GOD'S EQUATION

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!

This latest album is not as strong as its predecessor but it does still deliver great harmonies of music as well as vocal. Listening to this album is very enjoyable especially with great sonic quality produced by this album - it's better being played at LOUD volume on your amplifier. As a colleague rocker Rully in local mailing list (i-Rock!) has posted a review about this album where the story is all about alien, it then triggered me to write another review at this site. AT first spin I did not quite enjoy the music because it's not as catchy as its predecessors. But with more spins, it grew on me. It's probably due to the excellent production of sound recording that makes me interested to play this album some more.

It's quite odd that the album starts with an overture "The Conception" that is not built on orchestra music but this time through an exploration of acoustic guitar fills in the vein of Steve Hackett / Genesis. Am not quite sure why the band does this way as this creates an ambient mood instead of grandiose impacts like those produced by orchestra. The end of this overture is a nice drum work. It flows seamlessly by a heavy guitar riffs followed by a full blast of music in heavy rhythm section comprising bass guitar, guitar and drums as an intro part of the album title track "God's Equation". When vocal enters the music, keyboard provides great inventive notes at background. The most interesting part of this track is basically the riffs that create uplifting mood and groove. The music moves in relatively fast tempo with inventive keyboard, great vocal harmonies and some guitar solo.

"Unified Alliance" starts wonderfully with a catchy keyboard work followed by powerful and attractive drum work followed by guitar riffs. This time, bass guitar provides its powerful rhythm section augmented by drums for making sure the beats. As the music moves into crescendo, keyboard still gives great combination of notes that is played repetitively at background, while guitar gives the steady riffs that makes the music flows wonderfully. At 2:45 the music moves into interlude that gives guitar a very nice guitar riffs and at 3:25 guitar solo leads the way. It's so wonderful track.

"Atomic Fireflight" starts off with an ultra heavy music riffs combining guitar, bass, drums and keyboard in very fast speed and makes the music moves so fast and complex. It is then followed with vocal mumbling in strange voice (like a voice of an alien?). I believe that this must indicate the dialogue between human being and an alien.The interlude part in the middle of the track with tight bass lines accompanying guitar solo and a showcase of dynamic drumming is an attractive part of this track. The voice of alien might disrupt your listening pleasure - but unfortunately this is what the story requires, I believe. I ca not help it.

As the title implies "Hallo Spaceboy" this track starts with an ambient spacey keyboard work for approximately 30 seconds followed with a music blast while drums provide bass drum as beat keeper without toms as well as cymbals or high hat. I like the part where the lyrics say "Bye bye love!" followed by excellent music riffs. This a David Bowie's cover version. My apology that I cannot compare with original version because I was not a fan of David Bowie when I was teenager. I only knew "Space Oddity" which was a great song.

"Evolution Exceed" starts with heavy keyboard effects followed by music in fast tempo and heavy rhythm. It seems like a straight rocker with some break with heavy riffs at approx 3:16 and it turns into slower style at approx 3:55. Melody-wise this is not a good track but the sounds of drums, bass and guitar make it quite complex and enjoyable.

"Alien Kamikaze" starts with heavy music riffs with bass guitar as main rhythm section augmented by dynamic drumming and guitar rhythm section. It's quite complex at the intro part with practically no catchy melody line except on some transition pieces. "Painted Skies" provides musical break because this starts with mellow style using soft piano touch backed with tight bass lines. But the music moves into heavier style after vocal screams "Heaven cry..!!" for a while and returns to mellow style.

"Spirit Starcruiser" starts with a combined work of keyboard and drums, bass accompanying vocal line. The music moves faster with high register vocal notes. Guitar performs its stunning work in the middle of the track. "Farewell" replays the overture music but this time is augmented with electric guitar solo in mellow style. "Osiris' Triumphiant Return" is really a powerful track that has symphonic power metal style with powerful riffs and tight composition.

