

For any fan of the NWOBHM this is utterly essential. Anyone into classic heavy metal should have it too. Anyone into metal should give it a serious look. If you have never heard the band then this or their outstanding 2006 ‘Mythical & Magical’ album are equally good places to start. Honestly, they are a metal diamond that has been hidden away far too long.

As a NWOBHM artefact, this is an unequivocal 10/10 up there with The Soundhouse Tapes, the Rocks Off Ep, Return Of The Gods Ep, Lady Of Mars or Stormchild. As a reissue… Hmm, well for genre fans it is essential but they should already have it unless vinyl had been a barrier. Comparing it to my vinyl copy there appears to have been a bit of tinkering with the sound and at one very minor point not to its benefit. It has been around for a while, albeit on vinyl, and the CD had no extras so I’ll be a git and dock a mark. But it is still a brilliant….

(9/10 Gizmo)

http://www.paganaltar.co.uk