Pagan’s Mind
- MEMBERS:
- Nils K. Rue – lead vocals (2000–present)
- Jørn Viggo Lofstad – guitar, backing vocals (2000–present)
- Steinar Krokmo – bass, backing vocals (2000–present)
- Ronny Tegner – keyboards (2000–present)
- Stian Kristoffersen – drums (2000–present)
BIOGRAPHY
For the experts of the international rock and metal scene, Pagan’s Mind have long been the embodiment of quality and versatility.
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.
“Heavenly Ecstasy”
Their most recent album, Heavenly Ecstasy, was released in 2011. The Norwegians go about their work with ambition and versatility. Their compositions always having shunned one-dimensionality: “Pagan’s Mind is a band that always presented albums with a big variety song-wise,” says guitarist Jørn Viggo Lofstad. “I guess the kick ass, heavy and groovy riffs, the big and epic sound, the good melodies and progressive elements are what people in general associate with our songs.” With their latest offering, however, the musicians Lofstad, Rue, Ronny Tegner (guitar), Stian Kristoffersen (drums) and Steinar Krokmo (bass) are raising the bar even higher than ever before. Even more so than their previous work, these songs refuse to lend themselves to pigeonholing, proving instead to be a hybrid of different styles resulting in a dynamic variety of melodic metal. Rue: “I think Heavenly Ecstasy is a step in the right direction. We have had the ´power prog` mark on us for too long. We are a band with a pretty unique sound, and to get labeled and compared to other bands isn`t always that much fun. I think we really have a sound of our own and it’s heavy, epic, exciting, deep and melodic all the way, even if we of course are inspired by other bands.”
The parameters for the band’s high standards were set by Pagan’s Mind themselves: Heavenly Ecstasy was mixed by Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein, Within Temptation, Europe, Def Leppard, Clawfinger) and produced by Jørn Viggo Lofstad: “We have our own studio gear and recorded everything ourselves this time. It was recorded in ´PM Studios`”. You can`t help being fascinated by the fast-paced new tracks, starting with the opener ´Eyes Of Fire` through the programmatic ´Power Of Mindscape` and the adrenalin-inducing ´The Master`s Voice` – what you could call the sequel to ´Alien Kamikaze` (from the predecessor God`s Equation) – to ´Live Your Life Like A Dream`, maybe the most unusual song coming from Pagan’s Mind, since it’s quite poppy and with undertones of funk/pop/rock music.
Adventures ahead
It looks like there`s a storm brewing then for Pagan’s Mind, not least as a result of signing with Steamhammer/SPV. “With a new label supporting us, we have great confidence in the future of Pagan’s Mind,” declares Nils K. Rue. “We hope and strongly believe this will make our music more available for the masses. Playing in a band is not always the easiest thing, and you get emotionally connected to it over time. It’s like your own child, and yeah, of course you always want your children to be successful.”
DISCOGRAPHY
Heavenly Ecstasy / 2011
1. “Contact” – 0:48
2. “Eyes of Fire” – 5:48
3. “Intermission” – 5:41
4. “Into the Aftermath” – 5:18
5. “Walk Away in Silence” – 5:08
6. “Revelation to the End” – 8:32
7. “Follow Your Way” – 5:18
8. “Live Your Life Like a Dream” – 5:55
9. “The Master’s Voice” – 5:16
10. “Never Walk Alone” – 6:09
11. “When Angels Unite” – 2:03
Heavenly Ecstasy is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian progressive metal band Pagan’s Mind, released May 20, 2011 in Germany, May 23 in the rest of Europe, and May 31 in the USA and Canada. It is the first album the band has released with label Steamhammer Records.
The album was released in several formats: as a digipak with two bonus tracks, 28-page booklet, and poster; a double gatefold LP with two bonus tracks on orange-colored vinyl; as a standard jewel case; and as a digital download.
God's Equation / 2007
1. “The Conception”
2. “God’s Equation”
3. “United Alliance”
4. “Atomic Firelight”
5. “Hallo Spaceboy” (David Bowie cover)
6. “Evolution Exceed”
7. “Alien Kamikaze”
8. “Painted Skies”
9. “Spirit Starcruiser”
10. “Farewell”
11. “Osiris’ Triumphant Return”
12. “Shine Eternally (Bonus Track)”
God’s Equation is the fourth album by the Norwegian progressive metal band Pagan’s Mind. It was released on November 9, 2007 in Europe and on January 15, 2008 in the US.
