Jon Bickley

Pagan Harvest is a difficult band to categorize. Their sound features elements of prog and folk, and some of the lyrics possess a punk edge. They blend many influences to form an interesting mix, but it works. The album opener, “The Hawthorn,” is a song about Old England from an Englishman’s view, discussing the plight of the common man, a message still relevant today. The track features some lovely guitar work, as does “Fight The Devil” about man’s daily battles. The later also includes beautiful backing vocals from Debbie Hill. PaganHarvest-PaganHarvest-AlbumArtwork “Damascus” tells the story of battles large and small, over prog rhythms giving depth to the words. When listening, it is not hard to hear a Billy Bragg influence, especially with Jon’s vocals. “Queen Of The River” could be a soundtrack to a medieval film of knights and princesses. The many mood and tempo changes highlight Lawrence’s ability as a modern composer. “Harrow Road” takes us to an Ian Drury-esque view of life, reggae in parts with some fine guitar and bass work under compelling lyrics. The album ends with the epic, “Rebecca Falls.” The song is nearly thirtee

Doug Bearne, http://www.nationalrockreview.com/album-reviews/pagan-harvest-self-titled-debut-album