PAIN OF SALVATION „Be”

Music: Prog Rock
Duration: 76.00 (15 songs)
Cool songs: all of them.
Website: www.painofsalvation.com

Pain of Salvation has always been a rather unpredictable entity. Previous discs have walked the standard prog rock/metal path, yet always providing that essential individuality and quirkiness to ensure they remain ahead of, or rather separate of the pack. Their experimentation has been a major element also. With this new album ‘Be’ it is absolutely clear that POS are intent on pursuing this experimental progressive stance to the point of sheer astonishment. You want curve balls? Well, this is a curve ball with 15 trajectory variations. This is an album that requires patience and persistence to truly understand it.

‘Be’ is an album that deserves a three-page synopsis such is its complexity. Hardly any of this disc has anything to do with metal and for all intents and purposes I’m convinced that POS are extremely comfortable with that. As a genre, the ‘metal’ tag is just too limiting. There is a smattering of ‘rock’ elements employed within, but ‘Be’ is more about embracing different styles and textures to create a massive, sprawling progressive epic that pushes the very limits of the genre. Only the truly dedicated prog rock fan will appreciate the ambitiousness of ‘Be’. Everyone else will either shake their heads in utter confusion or pass it off as straight up pretentious garbage. As I said, patience is the key here.

Tackling a prickly and ambiguous subject like the existence of God, POS raise some interesting questions throughout the 75-minute journey of this disc. Like ‘Zao’ did in posing the question ‘What if God died?’ on their Funeral of God album, POS asks whether the deity himself is evolving, just like the human race. My description is rather shallow, however in viewing the lyrics it is clear that there is an ambitious and decidedly philosophical mindset that POS are asking you to explore.

‘Be’ is a much more restrained POS album. Their previous guitar heaviness has been replaced by a more dominant piano and loads of real orchestration. As a result, ‘Be’ has been granted a very dark, tense and emotionally atmospheric sound. Thoroughly creative and inventive, the impact of their compositions makes this an extremely far-reaching musical proposition. The only downside for me is that ‘Be’ lacks the melodic catchiness that some of their previous discs have achieved. However, I fully understand that in the context of the lyrics and ambitious subject matter, accessibility isn’t necessarily the point here.

‘Be’ requires hours and hours of listening to truly grasp it. Prog rock fans are used to such necessities, and thus they will find it to be a most rewarding listen. As a creative, thought provoking piece of art, it appears to be up there with the best of them (yeah, I’m trying to fully comprehend it still). However, it will also throw many for a complete loop. It asks for patience, it asks for complete and utter dedication to its source. It is a difficult and frustrating ride at times, but just like life, that is the whole point. That is the essence of Pain of Salvation. That is ‘Be’.

note: 8.5/10

Tracklist

1. Animae Partus (“I Am”)
2. Deus Nova
3. Imago (Homines Partus)
4. Pluvius Aestivus – of summer rain [homines fabula initium]
5. Lilium Cruentus (Deus Nova) on the loss of innocence
6. Nauticus (Drifting)
7. Dea Pecuniae I Mr. Money II Permanere III I Raise My Glass
8. Vocari Dei sordes aetas – Mess Age
9. Diffidentia (Breaching The Core) Exitus – Drifting II
10. Nihil Morari homines fabula finis
11. Latericius Valete
12. Omni permanere?
13. Iter Impius Martigena, Son Of Marsobitus diutinus
14. Martius/Nauticus II
15. Animae Partus II