On the road of musical healing ...

In the discography of Swedish prog metallers "Pain of Salvation" there is probably no work which is so personal, aufwirbelnd and shocking as this album from 2002. No sooner had it the prog world with the output "The Perfect Element - Part I "put on its head once more, put Gildenlöw and Co equal to a hard nut to crack for which the listener demanded full attention on a tour de force about a bleak landscape of the soul with so many stumbling block. As always, it is not a walk, but a roller coaster ride - but the experience lasts longer than the ride to the entertainment vehicle. Pain of Salvation does not want to talk, they want to tell and take. Here they succeed better than ever.
Pain of Salvation make music to hear, but to listen. When the first notes of "Remedy Lane" from the boxes - or even better the headphones - sound, and tell of a tender (not necessarily innocent) Puppy Love, then, one is already on the musical journey through a panopticon of feelings, states, . feelings and by the end advances to the street of the remedies along, per aspera ad astra: "We will always be so much more human than we used to be."
Here, Pain of Salvation a large musical range serve to unfold before us a panorama of authentic images. The brushwork is characterized at the beginning only light and delicate a young relationship that first sexual experience ("She is twelve, I am only ten"), everything is new, everything is exciting, anxiety mixes with curiosity and hopefulness. But experiencing the listener very soon that this is the past. As a brutal blow hammering the presence on the lyric I a ("Ending Theme, ripping at the seams for at opening"), and with a jerk, you find yourself in Budapest again, that place, where the limits were exceeded. What are the limits? This is revealed only at the end, which was aptly "Beyond the Pale" baptized and not at all "over-the-top" anmutet.
Again and again Gildenlöw jumps at the mental addressing its past from one extreme to the next. This can be seen in the former music. While "Ending Theme" still comes along with almost "Rap" inlays and a mighty chorus, a song of "Fandango" is characterized initially a big question mark on the forehead if the playful rhythms and instrumentation crazy (and the "Rap" inlays are even for fierce staccato Attacca!). And between the rocking "Waking Every God" and extremely progressive "Beyond the Pale" with his style changes and driving rhythms to find a small, unassuming ballad that unfolds a great impact because of their simple structure.
But the internal divisions of / the protagonist increasingly apparent (although the focus is much more limited than z. B. in "The Perfect Element", but just makes the "Remedy Lane" not only musically, but also in the concept itself is also to authentic material and take their experience that it is). In an instant, the memory dims the miscarriage his wife's view ("Trace of Blood"), the next he remembers the first love ("This Heart of Mine" with the beautiful verse "I lie awake, watching your shoulders move so softly as you breathe ".) But it is precisely these good times are over faster than one can be fond of the time in being moved now." Undertow "is a milestone in terms of musical emotion: a simple guitar melody, the sober singing Gildenlöw joined , the melody repeats, while more and more instruments incorporate itself, a rhythm guitar, the drums, the piano, followed by a bridge with a soulful guitar solo which opens into a poignant More singing up to the end of the song, that powerful gasp, those Cry Freedom "Let me break! ! Let me tear myself apart "that aching desire to get away from the memories break, back to life - and yet it all ends in a shambles deepest despair"! Let Me Die Let me break the things I love I need to cry Let me fade Into the pitch-black velvet night ". This song is so poignant, as it can only be honest, serious, beautiful music - not easy listening, but listening is a stirring one demanded here. You are rewarded with an intensity of musical grandeur.
The trip goes on. A memory of a mother who wants to hang himself, because they can no longer bear the burden of life ("Rope Ends", a congenial song, so complex, varied and fascinating, with breaks, polyrhythm, polyphony and great guitar duel), and the tragedy that the rope does not wear, not the tie of her husband, that life does not want to let her go - somewhere namely, on this road to the cure because there is salvation As sung by a deep love, a promise. , a strong belief in the love ("This Heart of Mine"). Of two people who waver puppet equal through their lives ("Fandango"), and yet are on the same street.
Pain of Salvation connect the pain with the redemption. Nothing is only gloom and despair, always breaks through the spark of hope, to a new future, he radiates light towards the end than before. This is what makes "Remedy Lane" became an important album, and Pain of Salvation as an important band. It may be that one has to start his love trouble to find through the work.
This too is a busy road.
But sometimes the strenuous way of rewarding way.
And sometimes can be found in hardship redemption and healing.