Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy review
| Band: | Pagan's Mind |
| Album: | Heavenly Ecstasy |
| Style: | Power metal, Progressive metal |
| Release date: | May 20, 2011 |
| A review by: | Milena |
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 [limited edition bonus]
13. Power Of Mindscape [limited edition bonus]
Most acclaimed bands have moved away from power metal, either by simplifying their music and turning to hard rock, or by making their albums darker and more in the heavy metal or prog realm. I hate dividing music into "oldies" and "new stuff", but in this sub-genre, the cliché is true - new bands have turned it into a parody of itself - so dog-whistle vocals, guitar riffs and keyboard passages frillier than Rococo dresses are considered good examples of power metal. Since Pagan's Mind clearly show that it's possible to release power metal albums of very good quality in 2011, this is certainly a wake-up call to the rest of the flock to get their act together and release material at least a point lower, or on par with Heavenly Ecstasy.
I must admit that a superficial acquaintance with God's Equation was my only experience with this band before 2011, but it appeared to me that Heavenly Ecstasy is heavier than its predecessor. Pagan's Mind certainly know their licks, so I shall probably check out the rest of their back catalog, but it will surprise me if I come across an album better than this.
Why am I praising it so much? Its main quality for sure is that it doesn't forsake heaviness, it endorses it - the riffs on "Into The Aftermath" and "The Master's Voice" are awesome examples of how to make heavy riffs in the 21st century that aren't ripped off from 80's thrash or heavy metal. There's nothing wrong with overly melodic traditional metal releases, but I sometimes wonder where has all the denim and leather gone. Pagan's Mind has it in spades, drenched with the sweat of metalheads coming back from an awesome gig.
Along with all that metalhead sweat comes the perfumed scent of their lady-friends - well, us girls don't exactly smell of flowers after a gig, but you catch my drift. The band isn't afraid to offer shamelessly catchy hooks, sometimes resembling 80's rock and pop. For example, "Live Your Life Like A Dream" even has a line of lyrics taken from the great early 90's radio hit, "Black Velvet" - bonus points if you find it on the first listen without looking at the lyrics! But that's not the only external influence on this release - there's a lot of prog mixed up in here, mostly in terms of atmosphere and the feel that sometimes resembles that of early Dream Theater and Queensrÿche albums. Some lines with rasped vocals even remind me of select Children Of Bodom moments, but that's probably just me.
Wrap this up with awesome solos, a professional and charismatic vocalist and a production worthy of the overall quality of the release and you have the best power metal album of the year. I hope this will inspire other bands to kick the quality of their future releases up a notch, for Heavenly Ecstasy has certainly raised the bar high.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 10 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 9 |
 | Written on 07.12.2011 by A part of the team since December 2011. 7.0 means the album is good. |
Rating:
8.2
8.2
|
Rating: 8.2 |
We are looking at the 5th studio release from my favorite Norwegian metal band, Pagan's Mind. After countless listens I'm completely convinced that Heavenly Ecstasy is my second favorite Pagan's Mind album; it just falls short of Celestial Entrance. The song titles look promising and the cover is a fresh change from the previous blue color that dominated the album art of its predecessors. Read more ›› |
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Comments: 37
Visited by: 399 users
| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306  |
I've yet to come across a power metal album I enjoy, but your review intrigued me. I'll check out a song or two on Youtube when I have the time tonight and see what's up.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603  |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 07.12.2011 at 01:25 A lot of people seem to adore it. And it is awesome, though I doubt you'd like it. What power metal have you heard so far anyway? 
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Susan Smeghead Elite Posts: 6941  |
Yay I'm so glad you reviewed this!! Excellent review. It's one of my top albums of the year. 2nd best power metal release after Shadowside. You're so right about the "prog atmosphere" that comes and goes here. I hadn't even thought of it that way but that is probably a huge part of what sets them apart. And yes, the licks and riffs are something special and the band isn't afraid to mix in melody and/or heaviness when appropriate. Power metal bands should really listen to this album and remind themselves how it's done. Seriously, this album saved power metal for me this year. It was the first really wonderful disc I heard after a year of so much mediocrity; few are living up to it! "but I sometimes wonder where has all the denim and leather gone."  you are a wonderful human being
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by Milena on 07.12.2011 at 01:30 This year? None. Satan's Host is probably the closest I got to power metal. :/ But I remember listening to Blind Guardian's early works, checked out Jag Panzer's back catalog after receiving the SH request (didn't realize Jag had a new album out), some early Iced Earth... Not a fan by any means based on what I heard, but I can understand what people like about it.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Susan Smeghead Elite Posts: 6941 |
Written by Milena on 07.12.2011 at 01:30 Yeah, Troy. *I* staff picked it so of course you should listen 
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by Susan on 07.12.2011 at 01:33 Consider my interest
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Susan Smeghead Elite Posts: 6941 |
Right.. since our tastes are soooo damn similar.
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 07.12.2011 at 01:33 Kamelot (2000-2005 for pure power and some symph) and Lost Horizon are probably the best power metal bands ever... if you don't get into those, you can pretty much quit trying as long as I'm concerned, though I've heard a great big number of pm bands before I found SOME I like. Sonata Arctica is my favorite, but I know you'd dislike 'em.
