PAGAN'S MIND

Pagan's Mind have already two wonderful albums, so this was really difficult to top with their next piece. God's Equation has the same style but is a little more oriented to the heavy side of the band, with more growling and heavy riffing?

A perfect balance between ambience synth, power metal riffing and soloing and a versatile singing with a wide range of notes is what you will hear here. The influences of other bands are less evident in this piece and the music moves along great through the whole album.

The recurrent themes are good to set the concept of the album, you will find many soloing and back to back between keyboards and guitars. A lot of double bass drums as well. All the songs fit well, having brief spaces with ambience synth that brings some air before the heavy parts takes the lead. There are no highlights in the album because all the songs work well together. "God's Equation" is OK to start, "Alien Kamikaze" is heavy enough and "Spirit Crusader" is odd enough to change the mood?

The inclusion of Hello Spaceboy of David Bowie is great. This prog-metal arrangement is quite good and fits great with the concept of the album. The cover art is good but I wonder what this guys have with naked girls with shining eyes... don't know...

If you like Prog Metal, you should try this. If you are not into a so metal oriented stuff, you can go back and pick Enigmatic: Calling, their previous album. 4 stars! great album!

Well i have to agree with b olariu that this latest album from PAGAN'S MIND is weaker than the previous two.Still a good album and quite heavy at times,but if you've heard their earlier stuff this will probably be a let down. "The Conception" is laid back with guitar and synths.Drums after 1 1/2 minutes come and go. "God's Equation" kicks in right away and heavily as the drums stampede.Synths and vocals follow as it settles.It kicks back in as the tempo continues to change.Nice ripping guitar after 4 1/2 minutes. "United Alliance" opens with synths as drums join in.A full sound follows.Vocals before a minute.This is pretty uplifting music and one of my favourites.Nice guitar solo after 3 1/2 minutes. "Atomic Firelight" is heavy as drums pound.Vocals change from processed to normal throughout.Check out the guitar and drums before 3 minutes.Good song. "Hallo Spaceboy" is a David Bowie tune and sadly the best tune on here.This song is pretty intense.Nils really lets go vocally 3 1/2 minutes in and later after 5 minutes.Actually Nils is a big reason why this song sounds so good. "Evolution Exceed" becomes heavy quickly,vocals before a minute.Not a fan of the almost spoken vocals that follow.Normal vocals follow as themes are repeated. "Alien Kamikaze" sounds great.Drums rampage 2 minutes in with some blistering guitar in tow.Big finish to this one. "Painted Skies" contrasts the heavy and lighter passages throughout. "Spirit Starcruiser" is uptempo.Love the guitar before 3 minutes. "Farewell" is an instrumental with laid back guitar. "Osiris' Triumphant Return" is heavy duty with synths.Vocals before 1 1/2 minutes.This is a great closer. 3.5 stars.I'm such a fan of Nils' vocals that it bugs me that it's processed at times.Close to 4 stars for me.A good metal album regardless.

This is the debut of PAGAN'S MIND and they really get off on the right foot here with "Infinity Divine".Having said that their next one "Celestial Entrance" beats this one on every level, it's just that good. I have to say that eighties Prog-Metal just does it for me, and we get a mix of that in this debut along with some Power-Metal rhythms.On top of all that Nils is one of my favourite vocalists. "Prelude To Paganism" is a short intro of mostly synths and atmosphere. "Caught In A Dream" is next and here we go ! The guitar is buzzing as drums and bass create a heavy undercurrent.it settles in before a minute then the vocals join in.A nice crunchy sound to this one.Check out Nils on the chorus.A ripping guitar solo 4 1/2 minutes in. "Infinity Divine" is uptempo with synths early.Vocals arrive and the tempo will shift slightly throughout.Nice guitar solo after 4 minutes.Synths are back after 5 1/2 minutes. "Embracing Fear" features some guitar that sounds amazing, then the drums take the spotlight.Vocals after 1 1/2 minutes.Riffs are back after 3 minutes.There's that guitar again 4 1/2 minutes in. The guitar is all over "Astral Projection" to start out.Drums and vocals then take over. "Angel's Serenity" sounds so good early with that guitar,drum and bass soundscape.Great intro. Vocals come in then that intro soundscape returns when vocals stop.Nice. Synths and vocals 3 minutes in then it ends as it began. "Dawning Of The Nemesis" is where they slow it down for the first time really.It's still heavy at times though.Spacey synths 3 1/2 minutes in followed by a beautiful guitar solo.Great track. The crunch is back on the "King's Quest" .Vocals then riffs follow.I like the vocal melodies before 2 minutes.It's cool how the tempo and sound changes slightly throughout this one.Nice guitar 4 1/2 minutes in. "Twilight Arise" hits us with an onslaught of drums as the guitar plays over top.Then the vocals join in. "A New Beginning" opens with some incredible sounding guitar and the drums and bass are powerful.It settles into a heavy soundscape with vocals.It settles right down 3 minutes in.Nice bass.It starts to build 3 1/2 minutes in.Great vocals too.Riffs after 4 minutes.Piano before 5 minutes.What?! Back to normal after 5 1/2 minutes.Haha. My kind of music.

