SCARSICK

'Scarsick' is the sixth studio album by Pain of Salvation, released on 22 January 2007. It is a concept album focusing on contemporary issues concerning capitalism, materialism, and consumerism. 'Scarsick' is the last Pain of Salvation album to feature Johan Langell on drums. The liner notes reveal that 'Scarsick' is actually 'The Perfect Element - Part II.' The album is divided into two chapters: side A (His skin against the dirty floor) and side B (Why can't I close my eyes?).

The album opens with the title track. A sinister guitar riff builds and then Daniel Gildenlöw growls the word "sick." The music cuts out for a second, and then gets back into the groove. Gildenlöw raps during the verse. The chorus has a Middle Eastern quality, which is especially heard in Gildenlöw's high, background cries. The chorus is repeated at the end and progressively builds into an explosive climax. "Spitfall" comprises five section: "Introducing Star," "Thus Quote the Craving," "Redefining Vomatorium," "Man of the Masses," and "YO." This is the closest thing to prog rap that I've ever heard, and I love it. Each verse is slightly different from each other. The final verse is the most intense moment of "Spitfall." The following track, "Cribcaged," is a great foil to the previous two songs. Lyrically, "Cribcaged" is about the idolization of celebrities and how they're "just people." The aptly-titled "America" is an upbeat rock song that musically reminds me a bit of Green Day mixed with Foo Fighters. The lyrics describe the hypocrisy of America as a nation. "Disco Queen" is one of the most maligned Pain of Salvation songs, and I will never understand why. "Disco Queen" is a euphemism for casual sex and pop music. The octave basslines and high falsetto vocals are so disco. The lyrics and music perfectly capture the environment of a nightclub.

"Kingdom of Loss" is about corporate society. "Someone sells us God? in 2-for-1 with Shame?. Someone sells us War?, And the marketing looks just the same." Truer words have never been spoken. "Mrs. Modern Mother Mary" is in a 9/8 time signature and is one of the most interesting grooves I've heard. The vocal melody is strange and doesn't follow a pattern; it's always changing with each verse. I like the tremolo-picked guitars during the chorus of "Idiocracy." Towards the end, the chorus builds into a heavy climax. "Flame to the Moth" may be my favorite song on 'Scarsick.' This song contains screaming from Gildenlöw. One of my favorite moments on 'Scarsick' is the final minute of "Flame to the Moth," which urges the listener to "say no" to the world. Fredrik Hermansson's piano during this brief moment is stunning. The closing track, "Enter Rain," begins with speech-like vocals and a dark atmosphere. I like the use of slide guitar during the verse. With each refrain, the music explodes with heaviness. Gildenlöw's voice during the "In two seconds, I will hit the ground" ascends into the stratosphere as the music slowly fades out.

In conclusion, 'Scarsick' is the most underrated Pain of Salvation album. I regard it almost as highly as I do 'The Perfect Element - Part 1' and 'Remedy Lane.' Say what you want about the concept, but 'Scarsick' is a daring record that is uncompromising yet distinctly Pain of Salvation.