Customer Reviews

Celestial Entrance

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hm, let's see....
The 1st thing that comes to mind here, after listening to the whole album is not Dream Theater, as some other reviewer said.
Instead, this singer seems to scream Geoff Tate.
I love it though, he is an excellent singer, as good as those of bands like Secret Sphere (my fave), Labyrinth, Kamelot, Rhapsody.
I hear a bit of Queensryche and their own style mixed to proggy epic metal (or call it power/speed metal or what have you), which makes for a flowing listening, very enjoyable, although this type of band tends to be a bit repetitive....
In my opinion, as far as I've been able to notice, only Secret Sphere was able to grow a bit more versatility than those other bands I've mentioned (Pagan's Mind included), with their 3rd cd Scent Of Human Desire.
I don't think I have a favorite on this Celestial Entrance, but I didn't notice any minor numbers either, everything is played well, professionally. Great production!
But, another point they share with all of the above mentioned bands, maybe the guitar solos at times could be a little less predictable, especially as far as choice of notes.
Personally, when I'm playing a solo, I don't like to hit the root note of every chord that's playing (especially the 4th of the key), and all these bands seem to be doing that a lot.
All of you who play guitar, like me, will probably understand what I mean.
I like fast scales too, and on this CD it's been done pretty well, like for example on the solo on Through Osiris Eyes.
Pretty good songwriting, for the most part, and arrangements; for example, I like the chord progression of the opening verse of Entrance Stargate....very tasteful vocal melody, the style was Geoff Tate, but that made it more interesting to me.
Fair balance, also, of heavier, prog and more melodic moments.
I particularly like the keyboard parts on this cd.
Overall, very good CD to listen to when you need something uplifting to bang your head to. It will grow on you every time you'll listen to it too!
At least it did me.
I also like this one better than the new Dream Theater, which, for me, is a lot to admit, since DT is my fave band.

While other power metal bands are out there usually rehashing the same idea over and over again (dungeons and dragons/ Lord of the rings power metal), PM have taken it a step further. Yes, they are at the core technically a power metal band, but have put strong progressive elements (dramatic keyboards, dialogue, unstandard song structures) to their sound unlike other bands. Not that these other bands are all bad, but a lot of the music is hard to differentiate.
A lot of people say the music has lots of elements of Dream Theater and Queensryche, sort of a fusion of modern prog metal and classic power rock. Now i myself have never heard Queensryche before, but I have heard Dream Theater, and this to me sounds similar to what they would sound like if they went went power metal (which means, yes! Melody!!!)
Guitars on this one are pretty thick, and w/ mid-tempo melodic riffs which lay on chorus amp sound effects, there's a very "icey" feeling in the guitars that at times is so soothing you'll feel like you're listening to a soundscape record (during the slower parts of course). The solo's have a very classic power rock influence on them (and at times so do the riffs); they're melidious although not always catchy, but it's mostly the actual sound effect of the guitar that pulls you in, they sort of sound like something you'd hear Van Halen or Def Leppard playing but not as corny. Vocals are very high pitched at times and definitely test lots of range; fans of James Labrie, Russell Allen and Daniel Heiman will definitely appreciate the pipes on this guy. Lots of melody is also added w/ atmospheric keyboard arrangements, which at times are also very Dream Theateresque, but at others are very dramatic and cold sounding. Bass and Drums are well audible due to amazing production where everything comes out crystal clear. Songs are pretty long, generally averageing around 7 minutes, so you do get your money's worth.
Most tracks on this one are great, like the stellar opener "Osiris' Eyes," w/ its soaring vocal chorus and catchy verses, it's a great way to kick off a record. The second track didn't really do much for me, there are too many power chord riffs, and though the verses do use some nice sounding clean guitar, it's not enough to catch my ears so this is really just a track I tend to skip sometimes (although not a BADLY written song). The third track, "Of Epic Questions," which seems to be about questioning God, I dig, it's got a cool keyboard opening and a catchy chorus that can get stuck in your head easily. Track 5 "Dimensions of Fire" I love and always make sure to play it when I pop in this disc. The riff is pretty old school sounding but still has a modern melodic razor edge and the vocals on this do an amazing job of layering upon the guitar chords. The dramatic keyboards help a lot also, although the middle of the song has some wierd dialogue as do a couple of other tracks. Tracks 6 and 7 are pretty good but just don't have that dramatic catchy edge i look for and realy only play those songs sometimes. I do like them for the guitar work though.
The highlight of the CD is tracks 8 and 9, the "Childhood" instrumentals. The first is only a few minutes long but it's basically a very groovy sounding acoustic which builds slowly into electric power chord epicness and puts me in a vast trance during each listen. The music is very soundscape,like I had mentioned before, and images of icey caves, snowy mountains, cloudy clear skies, and vast beautiful landscapes easily falls into mind when being whisked away by this and the next track. The second 9'15 sec instrumental is almost brilliant. The hard hitting track is sort of split into different segments but is still quick and has got LOTS of catchy power chord arrangements and beautiful keyboard work intertwined w/in. Definitely the type of track to soothe you after a long hard 8 hour work shift. The song ends w/ some of the most graceful and melodic guitar flaming finger soloing I've ever experienced. Things slow down as the piano ballad on track 10 follows. It's short but sweet and relaxing, almost romantic - more images of icey caves come to mind. "Aegean Shores" (track 11) I would say is ok but nothing incredible,and the 10 minute finale on this one could've definitely been better but does include some really nice keyboard and vocal work. Guitars solos on this one are very well done too.
Though I could've lived w/o a few tracks (hence the 4/5 star review), another small hindrence to me would have to lie w/in the melodies. While they are all very nice sounding, a lot of them feel recycled, like I've heard them used before. This might be because instead of complex vocal and keyboard hooks (where about 85% of the melody on this CD comes from), they opt for tone switching somewhat to the style of Fear Factory. Sort of like if you only hit 4 keys on a keyboard to create a melody, hold each of them individually for about 2 or 3 seconds then switch to the next note, and repeat.
Overall though, I'm definitely happy I got this, the cold chilly feelings of good hooks and progressive elements will definitely intrest those fans of bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Rhapsody, Lost Horizon, Spock's Beard, and other prog bands. I heard their first album was better so I'm excited about picking up that one soon also.

