Pagan Altar’s debut album from all the way back in 1982 gets a 2024 re-issue via Dying Victims Promotions.
It is not only one of the classic albums from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era days, but also influential in the emerging dark, doomy stuff.
Pagan Altar didn’t go on to too much success however with a debut as good as Judgement of the Dead you have to wonder why. Perhaps the dark Pagan occult-based themes may not have sat well with many – though if you like your metal of the heaviest variety, Judgement of the Dead will fit the bill.
With regard to heaviness – it’s up there with early Black Sabbath and Budgie for example and the likes of fellow NWOBHM-era counterparts such as Witchfinder General.
Alan Jones’ guitar is so heavy with the dark, brooding riffs and his piercing fills and soloing. Sets the pace atmospherically too giving things the eerie edge to fit the generally spooky feeling the music gives – which is the point really when you name your band Pagan Altar…….
Equally thumping drums and bass make for a huge sound with the sometimes banshee-like vocals from Terry Jones are at times a bit unsettling.
Heavy and doomy throughout Judgement of the Dead is a relentless listen – and I mean that in a good way. To add to the atmosphere of the whole thing we have the occasional use of some some spooky basic keys which are effective with the sparing use.
For an example of that, check out the title track as that creepy intro builds in to a dark, heavy riff fest and meandering guitar:
Reincarnation is arguably the biggest track. A mini-epic dealing with rebuilding the planet following Armageddon. Driving along relentlessly building to the big finish.
Judgement of the Dead is consistently good from start to finish. A proper cult classic sounding relevant today over four decades since release standing tall as still influential NWOBHM/doom album.
Pagan Altar remain active with some festival dates later this year (2024).
Pick up this reissue of Judgement of the Dead from Dying Victims Productions:
https://dyingvictims.com
And check out The Story of Pagan Altar as well – review here:
https://newwaveofbritishheavymetal.com/the-story-of-pagan-altar-review
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