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
10 Nihil Morari
Pain of Salvation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hear me
Need me
Some things will never change
Touch me
Heal me
Mankind remains the same
Forests
Nations
Now everything bears our name
While earth is bleeding
Nothing will remain
Nothing prevails
We were stuck in this world of change
Expecting it to remain
Now nothing is left unstained
No!
When there's nothing more that we can trade
Own
Steal
Or sell
When there's nothing whole because we took it apart
And
Just left
Moved on
When there's nothing left for us to break
Use
Abuse
Or rape
Then you're free to count how much you saved
I can see the ways we fail
I can see us fall so easily
A structure far too frail
I can see 40,000 years of knowledge and history
Invested in this child
Spoiled and stained by proud divinity
Gaining at best the perspective and wisdom
Of not even a fleeting century
We have now reached the final ten thousandth of a second
Of our evolutionary year, as we hit 2,000 at a birth rate
Of 250 people a minute
Tell me
How are we supposed to survive?
If we're acting like fools
All dropping dead to stay alive?
Someone tell me
Please just show me
If there's nothing to do, god we'll turn to you
But if we're an image of you
I reckon you are just as puzzled and ugly too
You think we have developed fast; that we're civilized and intelligent
I'll let you in on a secret: we have developed things!
The rest is simply knowledge passed on
(I can see us drain this world
I can see us buying loss too cheap
Terra sterilia washing its bronken hand of us now
Creation's blackest sheep! )
Hell, 99% of humanity couldn't put together a simple light bulb if you put a gun to their heads!
And the intellect rubs off on fear
The year 2,010 ad: 6,823 million people
2,020 ad: 7,518 million people
2,030 ad: 8,140 million people
2,040 ad: 8,668 million people
2,050 ad: 9,104 million people
I can see us read the signs
But spell them out in backward travesty
I see us close our eyes
To all the wounds that we inflict to this world by being "free"
We love this world to death
Purchasing our lifestyles with our lives
Defending our momentarily nations
With the loss of our priceless earthly home
It's not hard to reach the top
It's not hard not knowing when to stop
It's not hard to take all
Not very difficult to fly if you settle for a fall
It's not hard to cross a line
It's not hard to push and go to far
Some creatures cannot climb
Then there are us who cannot even learn how to stay alive
I'm sorry!
For the things we did and did not do
Forgive us; the fools that rushed ahead without a clue
I am sorry
Please forgive us
For this human lack of humanity
This evolutionary travesty
This tragedy called "man"
Called man
I'm sorry!
For the things we did and didn't do
Forgive us; the fools that rushed ahead without a single clue
...Without a single clue. ..
The lyrics of "Nihil Morari" by Pain of Salvation contain a strong message about the destructive effects of human behavior on the planet. The verses describe how humans have left their imprint on the world, with oceans, forests, and nations all bearing the name of mankind. However, this legacy of human progress is a double-edged sword, as the earth is bleeding and nothing will remain. The chorus speaks to the inevitable end result of human activity, when there is nothing else that can be exploited or destroyed, and the only thing left to do is to count how much has been saved.
The song's theme is one of regret and apology, acknowledging that humanity has been a "tragedy called man." The lyrics pointedly observe that despite having 40,000 years of knowledge and history behind us, we have failed to learn from our past and instead have become "spoiled and stained by proud divinity." We are depicted as being "ugly" and "puzzled," behaving like "fools" who are "all dropping dead to stay alive." The song ends with a plea for forgiveness and an admission of our lack of humanity.
Overall, "Nihil Morari" is a poignant call to action, urging people to reflect on their impact on the world and to take responsibility for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
See me
Acknowledge my existence
Hear me
Listen to what I have to say
Need me
Admit that you require my help
Some things will never change
Certain aspects of life are immutable
Touch me
Physically connect with me
Heal me
Provide a remedy for my injury or ailment
Mankind remains the same
Humanity endures, its flaws persist
Oceans
Large bodies of saltwater
Forests
Expanses of densely wooded land
Nations
Political entities defined by borders
Now everything bears our name
Humanity has left its mark on the world
While earth is bleeding
The planet is suffering harm
Nothing will remain
Destruction is inevitable
Nothing prevails
Nothing endures
We were stuck in this world of change
We couldn't adapt to shifting circumstances
Expecting it to remain
Assuming things would stay the same
Now nothing is left unstained
Everything has been affected by our actions
No!