To start, I must say I was a huge fan of Crimson Glory (CG) when they broke with Transcendence. In the 80's, Transcendence and Rage for Order were groundbreaking. Crimson glory imploded and Queensryche went alternative. Enter DT with Image and Words...the disk that saved prog until....Pagan's Mind.

The singer reminds me of Midnight from CG and the production is excellent. The guitars are clean and very crunchy, the drums are tight yet powerful while the bass gives it weight (the keys are dominate in some places but, its ok).

There are 2 guitars in this band but they are not the yngwie-type speed freaks. Their solos seem to have some thought behind them which, as you may know, can be lacking in some prog bands {ahem.....Magnitude 9}.

For old and new fans of prog, you'll like this disk. Not bad at all. I cant wait for their new stuff.

Well, one day I just happened to come across this band and I am very glad that I did. The first thing that came to mind as I was listening to this album was, "wow, I can't believe how mature this is for only the second album." The next was, "this is for sure going to take a couple listens to fully appreciate." I think that the label describes it well as being power progressive metal. In this respect, it is similar to the type of music that Evergrey is. To avoid missunderstandings, they do not sound like Evergrey, but you know how Evergrey can be classified as both progressive and power metal? Well the same is true here.

This is not dark music, it is actually very upbeat sounding. Its technicallity can be compared to the likes of Dream Theater. It is sort-of a concept album that deals with spiritual realms and life's big questions, very interesting. Keyboards are used throughout, but seem to focus more on synths than your typical strings and such. This creates a ton of atmosphere, which I can't really explain well; you would just have to hear it. The musicians are VERY talented. As a matter of fact, the music actually sounds like it was not humans that played it, but machines, it is SO precise. I have to mention the guitar solos; amazing! They do involve very fast runs but also very melodic parts that are beautiful. The singer...Well I read many times that he sounds a lot like Geoff Tate, yes, I can see the resemblence. To me though, I think that he sounds more like Tobias Sammet, only his voice is much more powerful. This may sound odd, but I also hear some Ozzy Osbourne in his voice. You may not agree, but hey, I hear it; not much, just a bit.

The production is very good, very clear. I do think that it sounds a little thin though. I think that this is merely caused because the guitars don't seem to have quite as much distortion in them as most rock music you hear. Very minor thing. All in all, VERY strong release.

On a last note, this is music for the mind. It takes you into the realms that the lyrics are describing. What this means is that in order to fully appreciate it, you have to be able to dedicate your entire attention to it. I have found it to not be very meaningful if I am listening to it while I am driving or concentrating on something else. It is very...deep. So get it, but don't be hesitant to look deeply for something that is beyond just notes and words.

I picked up this CD on a whim, which I rarely ever do, and to my surprise and pleasure, I was hooked from the first track. Produced by promiscuous producter Frederik Nordstrom, the album's overall sound is progressive power metal, drawing elements from both euopean power metal acts and from bands like Dream Theater, though the first few songs on the CD definately have a more power metal feel to them.

The album starts off with the instumental introduction "Approaching," with a nice organ melody line, before breaking into a catchy guitar and drum riff. Then the keyboards come in to flesh out the driving introduction. This track is full of energy and really sets the mood for the first half of the CD.

The intro leads nicely into the first vocal track "Through Osiris' Eyes." Yes, there is a bit of a concept album going on here, or at least a recurring theme through several songs. The songs starts with a fairly crunchy guitar riff, before the keys take over the melody line. The vocalist (Nils Rue) comes in, sounding like a cross between Geoff Tate from Queensryche and a slightly lower pitched James LaBrie...and like them he seems to have some pitch problems sometimes. It could be intentional, and one you get used to it, I find the unique inflections add to the music. His voice isn't extremely high, but remains firmly in the tenor range. The crunch comes back here in the bridge, where the vocals get raspy nearly to the point of a growl, before leading into the catchy, melodic chorus. Which is another thing the band does very well, catchy as hell choruses. The guitar solo does it's job, but it's nothing you havn't heard before.

The next track, "Entrance: Stargate" seems to borrow lyrically from the movie, but it also contains similar references as the previous track. Anyhow, the song starts off with a nifty riff, and is a bit more drum driven, with a very percussive sound. It slows before the entrance of the vocals and a soft melody line comes in. The first verse is almost lilting, but when the bridge rolls around, they kick it up a notch. The vocal range goes a bit higher on this track, especially on the chorus.

"Of Epic Questions" is one of my favorite songs on this album. Again they have a small organ intro, before going into a drum and guitar groove. You can tell this song is a bit different than it's predecessors from the vocal entrance; they are quite deep, before transitioning back into the previous range. I'd say that overall, the vocals are much more aggressive on this song. This is especially seen in the second verse, where they again approach nearly death metal growls, before returning to melodic power metal vocals on the chorus.

"Dimensions of Fire" has some interesting vocal parts ("construction madneeEahesss"). The music is midpaced through the verses, and comes in strong for the chorus. Solid track, nice chorus. Around 4:30, there is a nifty raspy vocal line, and then the songs repeats the chorus again. Which is one of my only complaints about the CD, and it is a minor one. They repeat the choruses a lot. I don't mind so much, because they sound good, but it can get to be a bit much in repeated listenings (ie, having your CD player on repeat).

In "Dreamscape Lucidity" we have what I'd call the first 'epic' song on the CD. Though not as long as "Dimensions of Fire," which clocks in at a respectable 7:30, there is a certian variance in the music and a sense of a quest to the lyrics. It is a little bit cheesy at points ("We protect these dimensions with our eternal souls..."/"I was sent by Aurora"/"Enter the gate and move on"), but overall pulls off the concept nicely.

For me, things started to slow down around "The Seven Sacred Promises." Which isn't to say the song is slow...merely that it didn't hold my attention as much as the other songs did. Verse, bridge, chorus, verse, rinse, repeat.

And now the instumentals "Back to the Magic of Childhood." I'm not one for long instumentals, so I don't trust myself to give an unbiased opinion here. Let's just say that my intrest wanes at this point, and doesn't completely recover until the last track.

"In Brilliant White Light," "Aegean Shores," and "The Prophecy of Pleiades" rounds out the rest of the CD. The final track (at least from 1:30 to 2:30, including the first two verses) is complete and utter Dream Theater worship. In fact it borrows/steals heavily from "Learning to Live" from Images and Words. The song totals nearly 10 minutes, yet is interesting enough so that you don't notice how long the song actually is.

So, if you didn't want to read through all of that writing, and want to skip to the overall recap here it is: Good, solid proggish power metal with catchy choruses and a singer you'll either love or hate. I give Celestial Entrance an 8.5...out of 10.

I was recomended this cd by a friend whose opinion I respect.I'd never heard of Pagan's Mind before.But I can now say emphatically that you'll all be hearing about Pagan's Mind very soon!From the opening track you'll know this is no average band.I was hooked by the first three songs and have been listening to it daily since I bought it.The best way to describe what these guys sound like is to compare them to earlier Dream Theater,say Images & Words and Awake mixed with power metal like Helloween or Stratovarius.What's great about this band is how they manage to blend both worlds so perfectly.Unlike Dream Theater who can be a bit self indulgent at times,Pagan's Mind never strays too far out of thew realm of metal.And unlike bands like Stratovarius & Helloween,they never get stuck in that double bass drum power metal rut.Offering the listener plenty of different changes keeping it fresh and interesting.But enough of the comparisons,this band stands on their own..$! Osiris' Eyes is my favorite track with a soaring chorus and shredding guitar riffs.There are two guitarists in Pagan's Mind giving them a very full sound.The keyboards are great and very atmospheric.The vocals are'nt half bad either.Reminding me of Michael Vescera of Yngwie and Loudness fame,but with a higher vocal range.Entrance:Stargate is a shredder as is the closing track The Prophecy of Pleiades.With plenty in between to keep you nailed to your seat as they blast you through their brand of Power Prog Metal.I can truly say that no one except Symphony X is blending those two worlds better than Pagan's Mind.If this is your kind of music,I guarantee you'll totally enjoy Celestial Entrance.I have'nt been this blown away by a new band in ages and can't wait to hear what they come up with next.

Is this, like, as good as euro prog can get?! Wow!!! And... the length of the album! Its about 72 minutes long! So what do I have to say that should make you wanna get this album? Well first of all, the main thing to know is that whether you dig American prog rock OR European melodic or power metal, you'll love this. To me, this is an album that will be a classic for 5 years. Think Stratovarius's Visions album here. Here we are 7 years later and still love songs like Black Diamond. Speaking of Visions, Celestial Entrance sets quite an atmosphere that most prog can't do. Ivory Tower actually comes to mind here. The cover art and inside art work is beyond belief. So, imagine Images by Dream Theater + Dream Evil (a bit) + Firewind (a bit) + Star One and Valley's Eve's keyboards in the last song. I don't know why Valley's Eve came to mind - its just happened to remind me of them.

Another thing that should be mentioned is the unbelievably atmospheric track 10 - In Brilliant White Light. Imagine the last track on Winterheart's Guild, only take away the bass. This isn't exactly a great song, but it is a great transition between the 2 9 minute songs. Also, I believe it is track 6 that has drums that impressed the living crap out of me. I haven't exactly fell in love with this album and I don't listen to it that often, but when I do, I am quite captivated by a sound that you don't hear anywhere else. This does NOT sound like Andromeda. Pagan's Mind does it all their own way and in their own style. I really can't say much else. There is something for everyone on this album. That's the key. I bought the album on that note and like it quite a bit. You should too!

If you do get the chance, go read some of my other reviews. It will probably help you understand better what I mean by some of what I say here. While you're at it, please say whether this review helped you or not. All it takes is one little click!

I've been in awe of this album since I first heard it, but the more I listen, the more it feels... important, somehow. I think that Pagan's Mind has taken the genre of progressive metal to a new, heavier level. I just have a feeling that in five years we might look back at this album and talk about how influential it was - it's that good.
Most progressive metal bands these days inevitably get compared to Dream Theater, and there are some shades of their sound here, but Pagan's Mind is much harder stuff. If you've ever listened to Dream Theater and wished they'd just stop being so artsy and let it rip, you will absolutely adore this album. The talent is undeniable, the songs are memorable... Symphony X is probably the closest comparison I can come up with, but Pagan's Mind is more varied in styles, and overall heavier. There are even sprinkles of death style vocals, which I usually loathe, that work well here. Overall, I see this album locked in hand-to-hand combat with Star One's "Live on Earth" for best release of 2003 so far. A great, great listen.

Pagan's Mind hails from Norway, the country that produced some of the most amazing prog metal bands ever including Conception, Ark, Spiral Architect and Divided Multitude just to name a few. Celestial Entrance is their second disc. Their first album Infinity Divine was more of a power-prog disc with clear Crimson Glory references. I picked it up cause Ronnie LeTekro had produced it.

About two years later in 2002, they released Celestial Entrance and I immediately knew I had to buy it when I heard one of their songs on an online radio station where the band was guesting. I also had the opportunity to talk to some of the band members and was surprised by how friendly they all were. Celestial Entrance, production-wise and sonically, may be one of the best prog metal releases of the last 10 years. I don't think I've been amazed by just the production value of a disc so much recently. After two years of owning it I still can't believe how Fredrik Nordstrom managed to capture this vibe. It's a given that Nordstrom along with Dan Swano is one of the best producers in Sweden, but I don't think he's ever produced anything as perfect as Celestial Entrance. I believe any prog band should give this disc at least one listen to check out the amazing production work. They may not enjoy the music for all I know, but I am positive they might learn a few things about having a very crisp, fresh and precise sound.

I remember this album took the entire prog metal community by storm upon its release. Moreover it was very successfully marketed by their label reaching a fairly broad audience and the more people heard it the bigger the band's popularity became. The power metal influences have taken a back seat on this record; Celestial Entrance is purely melodic prog metal with top notch musicianship and one of the most talented vocalists to arrive in recent years. Nils K. Rue is an excellent cross between Geoff Tate in his prime and Midnight from Crimson Glory. He can effortlessly reach the high notes letting out some of the most killer screams you will ever hear. But what's more is his regular singing. I especially enjoy his low key vocal delivery. There are some processed vocals in some parts of the singing and Nils even uses some extremely harsh vocal styles bringing to mind Devin Townsend in Strapping Young Lad.

Musically the album borrows elements from the obvious Dream Theater along with Transcendence era Crimson Glory. Long, detailed and searing guitar solos are side by side with heavily orchestrated keyboards. The keyboardist trades off solos with the two guitarists but his role in the band is very integral. Not only does he provide key solos, but he also offers atmospheric textures and synths. There is a never ending emphasis on strong melodies but the heaviness and sheer power of the songs are never sacrificed. Solid bass patterns are always accompanied by crunchy guitar riffs and solos throughout each and every track. Every member has their own part in the songs and the interaction is flawless. The second half of the album relies more on melodic instrumental interplay which reaches its peak during the instrumental tracks "Back to the Magic of Childhood" part 1 and 2. This is over 12 minutes of relentless melodic fury combined with intricate musicianship. No single riff or melody, however, is abused in the name of mindless noodling. It's all done successfully within the context of the song.

The ending track "Prophecy of Pleiades" takes some of its riffs from Dream Theater's "Learning to Live" as a homage to the band. Although the DT and Crimson Glory references are evident, I somehow feel fans of Symphony X and mid-era Queensryche too might like this disc a lot. It's not because of any neoclassical melodies, but because of the extended instrumental songs with tons of melody and imoressive vocal harmonies. The album clocks in at over 72 minutes thus becoming slightly stale though far from boring. Actually I've never heard anyone complain about the running time of this release but I sometimes have difficulty playing it from start to finish. This may be the only low point for me. Other than that, I feel the future of Pagan's Mind is very bright. We'll definitely hear more from this band.

I first heard of Pagan's Mind while surfing on johnpetrucci.com's members forums. People were raving about them, so I went out on Bit Torrent and found CE. Man what an amazing CD. I immediatly purchased the CD the next day and it has been one of my top 10 favorites (the other 2 PM albums are in my Top 10 also.) The initial track is awesome. I love how it just roars into "Through Osiris Eyes". TOE also has one of the best Prog Metal solo's of all time. It isn't over powering, but its very melodic and beautiful in it's approach. Another CD I can listen from start to finish. Once again, don't let the Vox distract you from the brilliance of Pagan's Mind. Nils K Rue's voice will grow on you, and it compliments the music well. 5/5 Must have!!!!