Trademarks include concept albums focusing on social, environmental, philosophical, and emotional issues as well as songs that incorporate complex rhythms and time changes but retain flowing melodies.
The band was formed by Gildenlöw in 1984 under the name Reality. The band used to participate in many music contests in their homeland of Sweden. The first EP, Hereafter, was recorded in 1996 under the monicker Pain of Salvation, which has been the name of the band since 1991. The Lineup of the band was the same for their first official full length album, Entropia(1997).
After the departure of Daniel Magdic for continuing disagreements with the others over committing to the increasing demands of the band, the band recorded One Hour By The Concrete Lake(1999), a concept album about the issues of nuclear power/waste, disposition of indigenous peoples,industry and human discovery. The band began to receive more attention from critics and magazines all around the world. In 1999 they also played at the famous ProgPower festival in The Netherlands.
Their third and most famous album, The Perfect Element I was released in 2000 and received a great response from the crowd and critics, making them the second most famous Progressive Metal band over the world: a success confirmed by their fourth album, Remedy Lane (2002), a semi-autobiographical album written by Daniel Gildenlöw about loss, love, and life.
2004 saw the release of two different albums, an acoustic live show recorded at Eskilstuna called 12:5 where the band played most of their old famous songs rearranged, and the epic concept album about the origin of humanity and God called BE: It was the first album to divide the fan base in opinion, due to its musically experimental and philosophical nature; and perhaps also its lack of cohesive progressive metal pieces.
BE album was also released in a special DVD edition called BE: The Original Stage Production (2005). With a live CD recorded during the 2003 presentation of the album and a DVD rappresentation from the same dates.
On 21 February 2006, Kristoffer Gildenlöw was asked to leave the band due to him not being able to attend rehearsals, since he lived in Holland and the band lived in Sweden. Kristoffer has a solo album planned for the future, as well as a side project called Dial.
The new album, Scarsick, was released on January 22, 2007. It is more band oriented than BE, with Daniel Gildenlöw playing bass in the studio. Recent interviews with Daniel have revealed that Scarsick is, in fact, the second part of The Perfect Element, confirming the speculation of many fans.
A European tour to support the new album has been announced (it started February 17, 2007). The band will be playing with Simon Andersson, a new replacement bassist on this tour. On the 10th of March, after the Copenhagen show, Simon Andersson was welcomed into Pain of Salvation as a full member. The band issued this message on their website:
He (Simon Andersson) did an outstanding job on the tour and we are looking forward to the coming years with great anticipation. Since his girlfriend is a huge Pain of Salvation fan, we happily expect to see this decision put a little silver lining on their sex life as well, since she can now all of a sudden go to bed with a member of the band :-) Congratulations Simon, and welcome to the family!
In May 2007 it was announced that drummer Johan Langell had decided to leave the band to spend more time with his family.
For Progressive Nation 2009 Tour the band took a new bass guitar player - Per Schelander.
According to their website, there is a new EP "Linoleum" due in November 2009, while a double album "Road Salt", consisting of two parts (Ivory and Ebony) is recorded and to be released in 2010, 2011.
Current lineup:
Daniel Gildenlöw – vocals, guitar
Johan Hallgren – lead guitar, backing vocals
Léo Margarit - drums
Gustaf Hielm - bass guitar, double bass, vocals (1992–1994, 2011–present)
Daniel "D2" Karlsson – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals
Former members:
Daniel Magdic – guitar, backing vocals
Kristoffer Gildenlöw – bass guitar, double bass, backing vocals
Johan Langell – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Magnus Johansson - bass guitar (1990)
Joakim Strandberg - bass guitar (1984–1990)
Mikael Pettersson - drums (1984–1990)
Fredrik Hermansson – keyboards
Simon Andersson - bass guitar, backing vocals (2007-2008)
Per Schelander - bass guitar, backing vocals
Ragnar Zolberg - guitar, vocals, mandolin
02. In the Flesh
Pain of Salvation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for something they call "home"
Hoping to find some peace of mind
Sometimes we need to walk alone
She is set on running away
Though her mom was yelling she must stay
A wind beaten bird for reasons unheard
So fly away, fly away, fly away
Don't be afraid, don't hesitate, fly away
Some wear their bruises on their skin
Others hide their scars deep within
She has a wound close to her womb
Blames herself for letting it in
So fly away, fly away, fly away
Don't be afraid, don't hesitate, fly away
But She's afraid, she's afraid, she's afraid
Anyway
See those eyes, see those eyes, see those eyes
Hate and lies, a fire that slowly dies
But She will fly, she will fly, she will fly
Before it dies
Sometimes the hands that feed
Must feed a mind with a sick need
And the hands that clutch can be
The same hands that touch too much
Eyes that hungrily stare
Read in an access that's not there
While eyes close to hide tears
Or look away in fear
Run away!
Passing the open stores
Hiding her dirty sores
Seeking asylum among freaks and whores
What wouldn't she give to be in a society
Not learning the eyes to be closed but to see
Now she bites the words
"Never"
She kicks the ground
"Never"
Swallows her tears
"Never will I go back"
She hits the walls
"Leave me!"
Scratches herself
"Leave me!"
Begs to all Gods
"Rip me from this sick flesh!"
"I will always be there"
"No!"
She holds her ears
"You know that I love you"
Pretends that she doesn't hear
"We're in this together"
"We share the same skin"
Panic in his voice now
"Free us from sin"
"Tell me that you love me"
This is the end
"I know that you do"
Of her way
Never ever again
Follow me down
"God forgive this hunger"
"Please mommy see"
"Never tell a soul"
"Is it me?"
A child will love its parents
Will follow them down
She swears to the pavement's heart of stone
That these city lights will be her home
But still as they burn she will return
Back to the adults. . . of her home.
The Pain of Salvation's song "In The Flesh" is a haunting ballad that reflects on the struggles of a woman who has been subject to abuse and neglect for most of her life. The song's lyrics describe the woman's journey as she walks alone through the city streets, searching for a place she can call home. She yearns to escape the oppressive environment she grew up in, symbolized by the words she repeats throughout the song, "fly away, don't be afraid." The woman's past trauma is revealed in the line "She has a wound close to her womb, blames herself for letting it in," suggesting that she has been sexually abused.
The final verse of the song reveals that the woman doesn't manage to escape her past and instead returns to the only home she knows, despite its painful associations. The song acknowledges that people who have experienced abuse and neglect often feel trapped within their situations, unable to break free and start anew. Despite her best intentions, the woman cannot escape her past and is drawn back to the source of her suffering. Overall, the song is a poignant look at the struggle to survive and overcome the trauma of abuse.
Line by Line Meaning
She walks these empty streets alone
She is wandering through desolate streets without company
Looking for something they call "home"
She is searching for a place to feel comfortable in
Hoping to find some peace of mind
She desires to get rid of the distress in her thoughts
Sometimes we need to walk alone
It is necessary to have time for one's self once in a while
She is set on running away
She has made up her mind to escape
Though her mom was yelling she must stay
Even though her mother was insisting that she should stay
A wind beaten bird for reasons unheard
She is a fragile bird battered by the harsh winds of life
Sometimes it is best to run away
In some cases, the best thing to do is to escape from the situation
So fly away, fly away, fly away
Go away, leave this place, don't stay
Don't be afraid, don't hesitate, fly away
Do not be scared, don't postpone it, go away
Some wear their bruises on their skin
Some people show the wounds on their skin
Others hide their scars deep within
Other people conceal their injuries within themselves
She has a wound close to her womb
She has a wound near her reproductive organs
Blames herself for letting it in
She thinks that it is her fault for being wounded
But She's afraid, she's afraid, she's afraid
However, she is scared
Anyway
In spite of everything
See those eyes, see those eyes, see those eyes
Look into those eyes, look into those eyes, look into those eyes
Hate and lies, a fire that slowly dies
Hatred and deceit, a flame that fades away gradually
But She will fly, she will fly, she will fly
However, she will escape
Before it dies
Before she loses the opportunity to getaway
Sometimes the hands that feed
At times, the people who provide assistance
Must feed a mind with a sick need
Must give to a warped mentality
And the hands that clutch can be
Additionally, the people who hold up
The same hands that touch too much
Are the same ones that touch inappropriately
Eyes that hungrily stare
Eager eyes gazing
Read in an access that's not there
Misinterpret the interaction as something more intimate than what it actually is
While eyes close to hide tears
At the same time, eyes closing to conceal the feeling of sorrow
Or look away in fear
Or avert their gaze out of fear
Run away!
Escape!
Passing the open stores
Passing by stores that are open
Hiding her dirty sores
Concealing her soiled and damaged skin
Seeking asylum among freaks and whores
Trying to find a safe haven among socially marginalized people
What wouldn't she give to be in a society
What wouldn't she do to live in a society
Not learning the eyes to be closed but to see
A society that didn't force her to ignore what is happening but rather look at it
Now she bites the words "Never"
Now she mutters the word "Never" with anger
She kicks the ground "Never"
She kicks her feet on the ground saying "Never"
Swallows her tears "Never will I go back"
Suppresses her tears and pledges to herself that she won't go back
She hits the walls "Leave me!"
She hits the walls and asks to be left alone
Scratches herself "Leave me!"
She scratches herself and screams to be left alone
Begs to all Gods "Rip me from this sick flesh!"
Asks all deities to save her from her unfortunate life
"I will always be there"
"I will always be with you"
"No!"
"No!"
She holds her ears
She covers her ears
"You know that I love you"
"You are aware that I love you"
Pretends that she doesn't hear
Pretends that she can't hear what is being said
"We're in this together"
"We are both in the same situation"
"We share the same skin"
"We are the same"
Panic in his voice now
He is now speaking frantically
"Free us from sin"
"Deliver us from sin"
"Tell me that you love me"
"Express your love for me"
This is the end
This is the conclusion
Never ever again
Never again
Follow me down
Come along with me
"God forgive this hunger"
"I ask God to forgive this desperation"
"Please mommy see"
"Please mother, notice my situation"
"Never tell a soul"
"Never reveal this to anyone"
"Is it me?"
"Am I the reason for this?"
A child will love its parents
A child will always love its parents
Will follow them down
Will stick with them through thick and thin
She swears to the pavement's heart of stone
She declares to the inanimate pavement
That these city lights will be her home
That she will make the city lights her abode
But still as they burn she will return
But despite that, she will come back to her previous environment
Back to the adults. . . of her home.
Back to the grown-ups of her household.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DANIEL GILDENLOEW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ha.ro.ru.do-ハロルド-
Thank you for uploading this. It means so much to me
erakatak
where the fuck has this voice been for the past 10 years? I saw them play Used in May, but I honestly didn't think he had it in him to do more than one of the classic songs in a set. I'm literally watching these with mouth agape.
erakatak
@CaptRandom1990 yeah I know. that was rough. He's actually said he just kinda grew out of that style of singing though.
He can obviously still pull it off, but I guess his tastes have just changed. Probably also trying to write more vocal lines that are sustainable through the rest of his career
Henrique Grande Neto
The invisible fretless bass player :(
Vikram Shankar Music
He didn't miss a note all show. :)