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
Beyond the Mirror
Pain of Salvation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A lovely vision of my doom
The sunlight's fading - reflections start to dim
Through the dusty window in this room
I'm walking through my memories as I'm staring through the glass
I have to claim I'm innocent
Though I can't remember what I've done these past few nights
I see myself now, in the dusty glass
All wired up in this chair
My face is foreign and my weary eyes are black
I see myself through that stare
Eternal alleys that lead to walls hidden behind unlocked doors
I claim the handle, I need to see
Even though I'll surely be afraid of what I may find...
...beyond the mirror!
(Inside the circle)
I walk through mazes of cold corridors
Searching for the core of my mind
My heartbeats reach out to find another pulse
That once was bound and confined
The two different heartbeats, becoming one
Are causing the coalescence of my soul
A quiet outcry - a silent scream - is filling me as I am driven back
From shadows that dwell...
...beyond the mirror!
(Inside the circle)
My world is frozen as I'm staring through the glass
Gazing through the window at my memories
Not longer foreign
Though I somehow wish...they were
The glowing fingers of a violent raging sky
In search for evil find a path
They rush through my veins, they invite my pulse to die
They end my life with frenzied wrath
Amidst the shadows of whisper land
I feel that something's binding me to life
Confined in nowhere by no ones hand
I realize the pact is unfulfilled
I'm trapped on the edge...
...beyond the mirror!
(Inside the circle)
The song "Beyond the Mirror" by Pain of Salvation paints a vivid picture of a person's struggle with their past and present selves. The lyrics describe a scene where the singer is looking through a dusty window at the approaching clouds, which symbolize their impending doom. The reflections in the window start to fade, representing the singer's fading memories. The singer is walking through their memories, trying to piece together what happened in the past few nights, and claiming to be innocent.
The lyrics then take a dark turn, as the singer sees themselves in a chair, wired up, and looking foreign in the dusty glass. The singer walks through cold corridors, searching for the core of their mind and heartbeats, to find another pulse that was once bound and confined. The two different heartbeats become one, causing the coalescence of their soul. Amidst the shadows of whisper land, the singer feels that something is binding them to life, representing their unfulfilled pact.
Overall, "Beyond the Mirror" is a haunting and emotional song about self-discovery and the struggle to come to terms with one's past and present selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Through a dusty window I watch the clouds draw near
I observe the approaching clouds through a grimy window.
A lovely vision of my doom
It's a pleasant sight of my downfall.
The sunlight's fading - reflections start to dim
The sunlight drifts away, and my view decreases in clarity.
Through the dusty window in this room
I survey through the dusty window of this room.
I'm walking through my memories as I'm staring through the glass
I'm reviewing my thoughts, while also focusing on the window.
I have to claim I'm innocent
I need to declare my innocence.
Though I can't remember what I've done these past few nights
Although I'm unsure of my actions during the preceding nights,
I can't be the one that Father Kane believes I am
I refuse to be the person Father Kane claims me to be.
I see myself now, in the dusty glass
Through the dirty glass, I witness myself.
All wired up in this chair
I'm sitting in this chair, hooked up to equipment.
My face is foreign and my weary eyes are black
My face appears unfamiliar, and my eyes appear exhausted.
I see myself through that stare
I visualize myself in my own haunting gaze.
Eternal alleys that lead to walls hidden behind unlocked doors
Endless paths that lead to secret walls are found behind open doors.
I claim the handle, I need to see
I grasp the handle, as I require the truth.
Even though I'll surely be afraid of what I may find...
Despite knowing I'll be terrified of what I might discover...
...beyond the mirror!
...behind the mirror!
(Inside the circle)
(Within the confines)
I walk through mazes of cold corridors
I traverse chilling passageways of intricate design.
Searching for the core of my mind
I'm seeking the center of my thoughts.
My heartbeats reach out to find another pulse
My heartbeats appear to connect with another.
That once was bound and confined
That was once restricted and restrained.
The two different heartbeats, becoming one
Two distinct heartbeats uniting as one.
Are causing the coalescence of my soul
The convergence of the heartbeats is merging my being.
A quiet outcry - a silent scream - is filling me as I am driven back
As I'm forced to retreat, a soft protest - a muted scream - engulfs me.
From shadows that dwell...
From the specters that inhabit...
...beyond the mirror!
...behind the mirror!
(Inside the circle)
(Within the confines)
My world is frozen as I'm staring through the glass
My reality is frozen while I look through the pane.
Gazing through the window at my memories
Contemplating my recollections through the window.
Not longer foreign
No longer unfamiliar.
Though I somehow wish...they were
Yet, somehow, I desire they were.
The glowing fingers of a violent raging sky
The fluorescent digits of a furious, raging aura.
In search for evil find a path
Discovering a path in seeking wickedness.
They rush through my veins, they invite my pulse to die
They race through my veins, attempting to halt my heartbeat.
They end my life with frenzied wrath
They end my existence in insane fury.
Amidst the shadows of whisper land
In the midst of the shadows where whispers abide,
I feel that something's binding me to life
I sense some force that's connecting me to existence.
Confined in nowhere by no ones hand
Trapped in a place of nowhere, without anyone's intervention.
I realize the pact is unfulfilled
I comprehend that the agreement remains incomplete.
I'm trapped on the edge...
I'm confined on the brink...
...beyond the mirror!
...behind the mirror!
(Inside the circle)
(Within the confines)
Contributed by Hannah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Zaothus
It's a testament to how great Pain of Salvation are that they can afford to keep a track this good from their general audience.
@therealjohndoe3862
The Perfect Element is one of my favorite albums of all time, and this is refreshing to hear, and reminds of great times. Great tune. Has elements of both OHBTCL and TPE. Brilliant, in fact!
@CrotchBlaster
I wonder why they don't use those background vocals like in this song anymore. It made their first two albums sound really epic.
@ArnieC1974
Because Daniel ruined the perfect band within 5 years
@silvyadav
I remember, it was live at first listening. I so love their music!
@cacofoniyx
Great music!!!
@vforvendetta4022
In fact it was on the Limited Edition of PE Part 1 , along with Timeweaver's Tale....;) One of their best tunes!!!!
@Baustelle11
i miss this band
@Agte1234
Greatness....in some strange way it has a little Manowar vibe haha😁
@Mikau-gb8uo
amazing