PAGAN [The Official PAGAN Homepage]

black evil metal

PAGAN "Monument of Depression"

"A raw as hell however and a very pleasurable play. First off you will notice that it's a curious sound. The guitars a very brittle, the bass sounds like a grand piano in places and vocals have very little reverb to emphasise the sound. The drums really drive the nails down and are pounding, even during the slow parts. A good point of reference would be Burzum and Darkthrone however a lot less ambient. The song "Bizarre Rituals" however sounds like a heavy dose of blackened doom while the one just before "Blackwings II" is a lot more frantic. Each song has a very strong direction with very little filler. The last track "Monument of Depression" finish off the album with a very un-nerving feel and what I can only tell is some interesting Saxophone."

"I am sure it's not easy to come up with really excellent Black Metal riffs or to create that awesome feeling that is synonymous with real Black Metal. Pagan, a one-man band hailing from Belarus is quite far from each of these important factors. This, his second album, is stripped down Black Metal with a high bass, which is killer, but overall the material just refuse to leave me with a positive impression. It's not bad, but at the same time not close to something awesome or unique. It has this garage Rock'n Roll aspect to it, even though musically it's miles from those shores. Pretty straight ahead Black Metal, and even though I've not heard bands that sound exactly like this, I'm not convinced I'll listen to this ever again." - Nordic Vision Magazine

"Complete, utter darkness. If you want your black metal to be misanthropic and gloomy with fantastic agonizing vocals, get this one!" - Eisenton.

PAGAN "The Last Circle of the Abyss..."

...And a very fine presentation indeed. Absorbed in an omnious atmosphere and with a distinct touch of those olden times of Black Metal. A crying/screaming vocal attack from Algkult drenchned in a slow mournful hypnotising wall of guitars and almost ritual like pounding drums. This is an incredible work from PAGAN. And I would easily rank it as one of my favourite bands from BELARUS. This is a must, at least in my books." - Total Holocaust Records

"Repetitive and monotonous... - 84% - ...but that's what makes it shine! It's very hard to tell the songs apart from one another, but that doesn't matter. Just imagine this album as one 30 minute long song. It's hard to believe that repetitivity and monotony would make an album good, but then think about Drudkh, Their 20 minute songs of about 4 riffs using weird and gloomy song structures. Pagan is similar to that extent. The Last Circle of the Abyss: to the Coming is a great opener. From Darkness Through Space and Time is just 2 riffs over and over again. Very repetitive but it creates a very dark and misanthropic atmosphere that makes this song succeed. Very slow and gloomy. The Cult of Darkness is a fast and decent track. Across The Twilight Landscapes is a short instrumental with about 2 riffs. Towards Devastated Spaces is another fast track. You can tell this one apart from the others with the weird effects on the vocals. Through The Icy Wall is a fantastic song. Very slow and agonizing. Complete darkness. The outro To Darkness... is another slow instrumental number. The vocals are really, really good. The guitars are raw and nicely distorted. The drums are standard and nothing special but the bass is the weird thing. The bass sounds out of tune. It might not necessarily be out of tune, the bassist may be playing incorrect notes on purpose, I don't really know. Although that should sound bad, it actually helps this song out. I know its weird saying this, but with the bass being out of tune the riffs sound even more fucked up and much, much darker. Mistake or not, it creates a much darker atmosphere. It'll take a couple of listens to be able to tell the songs apart from each other but that doesn't matter. They all blend in so well together, and as I said earlier just think of this release as one long song. Don't expect anything beautiful here. This is complete, utter darkness. If you want your black metal to be misanthropic and gloomy with fantastic agonizing vocals, then get this album, turn off the lights, and close your eyes and feel the darkness around you..." - by Skullhammer, August 23rd, 2006 - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives

