Pagan's Mind

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Pagan's Mind
Full Circle: Live at Center Stage
Steamhammer/SPV
2-CD + DVD

This Norwegian prog band has been wowing fans for more than a decade with their big and melodic keyboard and guitar-driven sound. This set was recorded in Atlanta in 2014 during the band's appearance at the ProgPower USA Festival, and the audience got a real treat as Pagan's Mind began their show with the playing of the 2002 fan favorite Celestial Entrance album in its entirety and in order. Excellent camera work catches all the action without lingering on one player too long, like singer Nils K. Rue hitting the high notes on "Through Osiris' Eyes," keyboard wizard Ronny Tegner's dazzling play on the two-part "Back to the Magic of Childhood" suite, Stian Kristoffersen's drum intro to "Entrance Stargate" and Steinar Krokmo's rumbling 6-string bass runs throughout. Of course guitarist Jorn Viggo Lofstad gets lots of attention too, shredding like he's a member of Queensryche on songs like "The Seven Sacred Promises" one minute and channeling David Gilmour the next. This is thoroughly modern prog with a bit of a metal edge but one listen to cuts like "In Brilliant White Light" makes it clear that the band has listened to its share of early Genesis too. After Celestial Entrance is finished the guys play a set of favorites that draw primarily from the Heavenly Ecstasy, God's Equation and Enigmatic: Calling records, highlighted by the ominous, Black Sabbath-influenced "New World Order," killer guitar shredding from Lofstad on "Enigmatic Mission" and an impressive take on David Bowie's "Hallo Spaceboy." Here's an excellent opportunity for the uninitiated to get hip to what Pagan's Mind is all about.

Pagan's Mind
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