Artist: Pagans Mind 
   Title: God's Equation
   Label: Limb Music Productions

I first heard of Pagans Mind back in 2006 when they were double headlining with Power Quest.  At the time I was totally blown away by the band and subsequently purchased their back catalogue such was the impact of the music on me.  With a driven rhythm section the like of which I’ve haven’t heard in such a long time, featuring Stian Kristoffersen on drums and the mighty (and always happy!) Steiner Krokmo on bass, this backbone of the band was only the beginning.  Along with Ronny Tegner on keys and the mighty six string wizard that is Jorn Viggo Lofstad, the line-up was completed by the powerful vocals of Nils K Rue.  Together this quintet deliver quite a punch.

'God's Equation' follows the bands 'Enigmatic Calling', which was in itself a monstrous mix of melody and power.  Somehow the band have gone one better with this latest release 'God's Equation', which is indeed the bands finest release to date.

The album itself opens with the intro ‘The Conception’ before the real power metal onslaught begins with the title track ‘God's Equation’.  From this point on there is no looking back with Kristoffersen and Krokmo pounding out the backbeat of 'The Conception' while Lofstad brings things to a head before Rue leads into the title track with his usual soaring vocals.  Now this is a how a true Power Metal album should start.

The album continues its assault on the senses with ‘United Alliance’, another stirring slice of power enthused melodic metal, with Rue once again showing the full force of magnificent vocals.  This time the keyboards of Tegner are more prominent with Lofstad showing just why he is one of my favourite guitar players as the licks just flow with such ease, (I’ve seen him play live and he makes it look so easy you just stand there motionless and watch in breathtaking awe).

The thing about the vocals of Rue, they like fellow Norseman Jorn Lande, have what I like to call a "Familiar Uniqueness" about them.  They could lend themselves to any genre and still reign supreme and this is what makes him and Lande two of my favourite vocalists. The power he has is shown to great effect on the excellent ‘Atomic Firelight’, again with the bombardment of Kristoffersen and Krokmo pummelling their way through the track like a heard of rampaging wilder beasts.

The album boasts a very different cover version of Bowie’s ‘Hallo Spaceboy’ from Bowie’s 1995 'Outside' album.  I’ve heard the NIN, the Foo Fighters and The Pet Shop Boys versions and this one really has to be the best.  This is where that "Familiar Uniqueness" comes in as Nils puts a little Bowie spin on his vocals.

One of my favourite tracks on the album has to be ‘Evolution Exceed’ just because of the intro alone.  It just builds into a powder keg of heady bass and drums that is ignited by Rue’s magnificent vocals.  Although the all out winner of track of the album for me has to be the magnificent ‘Alien Kamikaze’.  This is the band at their very best with its pounding drums and Lofstad’s rampaging guitars, along with the bass from hell courtesy of Steiner, this one just epitomizes everything I love about this band.

After the magnificence of 'Alien Kamikaze' the pace is slowed down with ‘Painted Skies’, which shows the band can bring it down when the need arises, while still retaining that Pagans Mind power, even though it’s at a much gentler pace.

The tempo is soon picked back up again with ‘Spirit Starcruiser’, which is where Lofstad shows us all just what he is capable of with some stirring riffs featuring on one, a song that is very much in the same vein as the bands 'Enigmatic Calling' material, and one that is sure to please all their die hard fans, as will the gentle tones of the instrumental ‘Farewell’.

The album finishes off with a bang with the nine minute epic ‘Osiris Triumphant Return’, which rounds off a great, no a superb album and one that will see Pagans Mind get the recognition they deserve and let's hope for a tour in 2008.

As with all great releases these days there will be two version of this album released.  Firstly the basic cd as detailed below and then a special limited edition version which contains a second disc featuring 6 bonus tracks, the video for 'Atomic Firelight' (and what a video that is!) plus a selection of other bonus material.

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