"Pagan is a one man project by Algkult, who has been releasing "depressive black evil metal" demos under this name for over a decade. The sound here is appropriately dark, but a bit different than could be expected. The guitars have a good high-ended tone, with just a slight touch of muddiness. The vocals are rather raspy, and occasionaly in the high range, but it fits the music well. Even the bass is audible here, which is a refreshing change from the norm. The drums seem a bit low in the mix, and the bass drum is very hard to hear. Nevertheless, this disc is an interesting work. The opening section of the first track, which is the title track, features very dissonant harmonic intervals, the likes of which are not often heard in metal. The mood seems like Black Metal, but on the somewhat experemental, and at times, industrial (in terms of tone) side. The riffing alternates from fast sections, to the slow and omnious parts, where the uniqueness of this record is most prominent, employing the similar type of dissonant intervals as previously mentioned. "The Last Circle of the Abyss:to the Coming" is a decent work, which should appeal to fans of dark, straight-to-the-point music." - Richard, Enslain Magazine Volume 2, Issue 1

PAGAN "...and Darkness is above all"

...Cold and dissonant Black Metal for those who wants to breath the darkness and hear the cursed whispers of the past conjure up the mysticism that is seldom present in todays Black Metal scene." - Total Holocaust Records
PAGAN "Hate to the Light of Life"

"Leaves Me Wanting More - 90% - Not very much information is available from this one man band from Belarus. Musically, this demo is akin to Burzum vocally while maintaining it's own identity. The lyrical delivery ranges from mid register black metal howls to mournful shrieks. The comparison to Burzum does not end with the vocal styling, as like the Count, Mr. Algkult also likes to use a variety of tempos. Most of the tracks on this demo range from mid tempo grim black metal to faster parts. Unlike the Count however, he develops the songs on this work quickly and efficiently, making an interesting and varied song in about 3-5 minutes in most cases. No time is wasted, no extraneous atmosphere is generated. This is an efficient black metal release from beginning to end that does not delve into the dark ambient or pagan metal genres. This serves to make the listener wish that there was more or that this was a full length release. I know I am beating the Grishnacht comparison to death, however this should not be viewed as a clone, but rather a point of reference. This work does not define a new genre or tread on completely new ground, however it stands by itself as an important, well written, and compelling black metal release. I strongly suggest that grim black metal and nsbm fans pick this up if they can find this. My only regret in listening to this is that this project no longer exists and that they never released a proper album! Sigh... I guess I will have to pick up the Sturm disc." - Written by Megiddo on February 19th, 2004 - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives

releases

Hate to the Light of Life - CD - 2008
Werewolves Records
I. Pradmova (Intro)
II. Njanavisc Da Svjatla Zyccja (Hate to the Light of Life)
III. U Czornaj Biezdani (In the Black Abyss)
IV. Vaukalaki Ciemry (Werewolves of Darkness)
V. Pad Znakam Pagardy... Pad Scjagam Kryudy…
(Under the Sign of Scorn… Under the Banner of Offence…)
VI. D'jabalski Sivier U Pusteczy / Uznimi Zbroju (Devilish Wind in the Void / Take up Thy Arms)
VII. Skanczennie (Outro)

Monument of Depression - CD - 2007
Werewolves Records / Possession Productions
1. The Black Temple / after the Light....
2. October's Magic
3. Blaspheming Flaming Moon
4. Diabolicon / to Kill....
5. Blackwings II
6. Bizarre Rituals
7. Northern Room
8. Monument of Depression

The last circle of the Abyss... to the Coming - TAPE - 2007
Antihumanism Records
1. The Last Circle of the Abyss… to the Coming
2. From Darkness through Space and Time
3. The Cult of Darkness
4. Across the Twilight Landscapes
5. Towards Devastated Spaces
6. Through the Icy Wall
7. To Darkness…

