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Pain of Salvation's Scarsick, from 2007, is here in an excellent reissue on 180g vinyl.
An album that divided fans of this band, due to the fact that everyone was waiting for the follow-up to The Perfect Element Pt. I, while this album is very different in terms of arrangements and sound: instrumental parts are almost entirely absent, as are guitar solos, a prominent use of spoken word, which shifts the band's sound, and the complex vocal interweavings typical of Pain of Salvation have been almost abandoned.
The album is about a man who challenges the world by observing it through the mass media, probably resulting in the change in expressive language, and read in this way, it's an appreciable concept.
- Scarsick is a metal-influenced track with aggressive riffs and excellent progressive metal.
- Spitfall continues the progressive metal sound but with pop themes.
- "Cribcaged" is the track closest to Pain of Salvation's signature sound, with a large opening piano part.
- "America" is a catchy song that blends the album's chaotic and experimental sound with aggressive and melodic elements.
- "Disco Queen" is a divisive song, with a bright, pop-oriented sound, enjoyable but not entirely fitting into the overall album context.
- "Kingdom of Loss" is the album's top track, simple yet incredibly beautiful.
- "Mrs. Modern Mother Mary" is a short, very catchy song with a distorted guitar riff and a groovy bass line.
- "Ideocracy" is a great song with a mysterious atmosphere and a very captivating vibe.
- "Flame to the Moth" is a simple song with a very effective chorus.
- "Enter Rain" closes the album, with a melancholic and psychedelic sound, a beautiful closing track.
Many have described this album as a commercial breakthrough. I lean towards the theory that the concept triggered the sound and that's why I like the album a lot and in any case it's a very high-quality album, as this band has accustomed us to, not a masterpiece, okay, but a beautiful album.
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.
Tracklist
1. Scarsick (7:08)
2. Spitfall (7:17)
3. Cribcaged (5:56)
4. America (5:04)
5. Disco Queen (8.22)
6. Kingdom Of Loss (6:41)
7. Mrs Modern Mother Mary (4:14)
8. Idiocracy (7:04)
9. Flame To The Moth (5:58)
10. Enter Rain (10:03)
Duration 67:47
LineUp
- Daniel Gildenlöw - lead vocals, guitar, banjo, percussion, sampler, producer
- Johan Halgreen - guitars, vocals
- Fredrik Hermansson - keyboards, piano, sampler
- Johan Langell - drums, vocals
