Genre: NWOBHM/Doom/FolkOrigin: United Kingdom
Year: 2006
Label: Oracle
Who do you think of when "best metal guitar player" is mentioned? Chuck Schuldiner, Ron Jarzombek? Glenn Tipton? If so, you're wrong. Alan Jones is the best guitar player I've ever heard. He doesn't "shred" or "sweep" all the time, but he writes just awesome lead lines one after another. This guy has a whole arsenal of leads in his mind, and he is not holding back to fire them out at you.
Ok, now that the inevitable is out of the way, lets take a look at Pagan Altar's third album in 32 years, Mythical and Magical. If you like folky stuff with a doom edge to it, look no further. Classic song after classic song, it is especially hard to believe that this is anything recent. This sounds like it was recorded back before Candlemass, before Trouble, and just after Black Sabbath. There are little to none modern doom influences in here, and this has a HUGE NWOBHM vibe to it.
The vocals could get on some people's nerves. They are very, very nasal, kinda like Mark Shelton, but ever more nasally. Might as well just sing through his nose. This is a plus for me, though. The are very powerful, sometimes overpowering at some times. This benefits the music in my opinion, but I can understand how others might think otherwise.
So this album, yes it's amazing. It has made me bang my head, and it has made me cry. Few albums can make one cry, but this is one of them. Get it immediately.
| 1. | Intro | 00:43 | |
| 2. | Samhein | 05:30 | |
| 3. | The Cry of the Banshee | 05:15 | |
| 4. | The Crowman | 05:36 | |
| 5. | Daemoni na Hoiche | 05:14 | |
| 6. | The Sorcerer | 07:40 | |
| 7. | Flight of the Witch Queen | 04:10 | |
| 8. | Dance of the Druids | 07:26 | |
| 9. | The Erl King | 08:22 | |
| 10. | The Witches Pathway | 05:13 | |
| 11. | Sharnie | 01:20 | |
| 12. | The Rising of the Dark Lord | 08:42 | |
| Total playing time | 01:05:11 | ||
Metal-Archives
Beware the Raven that stands alone, the one that watches and waits
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