OK... Norway has something to say in our beloved Prog World... listen to them carefully... they really know what to porpuse...

This was the first album I heard from Pagan's Mind and I really get stick to the band and now I have all their albums... OK... is really sad that too many people don't even know the band... is a shame... ´cause this is a "must have" for sure...

This guys use somekind of alien thematics... stargates, divinity entities that are like gods and speak to us or something like that... but the music... it is something like prog-power-metal... heavily influenced by Dream Theater... they even use a couple of references to some songs from the DT guys ("Entrance to Infinity" rings any bell?)... so... if you like DT... you have to hear this... is not a copy, just that is evident the influence...

The quality of the musicians is impressive... they manage to drive a metal sound with very fresh keyboards that works for the ambience and sometimes making nice and melodic solos ala "Kevin Moore early days"... the drums, the heavy riffs, the melodic solos, everything seems to fit in... they don't try to be the fastest, the thoughest, the heaviest... just show they are on the level of whatever prog-metal band out there... and the voice... this is for you if you like DT without James Labries voice... This guy is more a metal singer... with a huge range of pitch...

The production, the concept of the album, the sound and the songwriting... everything speaks from itself... a must wanted... you will love to be on this strange little journey through the skies... great to see that in Norway they have inspiration to achieve something new in this "cliché" world that we live on the now-a-days in prog rock... five stars... for me.. is the best of Pagans Mind...

The debut album (2000) from a progressive metal band coming from Norway which was rerecorded in 2004 with new vocal in 2004. Musically, it's more towards power metal with straight forward arrangements and basically no progressive element at all. But it does not mean a bad album. In fact the composition is quite solid and the overall performance of the musicians involved in this album is excellent. The lead vocal delivered by Nils K. Rue is excellent and it fits with the music.

The album starts with an ambient created through the sounds of keyboard in long sustain fashion in 'Prelude to Paganism' (1:02) followed with raw guitar riffs that remarks the entrance to the next track 'Caught in a Dream' (6:01) followed with double pedal bass drums work typical of power metal music. The title track 'Infinity Divine' (6:12) enters in faster speed with excellent keyboard solo followed with vocal. While 'Embracing Fear' (5:56) starts off with heavy guitar riffs in energetic mode, it's another excellent track. Having been blasted with high energy tracks the album finally slows down with 'Dawning of the Nemesis' (5:09) which represents a nice ballad with excellent vocal job that reminds me to Michael Kiske of Germany's Helloween. 'Moonlight Pact' is another nice ballad.

