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
Nightmist
Pain of Salvation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Misty world fades away before my blinded eyes - why?
Now when I stand at the end of the line, I cling to life when I should
Decline. I always thought I would welcome this day, but now when it's here
Could there be a heaven behind that gate?
Love or hate?
Wait by my side. count the seconds till I die.
Smile and tell me that you care, 'cause I'm scared now.
Now when I stand at the end of the line, I cling to life when I should
Decline. I always thought I would welcome this day, but now I can see:
It is yet a bird of pray!
God, hear my voice!
I turn to thee you've got to tell me what will become of me?
Why shall I die?
Oh god! hear my voice! tell me there are no questions.
Please give me a few more hours of this flair life
It's mine!
As I am leaving, alone and afraid, I'm thinking of all the mistakes I've
Made. I wish of my heart I could change only one!
I'd want to say "sorry" just one more time before I am gone! (gone)
The opening lines of Pain of Salvation's Nightmist depict the transition from autumn to winter, with cold winds blowing away leaves, and the misty world fading away. The imagery sets the scene for a deeply existential, probing song about the end of life. The singer stands at the end of the line, facing their mortality, and begins to question everything they thought they knew. They had always assumed that they would welcome this moment, but now that it is here, they wonder whether there could be something more beyond "that gate." They are faced with a choice between love or hate, and they cling to life even though they know they should decline.
The chorus introduces a new character who waits by the singer's side - presumably a loved one or a deity. The singer appeals to the listener to hold their hand and reassure them that they care, as they are scared of what lies beyond. In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that they can see death as yet another bird of prey swooping in on them. They address God directly, asking what will become of them and why they must die. The plea is desperate and fraught with uncertainty; they wish for a few more hours of life to make amends for their mistakes and say sorry just one more time. The song ends on the haunting note of "gone."
Line by Line Meaning
Cold winter winds blow away autumn leaves now.
The singer is experiencing the onset of winter and using the metaphor of leaves being blown away to represent something coming to an end.
Misty world fades away before my blinded eyes - why?
The world seems vague and unclear to the singer which results in their confusion about why they are losing sight.
Now when I stand at the end of the line, I cling to life when I should Decline. I always thought I would welcome this day, but now when it's here Could there be a heaven behind that gate? Love or hate?
The singer is at the end of their life but is uncertain about whether to embrace it or fight to keep living. They also wonder what lies beyond this significant transition and whether they will face love or hate when they get there.
Wait by my side. count the seconds till I die. Hold my hand. Smile and tell me that you care, 'cause I'm scared now.
The artist is asking someone to offer comfort and support as they face the end of their life.
It is yet a bird of pray!
The artist realizes that death is not a welcome reward, but instead it is something that has come to prey upon them.
God, hear my voice! I turn to thee you've got to tell me what will become of me?
Asking for guidance and answers about their fate after death.
Why shall I die? Oh god! hear my voice! tell me there are no questions. Please give me a few more hours of this flair life It's mine!
The singer is still trying to understand why they have to experience death and asking for more time to enjoy life.
As I am leaving, alone and afraid, I'm thinking of all the mistakes I've Made. I wish of my heart I could change only one! I'd want to say "sorry" just one more time before I am gone! (gone)
Reflecting on past mistakes and hoping to fix one by apologizing one last time before death comes for them.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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