Rating: 8/10
Release: 22 December 2018
Label: Yarko Music Production

There are some bands out there that for one reason or another do not get the recognition they truly deserve. On a short list I would absolutely put Russia’s Pagan Reign in that discussion. After a very busy stretch from 2002-2006 with 5 full length releases and an EP they decided to call it quits, forming the epic твердь (Tverd). Now some 12 years later, they have returned with a new full length entitled “Once Again” featuring 12 tracks and 54 minutes of music. Before getting into the new album, I went back into the discography again and was reminded of how underrated they are/were. They were one of only a few acts who I thought could really fuse heavier music with folk instrumentation without it sounding forced, plus with a wide variety of instrumentation at that. I would say they could be comparatively to bands as varied as Mithotyn or Vesperia with equal weighting plus a slew of others. The new album does seem like they have picked up where they have left off to an extent, but I think slightly more progressive and less frenzied, although they still have some of those machine gun blast beats. Three members remain from the old days-Oley, Vetrodar and Dimosthen-and they have put together another amazing album. There are tons of folk instruments at play here….actually too many to list but ocarina, mandolin and various recorders are just a few along with various Russian horns and flutes. While Tverd was much more traditionally based, Pagan Reign is much more metal and I think wisely on their part, lyrics are in English for wider appeal. There is tons of folkiness throughout however, so no worries. Vocally, the black/death styles are on display and in various forms….screechy, doomy, howls……and all used with equal strength.  Despite numerous positives about this album, I have a feeling the super long layoff may hurt this album big time. The tracks are great with a pretty decent diversity of heavy, fast and acoustic and a solid overall sound so hopefully old fans will rejoice at their return and a crop of new fans jump on board. Great album.

Tracklist

1. Stairway from Golden Svarga
2. Return of Slavonian Gods
3. Once Again
4. On Fiery Simargl’s Wings
5. Pagan Reign
6. Reborn
7. The Will to Freedom
8. Light of Iriy
9. The Dawn
10. To the End of Svarog’s Night
11. Behind the Sunlight