BE

The first time I heard this album I was a little dissapointed with some of the tracks. I enjoyed the previous POS albums, all of which have been heavy throughout except for the previous album which was an acustic version of previous songs. But then I found myself humming the tunes and realising that, as usual, Pain of Salvation have produced an album of brilliant, new and totally enjoyable music with yet another message which I'll let you try to figure out for yourself. As another reviewer already stated, there are so many different styles in this album, some of which are revisited and brought together in the most incredible way. Whether it's a folk tune or a brilliant guitar riff, the whole thing just works so well and the addition of a small orchestra is less an 'addition' and more a complete integration into the band. In some of the tracks the strings or woodwind take the lead, leaving the guitars and drums behind, while in others the band plays strongly, simply being highlighted by the orchestra. Will POS keep this style? Personally, I don't think so, although I wouldn't mind if they did. I think that the message of the album, which involves the creation of the universe, god and humankinds population explosion and perhaps eventual downfall, simply required a more diverse range of styles and instruments to be accomplished to how the band wanted. If you're a POS fan then I don't need to tell you get this album because you'll already have it. If you're not sure about POS then remember one thing - don't let your initial reactions put you off. Try one of their albums and listen to it two or three times before deciding if they're for you. I say this because Pain of Salvation's music can be so different (and sometimes intense) that it simply requires time to digest and enjoy it at first, hence why I wasn't sure if I liked BE at first. Remember, before you judge, this is not Metal, it's PROGRESSIVE Metal - trust me that makes all the difference.