...and Darkness is above all - CD - 2005
Werewolves Records / Possession Productions
1. The Flame
2. …and Darkness is above all
3. Through the crystal prism of Night into the world of Shadows
4. Stronger than hundreds of winds
5. Blackwings
6. Toward Desolation
7. Zmroczny dol

limitation: 500 copies
released: December 12, 2005

The Last Circle of the Abyss... to the Coming - CD - 2004
Werewolves Records / Possession Productions
1. The Last Circle of the Abyss… to the Coming
2. From Darkness through Space and Time
3. The Cult of Darkness
4. Across the Twilight Landscapes
5. Towards Devastated Spaces
6. Through the Icy Wall
7. To Darkness…

limitation: 500 copies
released: December 24, 2004

The Decade of Blackwings of Hate - CD - 2004
Blutreinheit Productions / Antihumanism Records
1. Intro
2. Hate to the light of life
3. In the Black Abyss
4. Werewolves of Darkness
5. Under the Sign of Scorn…
6. Devilish Wind in the Void / Take up Thy Arms
7. Outro
8. Cold Dance with Shadows on the wings
9. Nocturnal Rite
10. Sepulchral Call
11. Dark Path in Forest Unknown
12. Spirit of the Ancient Warrior
13. City of Fullmoon
14. Dance of the Shadows
15. Black Wings
16. Journey under the Fullmoon
contains: "Hate to the Light of Life" Tape 1997, "Magilny Klicz" Tape 1996, "Svarte Vinger" Tape 1995
limitation: 500 handnumbered copies
released: November 16, 2004

Ancient Hordes - CD - 2003 - unofficial
Unisound Records / Antepithesh
PAGAN "Stronger than Hundred of Winds"
(track from tape " ... And Darkness is above all")
ABSURD, APHOOM ZHAH, ARYAN TRIUMPH, GRAVELAND, GROM, LEGION666, KRUK, PAGAN, PANTHEON, PRAGNAVIT, TEMNOZOR, TOTENBURG, STURM, UDUMBAL, WAR 88, WOLFSMOND.


Pagan Anthology: No Mercy - CDR - 2001
NORK
1. The Flame
2. …And Darkness is above all
3. Through the crystal prism of Night into the world of Shadows
4. Stronger than hundreds of winds
5. Blackwings
6. Towards Desolation
7. Intro / Hate to the Light of Life
8. In the Black Abyss
9. Werewolves of Darkness
10. Under the Sign of Scorn... Under the Banner of Offence...
11. Devilish Wind in the Void / Take up Thy Arms
12. Outro
13. Cold Dance with Shadows on the Wings of Nightwinterwinds
14. Nocturnal Rite
15. Spirit of the Ancient Warrior
un-numbered edition

... And Darkness is above all - Tape - 2000
Possession Productions
1. The Flame
2. …And Darkness is above all
3. Through the crystal prism of Night into the world of Shadows
4. Stronger than hundreds of winds
5. Blackwings
6. Towards Desolation

limitation: 500 copies
released: November, 2000

The Pagan Past - Tape - 1997
Hungry AK-47 Productions
1. Spirit of the Ancient Warrior
2. City of Fullmoon
3. Dance of the Shadows
4. Svarte Vinger
5. Journey under the Fullmoon
6. Cold Dance with Shadows on the Wings
7. Nocturnal Rite
8. Magilny Klicz
9. Dark Path in Forest Unknown
un-numbered edition

Zmroczny Dol - Tape - 1997
Werewolves
1. Zmroczny Dol
limitation: 100 copies

Hate to the Light of Life - Tape - 1997
Hungry AK-47 Productions
1. Intro
2. Hate to the light of life
3. In the Black Abyss
4. Werewolves of Darkness
5. Under the Sign of Scorn… Under the Banner of Offence…
6. Devilish Wind in the Void / Take up Thy Arms
7. Outro
limitation: 150 copies

Magilny Klicz - Tape - 1996
Black Blood Productions
1. Cold Dance with Shadows on the Wings
2. Nocturnal Rite
3. Magilny Klicz
4. Dark Path in Forest Unknown

un-numbered edition

Svarte Vinger - Tape - 1995
Black Blood Productions
1. Spirit of the Ancient Warrior
2. City of Fullmoon
3. Dance of the Shadows
4. Svarte Vinger
5. Journey under the Fullmoon

un-numbered edition
released: November, 1995