Overall, this is a good album that will favor power metal fans. The combine double bass pedal drums, bass guitar, electric guitar and drums makes this album worth listening to. Keep on proggin' ?!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Pagan's Mind lat album to date from 2007 entitled God's equation. This album compared with the predecesors is a little bit of deseppointing, because this one is weaker than last 2 albums they've made so far. They couldn't manage to create a better album than Celestial entrance so far, not even Enigmatic calling doesn't reach the beauty and splendour of Celestial entrance, so this last album is no exception. While is not a bad album as a whole, he doesn't shine with none of the pieces gathered here, not one is in front in particular, all has same level, but not quite a big one in my opinion. The musician performed well and has great skills for sure, but something is missing, there is no more that special feeling about the compositions, only good to listen from time to time. Is hard for me to say that the best piece from here is a cover version of David Bowie - Hellow space boy, very well made in this version - well done guys, but the rest of the pieces are good but no more than that - God's Equation the title track is a little more great then the oher pieces. Si in the end 3 stars, a good one but nothing special, really.Still remains one of my fav prog metal bands from today and hoping for a new album soon, is nearly 2 years since this one.

PAGAN MIND are picking up where fellow Norwegians CONCEPTION left off.This borders on Power- Metal at times but really this is heavy,melodic and powerful Prog-Metal. The singer Nils K Rue is unbelievable,he's got great range and his voice is easy on the ears.What a talent! Twin lead guitarists here although sadly Thorstein Aaby passed away at 35 years of age after a lengthy illness back in 2007.The synths are excellent and often in the background.I have to mention how good this album sounds.The production and sound quality are perfect.This is partly a concept album inspired by the theories of Erich Von Daniken. "Approaching" opens the album with lots of cool sounding atmosphere.Here we go 1 1/2 minutes in! A killer soundscape come crashing in.It blends into "Through Osiris Eyes" which is very crunchy with synths as vocals come in for the first time.His vocals border on growls at times as he spits out the words in anger.Mostly though they are simply strong and powerful.Check out the guitar solo after 3 minutes.This is one of my top 3 tracks and maybe the best track on here.Incredible! "Entrance:Stargate" opens with fast paced riffs before it settles with synths and some deep bass,then vocals before a minute.Heaviness comes and goes.What a great singer this guy is! Themes are repeated.I like the calm 4 minutes in, and it ends with some intensity. "...Of Epic Questions" opens with synths as the heaviness arrives and the tempo picks up.Very heavy sound before the vocals come in.Deep spoken words come and go on this one.Double bass drumming is all over this tune.Keyboard flurries after 3 1/2 minutes.The vocal melodies that come and go are so good. "Dimensions Of Fire" is heavy duty to start out but it settles when the vocals come in.The contrast continues throughout.This is so uplifting at times.Some evil sounding vocals followed by double bass drumming after 4 1/2 minutes.Nice guitar solo follows then synths.It ends as it began. "Dreamscape Lucidity" builds quickly and the double bass drumming sounds like a stampede, then a guitar melody comes in.Vocals are next in this uptempo barn-burner.Love his vocals.Check him out 4 1/2 minutes in especially.The tempo continues to shift in this one.Fantastic tune! "The Seven Sacred Promises" is another top 3 track for me.Mainly because this song really reminds me of FATES WARNING,especially the guitar that grinds away like Jim Matheos does it.What a feel good song this is.Some thunder 3 minutes in with a ripping guitar solo to follow. "Back To the Miracle Of Childhood" is a two part instrumental that is my fourth favourite track.Simply gorgeous acoustic guitar to open.Electric guitar comes in after a minute with drums as it builds.Great sound! Some riffs late which continue into part two.The second part is over 9 minutes of heavy and light instrumental work with synths as well. "In Brilliant White Light" is a ballad-like tune with piano,synths and almost spoken vocals. "Aegean Shores" is a good uptempo track with heavy drums.Check out the guitar after 3 minutes followed by a synth solo.Another uplifting track. "The Prophesy Of Pleiades" is the other top 3 song for me.So yes it ends in style.Experimental and spacey intro gives way to heavy and slow riffs a minute in.Vocals a minute later, they will eventually soar after 3 minutes.The heaviness comes and goes.Themes are repeated.Love the background synths too. If you like heavy and melodic Prog-Metal this is essential.

Just a huge pile of the same OR Why is Dream Theater calling itself Pagan's Mind?

I gotta say that, when i bought this album, about a year or two ago, i was still discovering a lot of new bands to hear, new sounds, interesting things to grow as a young progger in the search for its own tastes and preferences in his new-found passion. As i was rather inexperienced and unable to relate music very well, most things that, back then, sounded new and fresh, now sound uninspired, derivative and rather boring and dull, now that i have put them in perspective.

