| Band
Members: |
Daniel Gildenlöw / lead vocals,
acoustic guitar |
Frederik Hermannson / Grand piano,
harpsichord |
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Johan Langell / drums, percussion,
vocals |
Kristoffer Gildenlöw / acoustic
basses, cello |
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Johan Hallgren / guitar, vocals
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| Track
Listing: |
1.)- Animae Partus
("I am") (1:48) |
6.)-Nauticus (drifting)
(4:58) |
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I) Animae Partus (All in the Image
of) |
7.)- Dea Pecuniae (10:10) |
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2.)- Deus Nova (Fabricatio)
(3:18) |
I) Mr. Money |
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3.)- Imago (Homines
Partus) (5:11) .)- |
II) Permanere |
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4.)- Pluvius Aestivus
(Of Summer Rain [Homines Fabula Initium]) (5:00) |
III) I Raise My Glass
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- II) Machinassiah (Of Gods &
Slaves) |
III) Machinageddon (Nemo Idoneus
Aderat Qui Responderet) |
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5.)-Lilium Cruentus (Deus Nova)
(On the Loss of Innocence) (5:28) |
8.)-Vocari Dei (Sordes Aetas -
Mess Age) (3:50) |
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9.) - Diffidentia (Breaching the
Core) (Exitus - Drifting II) (7:37) |
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10.)- Nihil Morari (Homines Fabula
Finis) (6:22) |
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IV) Machinauticus (Of the Ones
With no Hope) |
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11.)- Latericius Valete (2:28) |
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12.)- Omni (Permanere?) (2:37) |
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13.)- Iter Impius (Martigena,
Son of Mars) (Obitus Diutinus) (6:21) |
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14.)- Martius/Nauticus II (6:41) |
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V) Deus Nova Mobile (...and a
God is Born) |
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15.)- Animae Partus II (4:09) |
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| The
Review |
This is a very tough review to write. Pain of Salvation
is a very different prog metal band that bend the genre and
really created their own unique style. Much of this style
owes its uniqueness to Daniel Gildenlöw, who writes the music,
plays guitar and stars in the lead vocal role. He sounds like
no one you've heard before - but the closest I can come is
Mike Patton of Faith no More without the screaming - more
melodic. His voice is really an instrument. His style of writing
is also unique - the songs usually do not follow typical patterns
of writing and are purposefully written for his vocal patterns.
Sound obscure enough?*****
The band's earlier albums are all very good - each
one different from the last. In my mind, the pinnacle was
Perfect Element Part 1, which is really one long 70 minute
song. (5 stars, that one) "Be" is VERY controversial - and
most either love it or hate it. The concept of the album is
the existence of God. God wonders who he really is and creates
humanity to help him discover the answer. Humanity then goes
off on a tangent and creates a sentient intellect that it
sends into space, which turns out to be the God at the beginning.
I may have fouled that up - but you get the basic idea. If
you think about the story too much it can hurt your mind,
I warn you.****
On to the music. This is vastly different than any
of their previous albums. On first listen - I did not like
it. More filler - lots of talking with music ion the background,
an entire track with people leaving messages on a machine
for God, much less keyboards in favor of strings, etc. These
parts pull the album down in my opinion and I want to fast
forward to the music. The music itself is very good and jumps
through many genre's - blues, classical, metal, prog, the
whole gamut. Be aware that this album is not nearly as heavy
as the band has been in the past - indeed - these parts are
few and far between. You will still get the lovely vocal harmonies
from Gildenlöw, however - and the guitar lines are amazing
and unique as always when they pop up. The album really doesn't
take off until Dea Pecuniae (track 7 - long time to wait)
as it is very quiet leading up until this point. From then
on - you are in for a ride (with some exceptions, like the
aforementioned answering machine track), especially on Diffidentia,
which sounds the most like their previous works. For me, the
best track is Iter Impius, as it builds and crescendos nicely.
****
The main problem here is the amount of filler-ish
material that is classically styled. Not noise filler (see
Mars Volta) but simple classical music without much added.
Not at all like their previous works. If you take the time,
however - you can come to appreciate the album as a whole.
For me - it is a good work - but it has ended up being my
least favorite release from the band. Still - this band's
worst work is still a good album. I just don't see myself
listening to one or 2 tracks here - it takes a whole night
- and if you are not in the right mindset - can be tedious.
Warning: not for the casual listener.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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