Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy - (MP3 + FLAC)

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Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy
Жанр: Melodic Power Metal / Progressive Metal
Страна: Norway (Skien, Telemark)
Год издания диска: 2011
Издатель (лейбл):
Номер по каталогу: SPV 309270 CD
Аудиокодек: FLAC (*.flac)
Тип рипа: image+.cue+scans
Битрейт аудио: (lossy + lossless)
Продолжительность: 01:06:17
Источник (релизер): Ilijan [MeTaLMaDNeSS.TeaM]
Наличие сканов в содержимом раздачи: да Complete (600 DPI)
Треклист:
01. Contact
02. Eyes Of Fire
03. Intermission
04. Into The Aftermath
05. Walk Away In Silence
06. Revelation To The End
07. Follow Your Way
08. Live Your Life Like A Dream
09. The Master’s Voice
10. Never Walk Alone
11. When Angels Unite
12. Create Your Destiny (Bonus Track)
13. Power Of Mindscape (Bonus Track)

Лог создания рипа

Содержание индексной карты (.CUE)

Об исполнителе (группе)

Founded in 2000 from the band Silverspoon by Nils K. Rue, Thorstein Aaby, and Stian Kristoffersen. Pagan's Mind released their first album, Infinity Divine, that same year. The following album, Celestial Entrance, was released in 2002 and was a relatively big success even outside of Norway. A re-recorded version of Infinity Divine was released in 2004. Their third album, Enigmatic : Calling, was released in 2005 and debuted at number 15 on the Norwegian album charts. Their most recent album, God's Equation, was released on November 9, 2007.
Pagan's Mind have stated through their Facebook group that they will be returning to the studio after their USA and Canada tour to work on their fifth studio album which they hope to have as an early 2010 release.

Об альбоме (сборнике)

Norway's premier progressive metal act peaked in 2005 with the stunning Enigmatic: Calling, a spotless album that would serve to help modernize and define its genre in a new era of possibilities. Sure, it was as sugary and shining as the glossiest of candies. But what an amazing confection, well balanced between lightning riffing, gorgeous melodies and the precision pitch of Nils K. Rue, one of the best in the business, a clear choice to occupy the throne left barren by the likes of Geoff Tate, James Labrie and Ray Alder. I have not stopped spinning that album to date, so when it's followup God's Equation turned out t be a bit of a disappointment, it was not unexpected. How does one trump perfection? You put up an equivalent statement of quality or you shut up.
Well, six years later, Pagan's Mind have returned for their 5th album, and though it's perhaps not on the same wavelength, it's thoroughly enjoyable, and one of the best of its type I've heard in some time. The Norsemen retain their affinity for cosmic, wide reaching subjects of beauty in and out of the human sphere, abstractions upon religion and so forth, but this once again creates the perfect sort of gleaming, memorable fare that prog/heavy metal nerds sporting erections throughout the 80s and 90s would have killed for. Not a song goes by without some ear catching phrase or riff, and even at its worst (the rather vapid hard rock grooving incorporated Into the Aftermath), the band can craft a chorus that will send shivers through your nerves and a smile upon your face. There might not be any particular tracks that could compete with the elation of Enigmatic Mission or Celestial Calling, but most of them come pretty damn close, and that is saying something...
Heavenly Ecstasy opens with a real burner, Eyes of Fire, with a few thick exotic grooves to whet your anticipation for Rue's pristine presence, before the chorus and its tangible emotional levity. Cut to the great shredding and busywork of Jørn Viggo Lofstad in the bridge, and you're once more taken on an adventure. A few of the simpler, groove riffs are admittedly pedestrian, but encased in such enormous, clean production it's difficult not to feel some power. But this is far from the best track here: Intermission is a glorious, uplifting charge with a lot of screaming and a casual balance of aggressive chugging and moody synthesizer in the verses, while Revelation to the End sees the band experiment with Halford-like power metal screams and a chugging vortex of momentum with another voracious chorus. Follow Your Way and The Master's Voice are the sort of dreamy fare I would love to hear Dream Theater crafting these days, but then, Pagan's Mind are a far more straightforward act who jam and fuck around less. Never Walk Alone is yet another shocker that belongs on a highlight reel of their discography.
Really, the only song I completely discarded was the ballad When Angels Unite, but really, all of these bands force something like this upon you. For what it's worth, it's not poorly written, just all too generic feeling and drippy. I also mentioned the grooves in Into the Aftermath, but that still has a chorus you'll want to check out. In all, Heavenly Ecstasy is precisely what I want to hear out of this band: practiced, professional, polished execution and masterful musicianship that caters to both the virtues of restraint and the yearning of the ear, especially when the band fuses the dreamy 80s synthesizer prog with the charging guitars and Rue's siren-like prose. If you've appreciate anything Pagan's Mind has released in the past, or you'd be interested in hearing Stratovarius or Sonata Arctica done better, with far less wank, then these Norwegians once again have your back. Review written by autothrall for www.fromthedustreturned.com

Состав

Nils Kvåle Rue - Vocals ({\link Dimension Infinite}, Eidolon, X-World/5, Silverspoon, Aeon Zen (Guest))
Jørn Viggo Lofstad - Guitar (Jørn, Beautiful Sin)
Steinar Krokmo - Bass (Dimension F3H, {\link Dimension Infinite}, Trivial Act, Beautiful Sin)
Ronny Tegner - Keyboards (Arvinger)
Stian Lindaas Kristoffersen - Drums (Firewind, Dimension F3H, Jørn, Trivial Act, Kinrick, Silverspoon)