The 2-disc limited edition version of the album contains a poster, including six bonus tracks, a video clip and wallpapers in a paperboard slipcase.
“God’s Equation” was mixed by Stefan Glaumann (of Rammstein) in Toytown Studios, Sweden.
Enigmatic: Calling / 2005
1. “The Celestine Prophecy”
2. “Enigmatic Mission”
3. “Supremacy, Our Kind”
4. “Entrance to Infinity”
5. “Coming Home” (instrumental)
6. “Celestial Calling”
7. “Taken”
8. “Resurrection (Back in Time)”
9. “Appearance”
10. “Search for Life”
11. “New World Order”
Enigmatic : Calling is the third studio album by the Norwegian progressive metal band Pagan’s Mind.
According to the liner notes, Enigmatic : Calling was inspired by “a number of great thinkers, philosophers, scientists, writers, and film directors,” including Erich von Däniken, Albert Einstein, and Steven Spielberg. Some of the lyrics address “the idea that mankind was originally created, constructed, and placed here on Earth as a genetically modified species created as a project by ‘aliens’.”
Production
Recorded by Espen Mjøen at Mediamaker Studio, Skien, Norway in September–December 2004.
Vocals recorded at Images & Words Studio, Skien, Norway in November–December 2004.
Guitar solos on “New World Order” and “Enigmatic Mission” recorded by Christian Clausen.
Edited by John Nilsson at Studio Fredman.
Mixed by Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J. Sten at Studio Fredman, Gothenburg, Sweden in February 2005.
Mastered by Morten Lund at Masterhuset, Oslo, Norway in February 2005.
Front cover “Goddess” photo by Per Stian Johnsen.
Photos by Thomas Fjelldalen.
Celestial Entrance / 2002
1. “Approaching”
2. “Through Osiris’ Eyes”
3. “Entrance: Stargate”
4. “…Of Epic Questions”
5. “Dimensions of Fire”
6. “Dreamscape Lucidity”
7. “The Seven Sacred Promises”
8. “Back to the Magic of Childhood, Part 1: Conception”
9. “Back to the Magic of Childhood, Part 2: Exploring Life”
10. “In Brilliant White Light”
11. “Aegean Shores”
12. “The Prophecy of Pleiades”
Celestial Entrance is the second studio album by the Norwegian progressive metal band Pagan’s Mind.
According to the liner notes, Celestial Entrance was “inspired by some of the theories of Erich von Däniken, the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence, the mystic parallels of the four religions, and ideas launched by certain open-minded scientists throughout the world.”
Production
Recorded by Øyvind Eriksen and Per Sælør at Klyve Lydstudio, Skien, Norway in January–March 2002.
Clean guitars on “Conception” recorded at Mediamaker Studio in January 2002.
Vocals recorded at Images & Words Studio, Skien, Norway in March 2002.
Vocal transfer by Espen Mjøen at Mediamaker Studio, Skien, Norway.
Transfer and editing by Kjetil Nesheim at NLC Studios in April 2002.
Edited by Patrik J. and Fredrik Nordström.
Mixed by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman, Gothenburg, Sweden in April 2002.
Mastered by Morten Lund at Masterhuset, Oslo, Norway in April 2002.
Infinity Divine / 2000 (re-recorded in 2004)
Infinity Divine is the debut album by the Norwegian progressive metal band Pagan’s Mind. In 2004, the band revisited the album, re-releasing it with re-recorded parts and a new mix. The re-recorded version omits the song “Moonlight Pact” and adds “Embracing Fear 2004” and “At the Graves.”
Production
Original release:
Recorded by Øyvind Eriksen and Per Sælør at Klyve Lydstudio, Skien, Norway in September-October 2000.
Mixed by Ronnie Le Tekrø and Dag Stokke at Studio Studio, Nyhagen, Norway in September-October 2000.
Mastered by Ola Johansen at Masterhuset, Oslo, Norway in October 2000.
Re-recorded version:
Vocals re-recorded at Images & Words Studio, Skien, Norway in January 2004.
“Embracing Fear 2004” re-recorded by Espen Mjøen at Mediamaker Studio, Skien, Norway in September 2003.
Additional editing and engineering by Espen Mjøen at Mediamaker Studio.
Remixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen at Jailhouse Studio, Denmark in January 2004.
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