This very album is a very vivid example of such thing. When i acquired it, it sounded rather unique, inspired and exciting, but i have put it aside for a wile and, when i listened it again this week and even now as i write this very review, i realized that i have done a terrible mistake. First off, this band sounds dangerously like Dream Theater, but with a melodic metal twist, meaning that they took (almost copied in some parts) what was great in Dream Theater and added some freaking boring melodic metal and ruined it all. Hell, their vocalist sucks as much or even more than LaBrie (what, lets face it, is quite an accomplishment) and they use the exact same letter type in their name as Dream Theater.

However, i have said before that i don't mind bands that look alike, unless there are clear signs of of derivation, and that is exactly what we have here, specially in the two opening tracks, which sound almost exactly like the tracks Overture 1928 and Strange Deja Vu (from Dream Theater album Scenes From a Memory: Metropolis part 2) and the ending of the second track, that sound just like the ending of Surrounded (from the Dream Theater album images and Words). Besides that, this album sounds A LOT like DT's and Queensrÿche music.

Despite all that resemblance, this album is not completely worthless. The two opening tracks are actually quite good (probably because they sound like a good band's music, but anyway. . .), the Back to the Magic of Childhood suite is also very good, being probably the best part of the album, though it sounds like Strange Deja Vu towards the end, and the last song closes the album better than it is opened, with actually some originality. The ending part of the album is actually the good one, because most of the initial part of this album is a bunch of melodic metal songs that look prog, what is very boring.

Grade and Final Thoughts

Well, this band seems to have s lot of potential, but they will not accomplish that potential copying other bands, and this album shows that quite well. This is a good album, but looks like being another person's work instead of something this band would do. Because of that, 2 stars.

Third album of Norwey best prog metal band, Pagan's Mind, entitled Enigmatic calling from 2005. While is not as good as the predecesor, who was a real prog metal journey for my ears, this one is less convincing with some tracks who sounds like are left behind from previous album. Anyway the musicianship is top notch, the sound is full and fat, but the ideas are not very enthusiatic. The vocal parts are again strong, Nils K. Rue has a great voice, not far from Kai Hansen from Gamma Ray, he has his own range and power, the drummer Stian Lindaas Kristoffersen makes some strong beats, overall is a great one, just listen the instrumental one Coming Home and New World Order, he rocks. Now the keyboards of Ronny Tegner and the guitar of Jørn Viggo Lofstad are the essential things here. They do the hard work on this album, as well like on previouses one's. Some very intristing riffs and chops combined very efficient with nice solos of keys make this album to sound solid. Anyhow this not thier best album, (i remain to Celestial entrance to be the best, and among the best prog metal albums in last 10 years), Enigmatic calling is a good one, but they are on stagnation here, musicaly speaking, maybe because in that period Nils K. Rue was invited by canadian power metal Eidolon to do the vocal parts on some albums. I will give 3.5 rounded to 4, i'm a big fan of this band , but is not as good as the predecesor, but is better than many prog metal albums from that period.

Uneven at best, Enigmatic: Calling is a collection of sci-fi metal left-overs lacking memorable songs or performances-- a let down after the excellent Celestial Entrance.

My biggest problem is with this album's poor song writing; it has very few memorable hooks or melodies and the few that are there are so scattered throughout the album's 65+ minute length that it makes finding them a difficult venture. Because of this, the album has a very bland feel. It's as if the group gave up writing something new in frustration and pulled out cast-off works from their previous albums... and it shows in the feel and energy.

Lofstad earns points in my book for at least trying a few new things with his guitar, but the rest of the group sounds like they're running through the motions here-- especially Rue's vocals. I was very impressed by his range and gusto in Celestial Entrance, but let down here quite a bit. His voice's timbre has lowered, taking some of the edge off from his choruses, and it just doesn't feel like he's enjoying these songs.

Me either.

Songwriting: 2 Instrumental Performances: 4 Lyrics/Vocals: 2 Style/Emotion/Replay: 2