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by Milena on 07.12.2011 at 01:37 Well I won't check them out before this album, because if what you say is true and I listen to those then by comparison this will be garbage.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Susan on 07.12.2011 at 01:32 At some moments I feel transported to 90's DT, as if someone grabbed me and shoved me into it. Then I'm back. Pretty weird shit, not by any means unoriginal or an homage but they just achieve that atmosphere sometimes. Disclaimer: If anyone would like to try this but hates DT, don't worry, you probably won't notice or be bothered by this! It fits pretty neatly. Written by Troy Killjoy on 07.12.2011 at 01:41 A couple of months after first hearing Lost Horizon, I couldn't bring myself to hear another power metal album... never has so much cheese been justified with so much awesomeness and powahhhhh! And the best power metal vocalist ever is there ofc (if we only talk of voice, Roy Khan and Tony Kakko come in front of him for charisma and not being douches).
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Ag Fox Angel No More Elite Posts: 4774  |
Wow... what an exciting review! even though I have heard the album already and liked it a lot. (Definitely my power metal album of choice for the year for now) then again, I disagree about Lost Horizon being that good... but that's off topic already =P
---- loves 小巫
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Ag Fox on 07.12.2011 at 01:55 Lost Horizon's music IS empowering in it's core - you listen to their absurd lyrics while you actually feel that way. I get that it's not your cup of tea, but it wasn't mine either, believe me.
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Ag Fox Angel No More Elite Posts: 4774 |
I seldom pay attention to lyrics, perhaps that's why lol vocals is just another instrument to me most times
---- loves 小巫
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| PowerThrash Posts: 63  |
Good review, but I wish they would go back to their more progressive roots...  Celestial Entrance is their masterpiece IMO.
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by PowerThrash on 07.12.2011 at 05:56 Well there's a bunch of awesome prog albums this year, so maybe you should focus on those instead Written by Ag Fox on 07.12.2011 at 02:19 If it's "just an instrument", that makes you the first person I've heard of that isn't utterly impressed by Daniel Heiman's singing hats off sir, you're a unique snowflake, as I so often am... For I can't figure out what's so good about Hansi and Kai and that bunch of people at all.
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702  |
I preferred them when they exhibited their proggy side... the new one is "heavy metal" for kids...
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Merchant of Doom on 07.12.2011 at 12:18 Again, there's a lot of prog releases this year to satisfy your kicks nicely. And as you may see, there are quite a few "adult" metalheads who adore this release, so probably you've just listened to one too many albums that didn't suit your taste.
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 |
Written by Milena on 07.12.2011 at 12:58 yes, I know, taste... it's a bit of a tired argument, though. We are not talking about extreme metal releases which might, or might not, suite some tastes, we are talking about a very simple form of metal, which - to me - is the equivalent of listening to Britney Spears...
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 07.12.2011 at 13:12 nah, always been a Madonna fan, me! 
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Merchant of Doom on 07.12.2011 at 13:17 She had a good few songs here and there...
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Merchant of Doom on 07.12.2011 at 13:06 Actually, there's quite a lot of people who have "outgrown" these simple types of metal and who are bored by them. Maybe this is a sign you are as well, who knows
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 |
Written by Milena on 07.12.2011 at 13:34 yes, I'm sure, and what does that tell you?
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Merchant of Doom on 07.12.2011 at 13:43 It tells me that you should probably stop listening to releases like these and leave 'em to us who still haven't gotten tired of basic metal, perhaps?
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 |
Written by Milena on 07.12.2011 at 13:49 no, it should tell you that the reason why people have stopped listening to this type of basic metal is because it's not very good...
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| GT Coffee!! Staff Posts: 5101  |
A very good review and nice to see it finally reviewed officially. I remember the first time I listened to it; my first thought was "that album title is spot on". My favourite power metal album this year for sure and the best album from Pagan's Mind that I've listened to so far.
----  Dreams are made so we don't get bored when we sleep
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Merchant of Doom on 07.12.2011 at 14:35 I didn't say all people stopped listening to "heavy metal for kids".It might be "under" you, but there's a lot of us who like to keep in touch with the roots, in order not to forget what brought us all here. I get it, people get bored of certain things, but this is something that should unite at least most of us. Unlike a lot of kids in my generation, who got into metal through Nightwish-Evanescence-HIM/Korn-Slipknot, I got introduced to metal starting slowly from classic rock to Dio's Sabbath and Maiden. Yes, I do listen to a lot of "serious" stuff now, but I wouldn't disrespect heavy metal, calling it a "genre for kids", nor would I disrespect good power metal that is SO rare to find these days. We should cherish the good releases that don't come from bleak, doomy, proggy or extreme realms instead of bashing them, because they come rare and far apart. As we clearly disagree, we should end this discussion for it will lead nowhere
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| demonsarising Posts: 60 |
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 |
Written by Milena on 07.12.2011 at 14:49 we agree on this...
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| EmeraldSword Posts: 179  |
Written by PowerThrash on 07.12.2011 at 05:56 This says it all. I enjoyed the production value to the album, but to me was a bit watered down from previous releases and needed a jolt of coffee. Prog < Power Metal? I guess we'll have to wait and see how the band takes the new direction moving forward.
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