Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy
SPV
Progressive Power Metal
11 songs (56:06)
Release year: 2011
Pagan's Mind, SPV
Reviewed by Cory

Guess who is back with a brand new album and a fresh set of tits! Yes friends it’s true, Pagan’s Mind presents Heavenly Ecstasy, album number five and the second in a row to feature ladies of questionable virtue on the cover. All jokes aside, I am not a big fan of album cover nudity because it reeks of teenager attention grabbing tactics, but we will just have to wait and see if this is a trend continues for future releases.

Few bands have enjoyed the level of success that Pagan’s Mind has achieved over the past decade. While their debut album Infinity Divine went largely unnoticed until its re-issue, the shear progressive power metal brilliance of Celestial Entrance and Enigmatic Calling gained them massive critical acclaim and put them front and center as the flag bearers of their genre. Yet God’s Equation came at us like a left hook, an album that lacked the spark of ingenuity that came before it and instead left many with a disappointed feeling (opinions ranged from a disappointingly decent effort to what the fuck?).

So with baited breath we have waited for this new album, hoping the band would once again hit the progressive sweet spot and blow us away. After spinning the album multiple times, giving each track it’s due attention, I am both pleased and disappointed in this release. Pleased, because Heavenly Ecstasy takes the progressive rock tendancies of God’s Equation and executes them much better, with far more cohesion resulting in a much stronger album. Disappointed, because those qualities also mark the end of the pure balls to the wall progressive power metal bliss achieved with their finest works, and instead we have what feels like another subdued effort from a band that has delivered much better in the past.

From a production standpoint, this album is perfect. Crisp, clean, and well executed, every instrument is clear as crystal and well balanced with the vocals of Nils Kvale Rue. Speaking of vocals, Nils thankfully tones it down with the effects that were rampant on God’s Equation, and gets back to basics with a strong performance that only occasionally wanders into over the top territory. Though more subdued than in the past, all members show that they still carry the chops on their respective instruments, shining in various moments of solo material when not playing a more groove oriented song structure that is prevalent throughout.

Album highlights include opener Eyes of Fire, a nice mid-paced tune with a strong groove that carries the song until an awesome solo that is just classic Pagan’s Mind. Intermission continues the medium pace, but brings a more memorable chorus. This song reminds me of United Alliance from God’s Equation, which was one of the better tracks from that album. Things speed up with Into the Aftermath, a track that feels like it could have come from Enigmatic Calling. The Master’s Voice is arguably the best song to be found, displaying a frenetic energy that is fantastic.

Unfortunately the remaining tracks just don’t hold up as well. Walk Away in Silence and Follow Your Way are decent, but don’t leave much of an impression. Live Your Life Like a Dream is the weakest song on the album, not doing much of note besides having a catchy (and somewhat corny) chorus. Never Walk Alone is bland and uninspired, and When Angel’s Unite is a short piano oriented track (not even a song, really) that serves no purpose, comes out of nowhere to end the album, and lasts a mere two minutes, just long enough for you to wonder what it is doing there.

Pagan's Mind is still Pagan's Mind, but at this point in order to fully enjoy their music for what it is we have to deal with the fact that they have evolved, moving on from their roots to a more standard approach. There is plenty to enjoy on this album, but leave any thoughts of Celestial Entrance or Enigmatic Calling behind because this doesn’t even come close. Heavenly Ecstasy is a good album and still recommended, but damned if it’s not disappointing all the same.

Killing Songs :
Eyes of Fire, Intermission, Into the Aftermath, and The Masters Voice
Cory quoted 75 / 100
Other albums by Pagan's Mind that we have reviewed:
Pagan's Mind - God's Equation reviewed by Marty and quoted 78 / 100
Pagan's Mind - Enigmatic: Calling reviewed by Ben and quoted 65 / 100
Pagan's Mind - Celestial Entrance reviewed by Crims and quoted 96 / 100
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