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Mythical & Magical features remastered audio, with the vinyl edition including two discs with an etch on side D, and features an original drawing by Karmazid as the gatefold.
Featuring songs written primarily between 1976 and 1983, Mythical & Magical is Pagan Altar’s third album—and unquestionably the pinnacle of their career. This grandiose, ancient-sounding masterpiece draws much of its atmosphere from Terry Jones’ majestic vocals and Alan Jones’ intricate guitar work, which gracefully weaves a web of medieval-tinged solos throughout the record.
The unique fusion of heavy doom rock and mournful English folk found on Mythical & Magical is nothing short of impeccable. Among those in the know, it remains rightfully revered as one of the finest albums the genre has ever produced.
In 1976, from the mist-shrouded English countryside, emerged Pagan Altar—a band whose arcane doom rumblings would go on to change the face of the genre. Though their infamous debut album, Judgement of the Dead, took decades to see an official release, the band's short yet brilliant flame reignited in the mid-2000s with the arrival of The Time Lord, Lords of Hypocrisy, and Mythical & Magical. These releases ended years of setbacks and unintentional silence, firmly establishing Pagan Altar as cult icons.
Today, every record in their discography is fanatically sought after by fans and nearly impossible to find—unless one is willing to part with a considerable sum. Following the untimely passing of iconic frontman Terry Jones in 2015, it took several years for the band’s final album, The Room of Shadows, to be completed. Released by Canadian label Temple of Mystery Records, the album was hailed as a fitting swan song and brought Pagan Altar back into the spotlight.
This revival inspired the label to reissue the band’s highly coveted back catalog across vinyl, CD, and cassette formats. It also led to the band’s return to the stage in tribute to their fallen vocalist, with Magic Circle’s Brendan Radigan stepping into the role with reverent energy and grace.
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