I know this release is not as solid as previous albums especially in its attempt for catchy melody line and harmonies. But I still observe great qualities of the band in its complex compositions and speed. The musicianship is excellent!!! I recommend this album for those of you who love progressive metal. It's a very good album with 3 stars plus rating.

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Not as great as PAGAN'S MIND best.

My only previous experience with this band comes from the album "Celestial Entrance". That album was filled with excellent songs and just a couple average ones. Sadly, the opposite is true in "God's Equation."

To those who haven't heard this band in the first place, PAGAN'S MIND sounds as close to a perfect mix of DREAM THEATER and STRATOVARIUS as you'll ever find. Here we have authentic progressive-power- metal, power metal with a lot of progressive elements or at times actually progressive metal with a distinct power metal sound. The high, heroic vocals, the heavy-but-not-annoying use of bass drums, shredding solos and speed, all is here, blended with odd time signatures, extended songs and instrumental passages, structures that are not typical, atmospheric moments and great craftsmanship.

What this album lacks that "Celestial Entrance" didn't is the great melodies and choruses. To honor the "power" element of a band, choruses have to be epic and memorable, they have to be the focus towards which the verses and other sections of songs inevitably conduce us. But in "God's Equation" we don't get as many of those as in that earlier album. Here we don't have any power-prog masterpiece as "Through Osiris Eyes" was in the 2002 great opus. The closest we get is probably in the second track (first song proper), "God's Equation." But even that good chorus doesn't reach the same level of grandeur that some choruses had in previous releases. It's like the band focused (and a lot) in writing some cool riffs and solos but couldn't stay focused for the climaxes of their anthems.

The musicianship here is top-notch. And that makes the lack of great melodies even more disappointing. When a band doesn't have a great singer or a skilled guitar player, it's easier to understand non- memorable songs. But when a band has a singer of the caliber of Rue, a guitarist of the skills of Lofstad, of a keyboardist with the precision of Tegner, it should just follow that they should write outstanding songs. They have done it in the past. They only achieve it halfway here in "God's Equation."

All in all, not a bad album by any means. This is good power-prog-metal, but not great. For true great albums, try SYMPHONY X's "V: The New Mythology Suite" or PAGAN'S MIND "Celestial Entrance." "God's Equation" is an enjoyable listen, but ultimately disappointing.

Pagan's Mind lat album to date from 2007 entitled God's equation. This album compared with the predecesors is a little bit of deseppointing, because this one is weaker than last 2 albums they've made so far. They couldn't manage to create a better album than Celestial entrance so far, not even Enigmatic calling doesn't reach the beauty and splendour of Celestial entrance, so this last album is no exception. While is not a bad album as a whole, he doesn't shine with none of the pieces gathered here, not one is in front in particular, all has same level, but not quite a big one in my opinion. The musician performed well and has great skills for sure, but something is missing, there is no more that special feeling about the compositions, only good to listen from time to time. Is hard for me to say that the best piece from here is a cover version of David Bowie - Hellow space boy, very well made in this version - well done guys, but the rest of the pieces are good but no more than that - God's Equation the title track is a little more great then the oher pieces. Si in the end 3 stars, a good one but nothing special, really.Still remains one of my fav prog metal bands from today and hoping for a new album soon, is nearly 2 years since this one.

Well I have to agree with b olariu that this latest album from PAGAN'S MIND is weaker than the previous two. Still a good album and quite heavy at times, but if you've heard their earlier stuff this will probably be a let down.

"The Conception" is laid back with guitar and synths. Drums after 1 1/2 minutes come and go. "God's Equation" kicks in right away and heavily as the drums stampede. Synths and vocals follow as it settles. It kicks back in as the tempo continues to change. Nice ripping guitar after 4 1/2 minutes. "United Alliance" opens with synths as drums join in. A full sound follows. Vocals before a minute. This is pretty uplifting music and one of my favourites. Nice guitar solo after 3 1/2 minutes. "Atomic Firelight" is heavy as drums pound. Vocals change from processed to normal throughout. Check out the guitar and drums before 3 minutes. Good song.