Refusal or rejection
When there's nothing more that we can trade
When we run out of resources to exchange
Own
Acquire or possess
Steal
Take without permission
Or sell
Exchange for profit
When there's nothing whole because we took it apart
When we dismantle things to the point of no return
And
Additionally
Just left
Abandoned or neglected
Moved on
Progressed to something else
When there's nothing left for us to break
When we have exhausted things to the point of breaking them
Use
Employ for a purpose
Abuse
Mistreat or exploit
Or rape
Plunder or violate
Then you're free to count how much you saved
If there's nothing left to destroy, evaluate what you have preserved
I can see the ways we fail
I perceive our shortcomings
I can see us fall so easily
We are prone to collapse
A structure far too frail
Our society is weak and vulnerable
I can see 40,000 years of knowledge and history
The extent of our accumulated wisdom over time
Invested in this child
Bestowed upon this fledgling civilization
Spoiled and stained by proud divinity
Tarnished by arrogance and self-righteousness
Gaining at best the perspective and wisdom
Acquiring at most a fleeting understanding
Of not even a fleeting century
Not even the perspective of a century
We have now reached the final ten thousandth of a second
We are at the end of a significant period
Of our evolutionary year, as we hit 2,000 at a birth rate
At the turn of this new millennium
Of 250 people a minute
Every minute, 250 more people are born
Tell me
Pose a question
How are we supposed to survive?
What is our path to survival?
If we're acting like fools
If we are behaving foolishly
All dropping dead to stay alive?
Will our desperate attempts to survive lead to our demise?
Someone tell me
Request assistance in understanding
Please just show me
Demonstrate for me
If there's nothing to do, god we'll turn to you
If all else fails, we will seek divine help
But if we're an image of you
If we are reflections of a higher power
I reckon you are just as puzzled and ugly too
Perhaps even deity is confounded and flawed like us
You think we have developed fast; that we're civilized and intelligent
The perception that we have progressed swiftly and are advanced
I'll let you in on a secret: we have developed things!
The truth is, our developments are only material
The rest is simply knowledge passed on
Our intellectual growth is limited to what we have been told
(I can see us drain this world
I observe us depleting the planet
I can see us buying loss too cheap
We are accepting destruction at a low cost
Terra sterilia washing its bronken hand of us now
Earth is rejecting us, given how damaged we have caused it to become
Creation's blackest sheep! )
We are the unwanted creatures of creation
Hell, 99% of humanity couldn't put together a simple light bulb if you put a gun to their heads!
Most of us lack the basic knowledge to create something so trivial
And the intellect rubs off on fear
Our limited intelligence contributes to our anxiety
The year 2,010 ad: 6,823 million people
Statistics on global population
2,020 ad: 7,518 million people
Anticipated population growth projections
2,030 ad: 8,140 million people
A predicted increase in the number of people on Earth
2,040 ad: 8,668 million people
More expected population growth figures
2,050 ad: 9,104 million people
Further projected rise in the number of humans
I can see us read the signs
I recognize the warning signals
But spell them out in backward travesty
Our interpretation of the signs is in error
I see us close our eyes
We are deliberately ignorant
To all the wounds that we inflict to this world by being "free"
Our actions of asserting independence harm the planet
We love this world to death
We adore the planet so much, we are killing it
Purchasing our lifestyles with our lives
Our risky lifestyles come at the cost of our survival
Defending our momentarily nations
Our temporary political boundaries are worth fighting for
With the loss of our priceless earthly home
Our inability to protect our home will lead to its destruction
It's not hard to reach the top
Climbing the social ladder is not difficult
It's not hard not knowing when to stop
Reining in our behavior is not challenging
It's not hard to take all
Hoarding resources comes easy
Not very difficult to fly if you settle for a fall
We can feel successful in mediocrity
It's not hard to cross a line
Violating boundaries is simple
It's not hard to push and go to far
We can easily overstep our limits
Some creatures cannot climb
Certain animals are not meant to ascend
Then there are us who cannot even learn how to stay alive
Humanity struggles to even survive
I'm sorry!
An expression of remorse
For the things we did and did not do
For our actions and inactions
Forgive us; the fools that rushed ahead without a clue
A plea for forgiveness for the recklessness of our species
I am sorry
Another apology
Please forgive us
Another request for forgiveness
For this human lack of humanity
For our barbarism despite our intelligence
This evolutionary travesty
Our flawed development as a species
This tragedy called "man"
Our existence as a species is marred with sadness
Called man
We are defined by the label of "man"
Without a single clue. .
A repeated acknowledgment of our ignorance
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL GILDENLOEW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind