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The albums of Pain Of Salvation are usually highly acclaimed by critics and definitely no mainstream. Their last studio album Be got diverse reactions - some loved it, some hated it. But Daniel Gildenlöw never chose the easy way and always seemed to be unimpressed by criticism. As delusions of grandeur some titled Be, other thought it was to pretentious. As the Swedish always surprised the fans, their fans will at least check out their latest work - Scarsick. Bassist Kristoffer Gildenlöw left the band last year and so his brother Daniel took over the four-strings for the recordings. Conceptual albums are a passion of Mr. Gildenlöw and even if this album has no visible concept, the songs are all linked. You can take out a song - the songs can stand on their own -, but the wholeness of the album makes it more impressing. In the past Gildenlöw wove into the lyrics socio-political criticism. And he picks up themes he already wrote about and tries to present them from a different point of view.
The album opens up with Scarsick - which is the first surprise. Very heavy, very modern with a touch of Faith No More / Rage Against The Machine they surprise the listener. Especially the vocals are giving this impression. The guitar riffing is more Rammstein-like... But they combine this with oriental sounds and soundscapes known from 70's art rock. But who can really describe the music of Mr. Gildenlöw? You have to listen to it, it's the only way to get an idea about Pain Of Salvation and Scarsick. On the following Spitfall he even pushes the limits farther - at some parts he almost sounds like Eminem! Different voices representing different characters it seems... As I have no lyrics for Scarsick, this is a guess.
Cribcaged starts slowly, mellow... A baby laughing... giggling. A melancholy ballad - in the beginning -, but then speeds up to mid-tempo. Gildenlöw shows he dislike to many different things by 'fuck the...'. A happy pop rock tune - mixed with alternative sounds - is America which has reminiscences to the same titled song off West Side Story, but in contrast to the happy music master Gildenlöw put bitter, mean words. Here a bit Gary Charone shines through. The biggest surprise is probably Disco Queen which musically is going back to disco music, but in a heavy and rocking style. Lyrically back to the topic of prostitution and abuse which he dealt with at The Perfect Element Pt. 1, but this time it's not about physical abuse or prostitution! This time it's about the corruption of mind and soul. The prostitution of principles and the abuse of the soul - as the master states. Kingdom Of Loss starts with what sounds like the speech of some US president. And the Floyd-ish sounding song criticizes modern society, especially the US-American society. A beautiful song which mean words. The song reminds me a bit of Chroma Key... A bit oriental sounds Flame To The Moth, but very heavy and intense, too. After awhile anger breaks free and it has some unexpected aggressiveness. Gildenlöw almost growling angrily, just to switch back to mellowness. A musical roller coaster ride. One of my personal highlights on Scarsick. Last, but not least Enter Rain. Dark and melancholy it begins, but as someone fighting back melancholy it gets more powerful in the fight - just to fall back into depression. Dark and threatening... like there is no hope. Rising from darkness to fall even deeper. And when it fades out you hear the siren of an ambulance or police car. Well, nothing to cheer you up here.
In their diversity all songs been on a very high level, even if a song like Idiocracy should have been shortened to be more focussed. Mrs. Modern Mother Mary is also a nice tune, but can't keep up with the previous tracks. For other bands then Pain Of Salvation this tunes would be masterpieces, but this is Pain Of Salvation and the expectations are high.
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