Pagan's Mind

Pagan's Mind is a progressive metal band from Skien, Norway. They have released five studio albums, and the current line-up only features original members.

Pagan's Mind
Nils K. Rue at a 2008 Pagan's Mind performance at the Norway Rock Festival
Background information
Also known asSilverspoon (2000)
OriginSkien, Norway
GenresProgressive metal, power metal
Years active2000–2014, 2017–present
LabelsLimb Music, SPV/Steamhammer
Associated actsEidolon, Firewind, Beautiful Sin, Kinrick, Trivial Act, Aeon Zen
Websitewww.pagansmind.com
MembersNils K. Rue
Jørn Viggo Lofstad
Steinar Krokmo
Stian Kristoffersen
Ronny Tegner
Past membersThorstein Aaby

Biography

Founded in 2000 from the band Silverspoon by Nils K. Rue, Thorstein Aaby, and Stian Kristoffersen. Pagan's Mind released their first album, Infinity Divine, that same year. The following album, Celestial Entrance, was released in 2002 and was a relatively big success even outside of Norway. A re-recorded version of Infinity Divine was released in 2004. Their third album, Enigmatic: Calling, was released in 2005 and debuted at number 15 on the Norwegian albums chart.[1][2] Their most recent album, Heavenly Ecstasy, was released in 2011.

In February 2008, power metal band Power Quest announced that Pagan's Mind guitarist Jørn Viggo Lofstad will be providing guest instrumentation for the upcoming album Master of Illusion.

In 2008, Pagan's Mind toured with Sonata Arctica on their Unia tour.

In 2009, Pagan's Mind played ProgPower USA.

On 2 March 2011, Pagan's Mind announced Heavenly Ecstasy as the title of their forthcoming album. The band also released a new song called "Intermission" as a premiere for the online radio show "The Metal Madman".[3] The album was released on SPV/Steamhammer on 20 May in Germany, 23 May in other parts of Europe and in June in USA/Canada.

On 11 August 2014 Pagan's Mind launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund their next live release called Full Circle - Live At Center Stage, which ran till 20 September and was successfully funded by 163% through their Indiegogo campaign. On 31 July the release date of Full Circle - Live At Center Stage was announced to be on 16 October 2015 in a Blu-ray+2CD, DVD+2CD and 2LP+CD format through SPV Steamhammer GmbH.

Between 2014 and 2017, the band was inactive due to health issues from the members of the bands. They resumed their activities in late 2017, and started working on a new album.[4] On January 22, they announced that due to a family situation, K. Rue would not be featured on the three shows planned in March, and would be replaced by Ole Aleksander Wagenius from the band Withem; the band stated that K. Rue's situation would not interfere with his involvement in the upcoming album.[5]

Side-projects by band members

On 28 November 2016 it was announced that Nils K. Rue would play a character named The Prophet in the next Ayreon album The Source.[6]

On 22 February 2018 Northward, a hard rock project by Jørn Viggo Lofstad and singer Floor Jansen, was unveiled. The two created the project in 2007, writing an entire album worth of music in 2008 but being unable to record previously due to their busy schedules; they ultimately reunited in 2017 to finally record their self-titled debut album, which was released in 2018.[7]

Influences

Their music is influenced by Stargate, especially the theatrical film. In an interview, frontman Nils K. Rue said: "I wouldn't say I like the TV series Stargate, because I never saw an entire episode of that. But I really like the film Stargate. Of course, I took some inspiration from that..."[8]

Band members
  • Nils K. Rue – lead vocals (2000–present)
  • Jørn Viggo Lofstad – guitar, backing vocals (2000–present)
  • Steinar Krokmo – bass, backing vocals (2000–present)
  • Ronny Tegner – keyboards (2000–present)
  • Stian Kristoffersen – drums (2000–present)

Former members
  • Thorstein Aaby – guitar (2000–2003; died 2007)

Live member
  • Ole Aleksander Wagenius – vocals (2018)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums
  • Live Equation (2009) (DVD)
  • Full Circle: Live at Center Stage (2015) (Blu-Ray, DVD)

Videography

DVD and video
  • New World Order Live and Supremacy Our Kind Live (ProgPower USA VIII Concert DVD)
  • God Equation Live 2009 (Promo/Concert Sale DVD)

Music videos
  • "Through Osiris' Eyes" (Celestial Entrance)
  • "Aegean Shores" (Celestial Entrance)
  • "Enigmatic Mission" (Enigmatic: Calling)
  • "Atomic Firelight" (God's Equation)
  • "Intermission" (Heavenly Ecstasy)

References
  2. "Norwegiancharts.com listing for week of charting". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  3. "PAGAN'S MIND: Album Title Revealed; New Song Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 2 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  4. "MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!". Facebook.com. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  5. "Nils is dealing with a family situation that makes it difficult for him to perform live shows with Pagan's Mind in the foreseeable future". Facebook.com. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  6. "Guest Musicians". Arjenlucassen.com. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-04-15. Retrieved 2018-02-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. Murphy, Bill, ProgPower USA VIII interview with Nils K. Rue, Part One Archived 2008-12-07 at the Wayback Machine
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.