Artist:  Power Quest & Pagans Mind

Venue:  Rios, Bradford & Krash, Newcastle

Date:  30 & 31 March 2006 

Pagans Mind were a band that I had little knowledge of before this tour was announced, although I was much more their co-headliner on this tour Power Quest, as I have been following their progress over the last few years and nothing short of wild horses was going to stop me seeing them again live.

The whole 'Pagans – Quest' tour was put together by a very lovely and gracious lady by the name of Chrissy who is the chairperson of the Pagans Mind International fan club.  She also financed the tour herself, which just goes to show her belief and dedication to the band.

Now on to the shows, firstly Bradford Rio’s, as a frequent visitor to the said venue I was looking forward as always to PQ.  As we entered the venue the sound check was still going on and with three bands on tonight’s bill it was going to be touch and go whether the full sets would actually be performed by each band.

First on stage were The Prophecy, a band who I had a little knowledge of, but not being one to venture into the unknown, I sat through the powerful set by the band.  Their mix of more traditional power metal with a touch of growling death metal influences produced a unique sound.  I do however think that they are perhaps trying to cover too many genres in their musical approach and should probably drop the growling vocal stylings.  The singer actually has a great voice for power metal and the band have a big sound that fits this style of vocals well. The band are all gifted musicians and a think a repackaging of their musical styles would progress the band quicker on the road to fame and fortune.

Next on the bill was the mighty Power Quest, a band that has grown in stature every time I have seen them and tonight was no exception.

The band opened up with the intro 'Ascension' before going into 'Find My Heaven' from the bands latest, and I think best album so far, 'Magic Never Dies'. The audience surged forward as the band went into 'Soulfire' also off MND.  I’ve noticed that the bands following has grown and with each and every member of the crowd singing along with Alessio on most of the songs.

As the set went on the bands enthusiasm grew as much as the crowds, with riff meister extraordinaire Andrea showing us all just what a great guitar player he really is, dishing out riff after immaculate riff.  Also on great form was the bands young drummer Francesco, as he hammered out a monstrous back beat.

Then it was back to the 'Enigmatic Calling' with the outstanding ‘Entrance into Infinity’, another song that is more majestic live than its studio version.  With each song I grew more and more taken by the band.  When the set continued with ‘Waiting For Silence’ and ‘Enigmatic Mission’, my respect and admiration for this band grew even greater.

I'm not normally one for solo slots in gigs and generally prefer to see a band perform as a unit rather than individuals, however praise of the highest order has to go to Ronny Tegner for his amazing keyboard solo half way through the set, truly mesmerising.  Drummer Stian Kristoffersen also did a drum solo on what has got the be the biggest drum kit I have ever seen set up on Rio's stage.  I've seen some pretty impressive kits before but this one was a monster of a kit.  Surely that must have needed a tour bus all of it's own?

But it was gorgeous rendition of ‘Through Osiris Eyes’ that really put the icing on the cake as far as I was concerned.  ‘New World Order’ again off Enigmatic Calling’ rounded off a great show by a very good band. 

Now the venue might not have been full, but those of us who came to the show got to witness some top-notch power metal at its best.

Both bands seemed to be really enjoying the tour and the feedback I got while chatting to the Power Quest boys after the gig was that they, Pagans Mind, were all great guys and both bands were really getting on well together on the tour.  It certainly seemed like a match made in heaven from this punters point of view.

With the Bradford gig over I couldn’t wait for the next night at Newcastle, I truly haven’t been this excited about a gig for a long time.

Now to the Newcastle gig, this was intended to be a night off from reviewing for me so I could just relax and take in the whole 'Pagans – Quest' experience, but as things pan out I couldn’t not make a statement about what will remain in my mind as one of the best shows I have seen for sometime.

It wasn’t the scale of the show, or the size of the crowd that made this show so memorable, but the enthusiasm by both bands and the fans that had turned out to watch them tonight.  Both bands showed their true professionalism throughout and even getting off to a rocky start with the lighting, and the beer crate sized stage, they weren't going to let anything or anyone spoil tonight.  It was the last night of the tour and both bands were letting their hair down and just going all out to have one hell of a party ... and party they did!  

The sets of both bands were not dissimilar to those of the night before at Bradford, but it was the jam session at the end of the show that showed the camaraderie that had grown on the tour between the two bands.

	The stage at Krash is not the biggest but it was still full of big hearts, as members from both of the bands set about covering some timeless classics. First to undergo the 'Pagans – Quest' treatment was Deep Purples ‘Burn’, with Power Quests Alessio doing a good Ian Gillan impression.  This was quickly followed by Kiss's 'Rock N Roll All Nite' which saw the whole club go absolutely mental.  Although the impression of the night award had to go to Nils Rue for his Ozzy Osbourne impersonation as he went into ‘Crazy Train’.  Both bands were just having an absolute whale of a time on stage while the fans went crazy below lapping it up.
	The stage was besieged with various band members as Nils invited the tour promoters of the tour husband and wife team of Phil and Chrissy to come up on stage in respect for all their hard efforts over the five-date tour.  Phil then went into what has to be one of the worst renditions (I’m sure he won't mind me saying this) of Iron Maidens ‘2 Minutes to Midnight’ I have ever heard.  A rendition so powerful it actually blew the guitar speakers!

I’m pretty sure if this hadn't happened they would have continued on all night.  After the set came to it's impromptu end the bands piled off stage and out into the club to chat to the fans, sign whatever was thrust in front of them and have their photo's taken.  So few bands seem to do this type of thing these days and prefer to remain aloof and mysterious not wishing to mingle with the fans.  However, this was most definitely not the case with either of these two bands who were all true gents and all out good guys.  I have to say from the first moment I saw Steinar Krokmo at Rios to the time we left Krash, I don't think that guy ever stopped smiling.  Such a pleasure to see someone so openly happy in his work. 

The magic these two bands managed to infuse over this tour is something very rare and I hope that both bands go on to tour again together in the not to distant future. 

Pagan's Mind setlist for Rio's: The Celestine Prophecy, Aegean Shores, The Seven Sacred Promises, Entrance into Infinity, Waiting in Silence, Enigmatic Mission, Through Osiris Eyes, New World Order

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