CELESTIAL ENTRANCE

I have heard this band from my colleague metal heads couple of years ago but I only got a chance to enjoy this album just recently - couple of months ago. The first spin of the "Celestial Entrance" album, it gave me a sense of energy and high motivation as the music was more on heavy riffs and good song melody. The composition was quite tight and the music vein reminded me the kind like ADAGIO, SONATA ARCTICA, STRATOVARIOUS even though each band has its own characteristic. It did not blow me away but I knew that it's a good music. But I din not re-spin the album as I thought there were bunch of groups with similar vein, so why bother listening some more. Time went by and I bombarded my ears with various kinds of prog music from The Flower Kings, Riverside, Radiohead, Sylvan, Pure Reason Revolution and finally I landed back to this album. I find interesting about this album and the more I spin, it grew on me. I started enjoying the pulsating keyboard solo coming out from some of the tracks.

The album starts with an opener "Approaching" which in most cases of power metal album it serves like an overture, typically instrumental, that sets the overall tone of the album. For this purpose, "Approaching" does its role quite well. The firs half portion of the opening is basically setting an ambient and the last half is a heavy riff music that flows beautifully and brings forward to the "body" of the album which starts with "Through Osiris' eyes" (6:09). This second start showcases how tight the composition is, heavily dominated by heavy guitar riffs and melodies during breaks and powerful vocal line by Nils K Rue. Keyboard, played by Ronny Tegner, is an important contributor in providing inventive fills. From this track one can sense how the music of Pagan's Mind is full with energy and is able to uplift emotional feelings.

The following track "Entrances: stargate" (6:01) kicks off with another heavy guitar riffs as main rhythm section followed with floating bass lines to accompany break and let the vocal rolls in. The kind of bass work is the similar with the second track and the band replicates this style over. Again, lead vocal is really powerful. This track has keyboard works at back ground that projects a symphonic nuance. Bass guitar serves as main rhythm section throughout the song. The guitar solo by Jørn Viggo Lofstad is stunning. The saga continues with a spiritual journey to ". ... of Epic Questions" (6:10) which gives as a piece of music that flows with its dynamics, providing hard beats and breaks. It starts differently from other previous tracks where keyboard plays with long sustain mode followed with heavy riffs music in instrumental mode followed by growling and regular singing line. It's quite dynamics in terms of flow and mode.

"Dimensions of Fire" (7:29) enters with heavy riffs but in slower tempo, using bass lines as main rhythm section - providing a sort of break as well before it lets the lead vocal enters. This song gives us some break having been so tense with heavy rhythm music. The key strength of this song is on its powerful voice and good music composition that accompanies. The insertion of growling vocal in some transitions has made the music much enjoyable. The guitar solo is stunning. "Dreamscape lucidity" (6:40) brings the music back to faster tempo but it still maintaining the good harmony and melody. "Back to the magic of childhood" Part 1 and 2 is interesting music journey backed with excellent composition in terms of structure as well as arrangement. The opening part with acoustic guitar work is really stunning. Through this composition the band has demonstrated its ability to compose a complex progressive metal music evn though the influence from Dream Theater is quite obvious. The heavy riffs are really catchy and enjoyable.

"Aegean shores" (5:14) brings the music fast as well as heavy with good melody and tight composition. The concluding track "The prophecy of Pleiades" (9:53) is like an epic with its long duration as well as conceptual lyrics. The music flows in its dynamics with various styles starting with low register notes and move in varied moods from one segment to another. The keyboard solo is truly stunning.

Overall, this is a solid and tight composition that flows wonderfully from one song to another with its consistent delivery. The beauty of this album lies on its powerful vocal, compact and solid composition, excellent flow which gives balanced styles from solid stream of music and multiple breaks. For those of you who have been a fan of progressive metal or power metal, this is a MUST. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

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