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Pain Of Salvation - Be CD (album) cover

BE

Pain Of Salvation

 

Progressive Metal

4.08 | 948 ratings

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EliasMisael
5 stars M-A-S-T-E-R-P-I-E-C-E!!!

To think that 3 years ago I considered this album pure crap and back in those days I could have made a Zero star review (I'm no kidding) but that's now history...

What we have here is the product of almost eight years of maturation on Daniel Gildenlöw's mind and the result is one of the most (if not the most) original concept albums in Prog History (pardon if I am exaggerating).

Animae Partus ("I Am"): Opens with breathing, heart beats and various voices speaking throughout the song.

Deus Nova (Fabricatio): Begins with piano, strings and flute Courtesy of The Orchestra of Eternity, at 0:56 a heavy guitar plays a weird riff accompanied by drums, piano and subtle orchestra, then there is a guitar lead while the music gets more chaotic (this section is very interesting), then the random voices from the previous song appears again accompanied by "sea sounds" and fades into the next.

Imago (Homines Partus): This begins with exotic percussion, acompanied by mandola, flute, piano and voice melodies. This exotic percussion and mandola remains througout, maintaining the spirit of the song. As the song fades out, the sound of rain can be heard.

Pluvius Aestivus Of Summer Rain (Homines Fabula Initium): This is a beautiful passage of music, only piano and strings are listened here, played over the sound of rain. Beautiful.

Lilium Cruentus (Deus Nova) On the Loss of Innocence: This begins with distant voice accompanied by a riff that reminds (Californication by RHCP?) Then enters fretless bass, flute and soft drums, interrupted by a brief heavy section this structure repeats once, and after the second heavy section comes what seems to be a chorus, again heavy section / soft section, now chorus / heavy section and song ends with flute and someone whispering "My Love".

Nauticus (Drifting): This song is only choral performance accompanied by nice acoustic guitar. Towards the end of the song, people can be heard mounting in a car and we hear a man doing a indecent proposal to a girl (Note: this narrative is brilliant!!!) while car radio plays in the background.

Dea Pecuniae: This one begins with a muscle car moving away fast.There is a bluesy feeling througout the song. Here the orchestra enhances the music with and gentle but awesome support. The singing is top notch on this one and gives a "real opera" sensation. Near the ending there is a very well developed crescendo which climax is remarked by a broken glass This is one of the strongest songs on this album.

Vocari Dei Sordes Aetas - Mess Age: This song is pure random voice mailbox samples from people talking to god, playing over a soft and beautiful guitar, piano and drums. This is a really beautiful and moving song.

Diffidentia (Breaching the Core) Exitus - Drifting II: This begins with a repetitive pattern played on piano, accompanied by drums and distorted guitar that repeats througout. Later the song becomes only piano, gentle strings and drums and layers of voices. Very well constructed layers of voices.

Nihil Morari (Homines Fabula Finis): This starts with a Tool-ish riff supported by subtle strings and cymbals, becoming slowly into a metal song. Then there is a slightly slower reprise of the weird section of Deus Nova (Fabricatio), this time accompannied by various news reports. Then the Tool-ish riff appears again as the song fades out with the orchestra... Brilliant Song!!!

Latericius Valete: This song is another musical passage with acoustic guitar, piano supported by the orchestra. Then we hear: 2,060 AD: 1.2 Million people... And drums and distorted guitar appears briefly until the end of the song.

Omni Permanere?: This begins with a background of various radio reports accompannied by church organs, then voice enters with a church-song style. As the song fades out into the next the breeze can be heard...

Iter Impius Martigena, son of Mars (Obitus Diutinus): Begins with breeze sound and very sad piano, Gildenlöw sings like he is lamenting something as the orchestra supports very delicately with strings. The there is a crescendo and the song turns into a metal ballad. Later comes a very emotive guitar solo and the guitar remains harmonizing with the voice (MAGICAL!!!) Then there is a soft interlude and a "marching snare" returns the song to the metal ballad. Towards the end of the song Gildenlöw just scream ad lib with rage (AWESOME).

Martius/Nauticus II: This song begins with harpsichord and "marching snare", ethereal singing. This is interrupted by chaotic drumming and piano that abrupt becomes into Imago (Homines Partus) reprise (BRILLIANT, This time the music reminds me the ending of The Twilight Is My Robe, there are similarities in the drumming ;-)). This reprise remains until the end of the song, which ends with STOMP-like percussion.

Animae Partus II: This begins with breathing and heart beats like the intro song, with the only words "I AM". After 3:17 minutes of silence then the only loss comes... Sorry Mr. Daniel Gildenlöw I did not understand your joke.

Pros: The music and the singing throughout the album: Deus Nova, Imago, Pluvius Aestivus, Lilium Cruentus, Dea Pecuniae, Vocari Dei, Nihil Morari, Iter Impius, Martius/Nauticus II. Are examples of great songwriting

Cons: Too much cryptic concept. The last ten seconds of the album

Verdict: What we have here is one of the most original releases in prog. The band and The Orchestra Of Eternity blends perfectly to create beautiful music. The vocal work on this release is top notch. Maybe is not the best album from Pain Of Salvation, but definately is the best work from Mr. Daniel Gildenlöw

P.S. Do not accept negative reviews from this piece of art.

EliasMisael | 5/5 |

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