In Dante’s Inferno, the second circle begins the proper punishment of Hell, a place where “no thing gleams.” It is reserved for those overcome with Lust, where carnal appetites hold sway over reason. In Nine Circles, it’s where we do shorter reviews of new (ish) albums that share a common theme.
Music is a time machine. Seems like a dumb thing, but I find comfort in the simplicity of that statement. New bands are sprouting up left and right, embracing the sonics of a bygone era (OK, Boomer). Technology has gotten to a point where we can spin a record from the 1950s, polished and remastered and re-mixed and re-amped and re-everything so it sounds brand new. If there’s a theme connecting the debut from Ritual Arcana and the latest re-issue from cult metal pioneers Pagan Altar, it’s that: how music can transcend perceived time, returning us to something primal in our collective cores.
Time to descend.
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Dark, doom-washed heavy metal with occult shades, anyone? So it may not exactly be new thing (hell, it might even be a tired thing), but if Ritual Arcana, the debut full-length from the trio is being put out by Heavy Psych Sounds, a label that knows a thing or two about this kind of music. Those riffs might also have a certain weight and cut to them you’re familiar with if you’ve ever listened to bands like, oh, I don’t know…how about St. Vitus or The Obsessed? Yup, that’s Wino slinging the six-string, with drummer Oakley Munson from The Black Lips, and SharLee LuckyFree covering both bass and vocals,
You can probably hear the sound in your head already: this is heavy rock tuned down low, with snarling solos, a thick bass foundation, and vocals that can sensually purr one moment before roaring the flesh off your skull the next. If I’m honest, it’s all done very well even if most of the tracks follow a course that’s fairly predictable and repetitious. Even at a lean 39 minutes, I was wishing for a little more variety, or to trim some of the excess repeated figures. Still, a track like closer “Wake the Goddess” with its flange and wah-pedal grooves show the band is capable of injecting a bounce and spring in their tunes.
Ritual Knife is available now from Heavy Psych Sounds Records. For more information on Ritual Knife, check out their website and Facebook page.
The story of Pagan Altar fascinates me: a father and son form the band, releasing the very NWOBHM-indebted Judgements of the Dead in 1982 and then disappearing for over 20 years. In 2004 Lords of Hypocrisy was released: a collection of tunes dating back to the band’s formation, re-recorded and sounding every bit the lost, unpolished gem the album was. Terry Jones (the father) has a very unique voice, even for the time, and his caterwaul is sublime on the opening title track and monster epic “Armageddon” with the requisite narration and great, sweeping guitar both acoustic and electric from Alan Jones (the son).
There’s nothing particularly new about the latest reissue of Lords of Hypocrisy. But as a fan of physical media, it’s great news that Dying Victims Productions is bringing this album back on CD and double vinyl in a nice gatefold, in both regular and colored editions. And this is the kind of music that begs to played on physical media. Songs like “Sentinels of Hate” bring me right back to being a kid, laying on bed imagining a world where albums like Screaming For Vengeance and Killers were real, and their music there soundtrack to epic battles of dark magicks and seedy horrors.
Lords of Hypocrisy is available now from Dying Victims Productions. For more information on Pagan Altar, check out their website and Facebook page.
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Until next time, keep it heavy…keep it safe.
– Chris
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