I honestly think that the music on this album has to be some of the greatest music ever created. Not since "Streets: A rock opera" by
Savatage has music touched my soul like this.
I guess you can call Pain of salvation a progressive metal band. I don't care about the style they are labelled with as long as the music is good. And with each release this band is getting better and better. This release encompasses everything that I love about music. It makes me feel a lot of different emotions while listening to the songs. The brilliant technical skills, thought provoking lyrics and divine vocals make each song on this album overflow with emotion.
From the first time I heard the opening song "Of two beginnings", I knew this was going to be a very special album. The singer and guitarist Daniel Gildenlöw has one of the best voices I have ever heard. On this album he is capable of expressing an amazing amount of emotions through his voice. From hope to happiness to deep sorrow to confusion to rage and despair, the lyrics come alive when this guy starts singing. He is truly an amazing artist.
All songs on this album are great in their own way. The album is very melodic and never boring. I still discover new things every time I listen to it.
This is a concept album dealing with relationships and all the things that come when things don't work out the way you hope. Basically it's about loss and dealing with it.
Some of the subjects touched by the songs are love, sex, pregnancy and the tragedy of losing a child, suicide, trust and betrayal. Everything is told in a very convincing, heart-wrenching way. Most people can probably identify with at least some of the feelings expressed in the songs. I know I did...
The story starts with a guy lying in his hotel room, reflecting on his life with all his hopes, dreams and losses. He takes trip down his Remedy Lane, remembering some of the things that have happened during his life.
Below are my impressions of the songs. There are probably several ways of understanding the songs. This is just the way I see it.
"Of two beginnings" starts the story with remembering the first time of innocent love and confusion. It's a very emotional and powerful song that sets the mood for the rest of the album. I like the irony in the lyrics "She's so old - Already twelve and I'm only ten" Already there are signs of things to come.
"Ending theme" is about coming to terms with oneself and letting go of the past. The guy returns to a place of his past and tries to let go. In a quite interesting way that is... The middle part of the song is a long spoken monologue which gives an impression of the thoughts going through this guy's mind. He still doesn't have that inner peace... Will he ever?
Great song, I like the spoken words and the impression they make.
"Fandango" has a cool weird rythm, just listen to those drums. It tells a story of two children looking for the one thing they will never truly have before they come to terms with themselves and the reality they live in.
I LOVE the chorus of this song. It's very melodic and the way the keyboard underlines the melody is so great. The lyrics are very true "Live that you might find the answers - you can't know before you live"
"A trace of blood" is one of my favourite songs of the album. It starts out with a great keyboard melody which is joined by the guitar and drums. The whole song has a very good drive. It just flies away . Before the real lyrics start the melody changes to a darker atmosphere and there is a suppressed feeling that something is going to happen soon. This is one of the saddest songs of the album for me. This song succeeds in relating what must be the emotions that come when a couple lose a child before it is ready to be born. The lyrics in this song are very powerful. A few examples "Then a cry and rivers of blood flow so sadly - Bringing you - Our dreams pour in to a cold tray" and "I was to live for you - I lost the will to live the day you came". The way Daniel Gildenlöw sings this song is very emotional and gives a sense of something that is lost forever, never to return. The transition right before the first chorus is one of the most ingenious things on this album. A definite highlight so far.
With
"This heart of mine" comes a very beautiful love song. It beautifully relates the feelings on one so in love that he will do everything to stay this way.
"Undertow" starts with a great dark guitar melody. Despair oozes from this song about trying to let go of ones past. He has to get through this phase to get better. The awesome melody of this song gets more and more evident in the second part of the song. The vocals of this song are amazing. They truly relate a feeling of despair and rage.
"Rope ends" sends a cry of helplessness from the speakers. The start of the song has a great weird rhythm that builds a sense of urgency, before going into a cool guitar riff. The song is about a girl who has given up on life and tries to commit suicide. This is heavy stuff with some of the best lyrics ever. I will leave it up to you to find out whether she succeeds. There is a very nice bridge leading up to the brilliant chorus.
"Chain sling" starts with a beautiful guitar melody, before going into a discussion between two lovers where one is letting go of the other. The song is about clinging to the hope of never losing the one you love, even when you know it's too late. The song has a great bridge leading to the chorus and some very emotional singing. Awesome song.
"Dryad in the woods" is a beautiful instrumental song. Very relaxing.
"Remedy Lane" is another instrumental, mostly keyboard driven. It has melodies from some of the other songs, "Ending Theme" being one.
"Waking every god" starts out with a very nice melody by the guitar and keyboard. A somewhat more positive song and it gives a glimpse of hope along the way.
"Second love" - A beautiful mostly acoustic song. The lyrics are very honest in dealing with lost love... A very touching song.
I was floored when they played
"Beyond the pale" live in Copenhagen on the DT tour. This song ends the album and concludes what is probably the most personal album ever. It starts with some very interesting guitar playing. A very honest song that contains everything that is good about this album. I won't go into detail about this song. Just give it a listen and decide for yourself what happens.
If I had to name a couple of favourite songs from the album they would be "A trace of blood" and "Rope ends".
The artwork on this album is top notch too. It effectively complements the music and lyrics. There are many messages "hidden" in the artwork, so it's very interesting to look at.
I could go on and on about all the little things that make this album such a masterpiece, but I'll let you find those yourself. I'll just say that this album is so packed with emotions that it's quite an exhausting experience to listen to it.
To put it shortly: I love this album! It is a true masterpiece. I can only urge you to go out and buy it. It will probably take a few listens to really appreciate the music, but give it a chance and you will have an experience that might just change your life.
Written by
Steen Tuesday, April 23, 2002
Show all reviews by SteenRatingsSteen: 10/10Members: 9.25/10 - Average of 2 ratings.
Member ratings
 | Sandra
Rating: 10/10
When everything is weird and I'm feeling like nothing is real anymore, I put this album on... · Read more · |
 | notrap
Rating: 8.5/10
To be honest I didn't know this band.
After reading Steen's review, I bought this record ... · Read more · |
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