PAGAN ALTAR: The NWOBHM's Mystical & Magical Occult Doom Band. LET'S TALK METAL
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- čas přidán 29. 04. 2024
- Who really knows how many bands on the NWOBHM scene are now lost to time, having left no vinyl footprints for us to remember them by? There were many acts that never passed the demo stage, including some, such as DEEP MACHINE, who were longtime mainstays on the live circuit. And then there was PAGAN ALTAR, who was almost relegated to that same little-remembered corner of history. But a strong overseas devotion to their demo tape would get the attention of bootleggers, whose activities in turn would resurrect the act into one of the most impressive retro-entities of the early 2000s. A bonafide comeback success story after both feet were firmly in the grave.
- Zábava
Always a pleasure to hear folks talk about one of Britain's truly sublime bands. I think I got into Pagan Altar sometime in the 2010s pre-Room of Shadows. Alan's lead playing is pure euphoria, and there aren't many bands who foreground leads to this extent - especially on Mythical and Magical. I finally saw them in 2020, and they met every expectation I had and more. Brendan does an excellent job and sounds uncannily English when he channels Terry. The new album is being worked on, and Alan provides regular updates on social media.
Very cool you got to see them, and I'm glad to hear the new album is coming along. The lead work truly is exceptional!
I had the pleasure to see them three times. 2011 and 2012 still with Terry on vocals, such a unique singer! In 2018 I saw them with Manilla Road, that was Mark Shelton´s second to last gig, he passed away two day later. R.I.P.
Great episode, sir.
Cheers Jurgen, very cool that you got to see them several times.
Thanks for the video. Great, underrated band. Pagan altar's music always had a very magical, folk-horror vibe for me.
Cheers! I agree- they do create a cool, unique atmosphere with their music.
Hey Alan, appreciate the quick history. I came across Pagan Altar in the early 2000s when I was exploring 70's proto-metal and downloaded the Time Lord EP. I never really understood what the timeline was of their releases so very helpful! It's probably about time I pulled them off the shelf for another listen. Never checked out Room of Shadows but may have to give that one a spin to see what it is all about. 🍻
Cheers Brian! Yeah the time line was always confusing to me too. Hopefully I got it straight in this video.
Hey, Doc. Another great episode.When I first heard Pagan Altar, I had some sticker shock in that, with the name, I was expecting some Mercyful Fate. Instead, I feel I got some Jethro Tull. Not for me but I always appreciate your thoughtful, considered discussions of bands.
Thanks Ash. You're right that the name is a bit misleading. I think it fits their early stuff ok but by 'Mystical & Magical' the material isn't as doomy/occulty and so the name does feel a bit 'off'. If you're looking for some King Diamond worship, check out the new band ATTIC if you aren't familiar with them. Sounds like late 80s KD with modern sound quality and a few hints of newer styles mixed in.
I love their occult, raw but at the same time folky & dramatic style. Also Terry's vocals were great, always remind me of old wizard telling his tales (but I'm a fan of vocals on Crystal Logic, so my opinion may not be very reliable for casual listeners...).
Anyway, I learned some interesting facts.
You choose great band. My favorite Pagan Altar release is, not so unusually, Mythical & Magical.
Hail from Poland!
Cheers! Crystal Logic is one of my favorite albums of all time so I have no trouble with the vocals from Pagan Altar. Other people, well, they might disagree :-)
Highway Corsair is a Slough Feg song, the Pagan Altar one is called Highway Cavalier.
Oops, thanks for the correction!
Another excellent episode. Really enjoy the deep dives into the obscure bands, especially NWOBHM. Would be cool to see an episode on deep machine or Millennium
Thanks Dylan! I haven't played the old Deep Machine demos in ages. I probably don't even have all their material, I'd have to check.
I don't think I have that Millennium album. Thought I did but when I looked just now I didn't see it; I may be getting them mixed up with another act.
I do have a deep dive on B1TCHES SIN in the works.
A no brainer instalike! Such an amazing band - Mythical and Magical is really up there, among my top favorite albums of all time. I always liken them to Manilla Road and Cirith Ungol. Yeah, I know, that's quite something to live up to, but the similarities are hard to ignore: All three kinda doomy to a varying degree, strongly rooted in 70's hard psych rock, with killer lead guitars and vocalists that, um, suffice to say, are quite an acquired taste.
Not that it changes my love for the band any bit, but I do have to wonder how much of the Pagan Altar mystique is actually true. The original demo tape is on Discogs but has never been sold. Does someone have any info regarding it being sold elsewhere?
That's a good point about comparing them to MR and CU.
I've never seen the orig demo sold but I don't really keep up with demo tape sales. It always seemed a tad hard to sus out the bands' origins.
