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
A Trace Of Blood
Pain of Salvation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Safe and sound Weeks of exile turn to bliss
But there's something in her voice When she is calling me
A trace of blood to lead me
Through roads of agony With blood taste in my mouth
And clouds before my eyes
I kneel beside the bed Where my bleeding dryad lies
Hitting ground Nausea wakes me up at dawn
Hopes are found
Dissected, turned and then
Withdrawn
A chair of steel and wire Her legs are open wide
Helpless in myself I stand there cold beside
The doctors stay away Leave us with this dismay
To see the colours of a miracle Fade and turn to gray
Then a cry and rivers of blood Flow so sadly
bringing you
Our dreams pour into a cold tray Two young souls in misery
Missing you
I never knew your name but I will miss you just the same
I was to live for you I lost the will to live at all the day you came
It'll never be the same but I will love you just the same
You were to be the first, how wonderful
Now I will always fear to hope again
The irony Of seeing me whispering through her skin
So joyfully To our child there deep within
Or of when she called to me To tell me cheerfully
That she had seen your shape On a hospital screen
And of nurses being concerned That you never moved or turned
Too late we see the warnings Too late we learn
I never saw your face and now you're gone without a trace
Except the trace of blood that's deeply scarred into my eyes To fill your place
It'll never be the same but I will love you just the same
I was prepared to be your father How can I ever prepare for that again?
Still I follow that trace of blood Always leading back to you
Hollow years of damming that flood Two young souls in misery
Missing you... missing you...
The song "A Trace Of Blood" is a heartbreaking tale of a father's loss after the miscarriage of his child. The opening lines suggest a sense of relief as the persona is "going home to those I miss" after weeks of exile. However, despite his eagerness to reunite with his loved ones, there is a troubled undertone in her voice as she calls to him, hinting at something more profound. This "trace of blood" is the imagery used to symbolize the father's tragic loss as he kneels beside his "bleeding dryad" and witnessed the "colours of a miracle fade and turn to gray."
The second half of the song explores the father's emotions and how he tries to cope with the loss. He never knew the name of his child, but he still misses him/her just the same. The persona had been ready to live for the child, only to lose the will to live after his/her death. The father acknowledges the irony of whispering to his wife's belly joyfully, and how they had seen the child's shape on the hospital screen. The doctors had shown concern that the child never moved or turned, but it was too late to prevent the tragedy. The father continues to follow the trace of blood, always leading back to his child, as he copes with the grief and pain of the loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Touching ground Going home to those I miss
Returning home after a long time away and feeling excited to see loved ones again
Safe and sound Weeks of exile turn to bliss
Feeling relieved to be back home and out of harm's way, after being in a dangerous or unpleasant situation for a long time
But there's something in her voice When she is calling me
Noticing a hint of worry or sadness in someone's voice when they speak to you, even if they're trying to sound happy or normal
A trace of blood to lead me
A physical reminder or symbol that guides one's thoughts or actions, often associated with tragedy or trauma
Through roads of agony With blood taste in my mouth
Enduring difficult or painful experiences that leave a lasting impression or affect one's physical and emotional state
And clouds before my eyes
Being overwhelmed or confused by emotions, memories or sensory stimuli that make it hard to focus or think clearly
I kneel beside the bed Where my bleeding dryad lies
Being present and attentive to the needs of someone who is seriously injured, sick or dying
Three young souls in misery
Referring to the artist, their partner and their unborn child, who face an uncertain and challenging future due to medical complications
Hitting ground Nausea wakes me up at dawn
Feeling physically ill or mentally stressed, leading to insomnia or restless sleep
Hopes are found Dissected, turned and then Withdrawn
Being given hope or encouragement about a positive outcome, only to have it taken away or denied after further testing or evaluation
A chair of steel and wire Her legs are open wide
Being forced to undergo medical procedures or interventions that feel invasive, painful, or humiliating
Helpless in myself I stand there cold beside
Feeling powerless to change the situation or help someone in distress, even though you're physically present and trying to provide comfort
The doctors stay away Leave us with this dismay
Feeling abandoned, ignored or uncared for by medical professionals who are supposed to provide care, support and information
To see the colours of a miracle Fade and turn to gray
Feeling disappointed, betrayed or disillusioned by the outcome of a medical procedure or intervention that was supposed to bring hope or healing, but falls short of expectations
Then a cry and rivers of blood Flow so sadly bringing you
Experiencing the trauma and loss of a stillborn child, who is born only to die shortly afterwards, with a lot of bleeding and emotional pain for the mother and the father
Our dreams pour into a cold tray Two young souls in misery
Realizing that the plans, hopes and aspirations one had for the future, which included the child, are now empty and meaningless, leaving only a sense of sorrow and despair
Missing you
Expressing the deep sadness, longing and heartbreak experienced after losing someone very dear and important to you
I never knew your name but I will miss you just the same
Acknowledging the loss and the impact of the child's death, even though they never had a chance to meet and form a bond
I was to live for you I lost the will to live at all the day you came
Experiencing a profound shift in one's priorities, values and identity, after the death of a child, which makes it harder to find meaning and purpose in life
It'll never be the same but I will love you just the same
Accepting the reality of the loss, while still feeling a deep and unconditional love for the child and for what they represented
You were to be the first, how wonderful Now I will always fear to hope again
Reflecting on the joy and anticipation of having a first child, which is now replaced by anxiety, doubt and fear about the future
The irony Of seeing me whispering through her skin
Noticing the strange and surreal nature of communicating with a child inside the womb, through the mother's belly, which seems both intimate and distant
So joyfully To our child there deep within
Feeling a deep sense of love, wonder and connection to the unborn child, who represents the best hopes and dreams of the parents
Or of when she called to me To tell me cheerfully
Recalling the moment when the partner informed the artist about seeing the ultrasound of the child, which created a surge of happiness and relief
That she had seen your shape On a hospital screen
Seeing the visual image of the child's body or profile, which conveys a sense of identity, uniqueness and vulnerability
And of nurses being concerned That you never moved or turned
Feeling anxious and worried about the lack of movement or response of the child during the medical checks, which might indicate a problem or abnormality
Too late we see the warnings Too late we learn
Realizing, too late, the significance and gravity of the medical warnings, symptoms or indicators that were overlooked or underestimated, leading to the tragic outcome
It'll never be the same but I will love you just the same
Repeating the refrain as a way of expressing unconditional love for the child, despite the pain and heartbreak of losing them
Still I follow that trace of blood Always leading back to you
Revisiting the memory of the physical and emotional shock of the stillbirth, which has left a permanent impression and a sense of guilt, sadness and loss
Hollow years of damming that flood Two young souls in misery Missing you... missing you...
Enduring a long period of grief, regret and emotional numbness, trying to suppress or contain the overwhelming emotions that threaten to consume and drown the singer, while still feeling the pain and longing for the child that will never be born or grow up
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DANIEL GILDENLOEW, PAIN OF SALVATION
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind