A return to the eighties. Pagan’s Mind compare themselves with fellow countrymen TNT and Conception. These Norwegians have also listened to newer bands like Dream Theater however.

Although the musicians are very capable, and the songs are (just) above average, the finishing touch of the sound cannot impress me. On the contrary: a flat and dry production of the drums and no depth at all in the bass. Mainly a lot of very high technical skilled, and ice-cold guitars, good but at times artificially sounding vocals, topped with some (cheap sounding) keyboards.

Nowadays the world is full of this kind of bands. Classical based, very technical and fast guitars, heavy, sometimes even bombastic arrangements with lots of fills and rhythm changes. For a lot of bands it’s hard not to lose the melody, which is acquired for this genre. At that point Pagan’s Mind has succeeded: they come close to what they want to be, but they’re not there yet.