One of my favorites. A band highly worthy of a deep dive, regardless of a relatively short discography. Currently working my way through your Pentagram/Ram family deep dive video, too. Cheers, man.
Cool, hope you enjoy living in that ram's head, it's a mess in there LOL I need to spend some more time sorting through all those Pentagram boots someday.
Thanks for putting this up Alan. Cry ot Banshee got me goosebumps when you played it (haven't heared it in a while). For me one of the fine examples of British eccentricity in doomy NWOBHM form. Got the pleasure of seeing them live with Terry a few times. Great memories. Edit: Is it correct your version of the M&M vinyl has got Harry Clarke artwork on the front?
That is an amazing song, isn't it? :)
The version I showed is the 2008 Miskatonic pressing and you're right- the art is by Harry Clarke, although the liner notes say "based on originals by Harry Clarke', so I'm guessing they 'tweaked' the art some. The layout and design is credited to Isentorr, a pseudonym for Rich Walker of SOLSTICE fame
This is a band I didn't know a lot about prior to this video, liked what I heard, will definitely be diving deeper into their catalog, Enjoyed! Take Care Alan
Great, I hope you enjoy The Dig Overkill!
Great video Alan on a band that’s indeed not often talked about! I first heard them on Room of Shadows so I’m probably more partial to that album. Even with that said, by the end of the album I had noticed the repetitive themes. Why do these undead things like to dance so much?? You’re video is inspiring me to check out more of their discography though, cheers 🍻
Cheers Logan! What can I say,... Dead Can Dance! LOL Hope you enjoy their other stuff when you check it out
I'd heard you mention this band before maybe on a hm stream I can't quite remember but I'm certainly gonna investigate further it's ironic I went to school with an alan Jones who was one of the few metal kids I knew there!
Hope you like 'em when you get a chance to dig into their music Robert. If it turns out to be the same Alan Jones I'd like an autograph please :)
2024 will be the year in which I'll finally dive into this band's entire catalog and study it in detail for the first time ever. Which is embarrassing enough in itself and to this day I can't find any excuse for it.
Don't feel bad- I'm still only about 4 albums into the Kreator discography so my shame is great :(
The Anvil of Doom Metal
LOL They just need about 12 more albums to catch up to Anvil
Not familiar with this band but I always love to hear you talking about well... anything lol. The song titles similarities I believe it a bid to connect to the old material. Massacre put an album out a couple of years ago and one of the songs said "we going to take to BACK down to the Abyss". Those tenuous links could be all some people need to open the wallet 😂.
Good point Mike- make the new item seem like the old item and people will associate the two... and buy both!
I got into Pagan Alter awhile ago because of you. I would definitely check them out with Brendan Radigan on vocals. I think he would fit stylistically. Guess I'll be listening to PA and Magic Circle all day.
Cool, glad you liked them! Everyone who's seen them has said Brenden sounds really good with them. I've only heard a couple of Magic Circle songs; need to check them out more.
@@letstalkmetal Highly recommend their debut.
@@kaptaink1897 OK I'll start there when I get a chance. Might be good grading music for finals week :)
Great overview, Alan!!
Certainly not what we think of when we think of NWOBHM bands. I often see them compared to Witchfinder General, but the sound is much more in keeping with late 60's early 70's British psych/doom on the lines of Iron Claw, Jerusalem, Dark or even the USA's Sudden Death.
Yeah, there were so few doom-flavored bands during the NWOBHM that they all get lumped together despite not sounding the same.
@@letstalkmetal
I think Pagan Altar are a bit closer to Ritual, or Widow, whatever they're called. I might even compare PA to the early Witchfynde recordings from 1975.
I've only got one album from Pagan Altar, the epic Lords of Hypocrisy. It definitely takes you on a spiritual trip.
@@Frank_nwobhm Ritual is even different from WFG & PA. Ritual always went kinda minimal on the instrumentation but big on the ambiance. And even the PA albums are distinct from each other.
@@letstalkmetal
Yes, Ritual is a very Spartan soundscape in many ways. Loads of ambience though.
I've been exploring Pagan Altar all week, beyond my Lords Of Hypocrisy album, I'm really amazed to hear the music get pretty spirited and fast tempoed at times. Fascinating band on many levels.
@@Frank_nwobhm They could definitely pick up the pace and feature some great Guitar Heroics when they wanted to. Not something you expect from a band rooted in the occult-doom style. Their earliest tracks owe a lot to 70s hard rock so I think the faster, guitar driven stuff was in their DNA from the start
whatever happened to Witchraft? thanks for the stream Alan
I'm not sure, I kinda lost track of them. Been meaning to revisit 'Legend'.
Not my cuppa. I am more into the glistening muscles and fur boots kinda stuff.