"Hallo Spaceboy" is a David Bowie tune and sadly the best tune on here. This song is pretty intense. Nils really lets go vocally 3 1/2 minutes in and later after 5 minutes. Actually Nils is a big reason why this song sounds so good. "Evolution Exceed" becomes heavy quickly, vocals before a minute. Not a fan of the almost spoken vocals that follow. Normal vocals follow as themes are repeated. "Alien Kamikaze" sounds great. Drums rampage 2 minutes in with some blistering guitar in tow. Big finish to this one. "Painted Skies" contrasts the heavy and lighter passages throughout. "Spirit Starcruiser" is uptempo. Love the guitar before 3 minutes. "Farewell" is an instrumental with laid back guitar. "Osiris' Triumphant Return" is heavy duty with synths. Vocals before 1 1/2 minutes.This is a great closer.

3.5 stars. I'm such a fan of Nils' vocals that it bugs me that it's processed at times. Close to 4 stars for me. A good Metal album regardless.

Pagan's Mind have already two wonderful albums, so this was really difficult to top with their next piece. God's Equation has the same style but is a little more oriented to the heavy side of the band, with more growling and heavy riffing?

A perfect balance between ambience synth, power metal riffing and soloing and a versatile singing with a wide range of notes is what you will hear here. The influences of other bands are less evident in this piece and the music moves along great through the whole album.

The recurrent themes are good to set the concept of the album, you will find many soloing and back to back between keyboards and guitars. A lot of double bass drums as well. All the songs fit well, having brief spaces with ambience synth that brings some air before the heavy parts takes the lead. There are no highlights in the album because all the songs work well together. "God's Equation" is OK to start, "Alien Kamikaze" is heavy enough and "Spirit Crusader" is odd enough to change the mood?

The inclusion of Hello Spaceboy of David Bowie is great. This prog-metal arrangement is quite good and fits great with the concept of the album. The cover art is good but I wonder what this guys have with naked girls with shining eyes... don't know...

If you like Prog Metal, you should try this. If you are not into a so metal oriented stuff, you can go back and pick Enigmatic: Calling, their previous album. 4 stars! great album!

'God's Equation' - Pagan's Mind (7/10)

Certainly one of the better and more interesting melodic power metal acts to emerge from Europe in recent years, Pagan's Mind's 2007 album 'God's Equation' would witness the band getting more attention than ever. Meshing a progressive sensibility with some catchy songwriting, great production values and an impressive performance, the band has made quite a strong album here, worth quite a few enjoyable listens. However, the generally formulaic approach to the songs here can make the album wear thin for someone looking for a little more variety in the music.

While highly melodic music is often held a grudge against by metal and progressive music circles, 'God's Equation' does deliver a relatively well-balanced sound; amidst the catchy soaring hooks of singer Nils Rue, there are some heavy riffs, beautiful soloing and pleasant keyboard atmospherics to give the music the science fiction quality that it has had in the past with this band. In terms of the songwriting itself, some of the songs are weaker than the others, but there's generally some solid tact in regards to the writing of the music. While the flow is iffy at times, each song features great sections, with great hooks dominating the sound. With that having been said, anyone looking for a particularly heavy, progressive or technical album need not apply. The focus of the album here is always on the songwriting.

While the songwriting- particularly the incredible title track, and epic finale 'Osiris' Triumphant Return'- is at times really great and exemplary of the power metal genre itself, there is the feeling towards the second half of the album that the same tricks are still being used and recycled over again throughout the course of multiple songs. Most ideas work quite well (with some transitions between song sections being rough), the familiarity of the upbeat, triumphant sound does start getting old by the end of things. Luckily, a fantastic final track breaks the verse-chorus structure for a more complicated composition.

A very good progressive power metal album. While it can feel overproduced and a bit too one-tricked for a progressive metal album, 'God's Equation' is an intelligent album that marries melody and complexity in somewhat equal measure.