Pagan Altar - The Time Lord (EP) (Cruz Del sur Music, 2012)

Genre: Doom Metal/NWOBHM
Year: 2004 (2012 re-release)
Country: UK
Tracklist:

1.	Highway Cavalier	02:46
2.	The Time Lord	08:10
3.	Judgement of the Dead	06:58
4.	The Black Mass	05:52
5.	Reincarnation	09:03
		32:49

Review:
Pagan Altar is a cult band best known for only recently releasing most of their 70s/80S songs on album. Back in 2004 the band actually reformed to re-record some old unreleased songs, what would end up being the EP I got here today.
This is the 2012 re-release by Cruz Del sur Music (in collaboration with Shadow Kingdom Records). Fully remastered and with new cover art.

If you haven't heard from Pagan Altar, they bring old school doom metal in the line of Saint Vitus, Count Raven and hour of 13.
The title track, the real highlight of the record, also has a very Manilla Road vibe to it, what I can only approve, while Judgement of the Dead could be taken from Ozzy era Black Sabbath.
Of course being remastered, this sound better then their original demo but still a fair warning should be placed here that the songs can sound a bit "cassette" like. Not that that is necessary a bad thing, I feel it all adds to the feeling of the music.

So in summery, The Time Lord is 5 songs filled with doomy riffs and ozzy-like nasal vocals all harping back to days long forgotten. I highly recommend grabbing this EP, it's about 30 minutes of material which is long enough to recommend but a true doom lover already has the full Pagan Altar
discography of course.

Note: Since I got send this album in a digital format I cannot make claims about the quality of the booklet and cd itself this time.
PS: Volume 1 is also getting re-released under the title: 'Judgment of The Dead" on 28/09/2012 so also check that out.


Rating:

Where To Buy: 
http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=526

ROXXCALIBUR - NWOBHM for Muthas (Limb Music, 2009)

Genre: Other
Year: 2004
Country: Germany
Tracklist:
 1. Big Ben (Intro)
2. Running for the Line
3. The Gates of Gehenna
4. Seven Days of Splendour
5. Rainbow Warrior
6. Axe Crazy
7. Lady of Mars
8. Destiny
9. War of the Ring
10. Witchfinder General
11. Let it Loose
12. Angel of Fear
13. Spirit of Chateaux
14. See You in Hell

Review: 
Roxxcalibur is a NWOBHM tribute band who released their first CD release  in April 2009. Normally people associate NWOBH with iron maiden, saxon, Angel Witch and Diamond Head. Many of you will never have heard of the lesser known groups like Chateaux, Grim Reaper, Savage, Arc, Cloven Hoof etc., that these names might not sound familiar is because their lps are almost impossible to find. On NWOBHM for Muthas (a reference to the famous NWOBHM compilation albums released under the title "Metal For Muthas") are fourteen of the best NWOBHM singles who were ever released. For those of you at home in the NWOBHM will spontaneously get a whopper of an erection at the sight of the tracklist on this album. From the epic Arc to the rocking Grim Reaper,  Roxxcalibur presented  a selection of the best NWOBHM songs that many people have never heard before. Of course we all know that cover versions rarely approach the original versions but Roxxcalibur, containing members of Viron and Abandoned, possesses enough talent in their ranks to honor these forgotten gems. A big part of this is due thanks to the good production. Since the original lps almost impossible to find, every 80s metal fan should have to buy this CD! My favorite songs are Lady Of Mars, See You In Hell and War Of The Ring, who all belong to my favorite metal songs. The album cover was designed by Rodney Matthews who was known for his work with Diamond Head, Praying Mantis, Tygers of Pan Tang but also self Scorpions, Magnum and Thin Lizzy.
If you can find the original records then you'd better buy them of course, but failing that Roxxcalibur is a good alternative. Highly recommended and this is definitely one of my all-time favored cover albums.

Rating:

Where to buy?: 
http://forever-rock.de/de/ROXXCALIBUR-NWOBHM-For-Muthas-CD?x52485=e8aqr3ltourm42i58iqco3e444