Legendary UK doom metallers Pagan Altar have premiered their latest track, “Well of Despair”, ahead of the release of their much-anticipated fifth album, “Never Quite Dead”, set for international release on April 25th via Dying Victims Productions.
Known as a cult band in every sense, Pagan Altar’s roots stretch all the way back to 1978, emerging during the early days of the influential NWOBHM movement. Despite this, the band’s sound leaned more toward doom metal, a genre still in its formative years, while also incorporating elements of English folk and classic hard rock. However, it wasn’t until the release of their 1998 debut “Volume 1”, recorded back in 1982, that Pagan Altar’s name began to resonate outside the UK. From that point forward, a passionate new fanbase, eager for the lost treasures of the past, began to grow around the band.
Throughout the early 2000s, Pagan Altar unearthed a slew of vintage material, such as the “The Time Lord” EP and the full-length “Lords of Hypocrisy”, both recorded in the early 80s and re-recorded in the mid-2000s. As the band began re-emerging with material spanning across decades, the world witnessed their unique ability to merge the old with the new, culminating in the 2006 album “Mythical & Magical”. However, the years following the album’s release were marked by tragic loss, as founding vocalist Terry Jones passed away from cancer in 2015.
Despite this heartbreaking blow, Pagan Altar’s legacy lives on. The band, led by Alan Jones (Terry’s son and co-founder), finished the album “The Room of Shadows” in 2017, and now, Pagan Altar returns once again with “Never Quite Dead”. Though this album is technically “new”, it remains deeply rooted in the band’s history, particularly with the unmistakable mark of Terry Jones’ influence. On vocals for “Never Quite Dead” is Brendan Radigan, known for his work in Magic Circle, Sumerlands and Savage Oath, whose somber delivery honors the band’s sound while bringing his own distinct touch to the album.
As Alan Jones notes in the album’s liner notes, nearly all of the tracks on “Never Quite Dead” originated while Terry was still alive, ensuring that the band’s latest offering remains authentically Pagan Altar. From the powerful, riff-driven opener “Saints and Sinners” to doom anthems like “Liston Church” and the emotionally charged “Kismet,” “Never Quite Dead” encompasses every aspect of Pagan Altar’s signature style. The album also features a folk instrumental in “Westbury Express,” continuing the band’s tradition of melding mystical elements with crushing doom.
With “Never Quite Dead” set to arrive on April 25th, Pagan Altar’s legacy as a monumental force in the doom metal world remains unshaken. Hear the brand-new track “Well of Despair” below and experience the haunting, evocative power that continues to define this legendary band.
