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
Winning A War
Pain of Salvation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grateful for its love we thanked the earth that gave so much.
And oh, I loved it so!
Once there was a pair of eyes, unbroken just like my heart.
Belonging to a father and his son, now torn apart.
And oh, I loved him so!
"Why, mommy? Tell me why daddy is walking away - leaving me!"
I remember birds of pray, dark shadows piercing the ground!
Faceless men came shouting about a pride to which we were bound.
And oh, I searched for him so!
"Faith darling, have faith my son! Your daddy is winning a war..."
"...for you!"
Daddy need me, love and lead me.
Your superseding war won't feed me!
Watch fathers and sons pale cling to their guns.
Marching line by line leaving reason behind.
Their eyes now tensed with fear; enemies are near.
But all armies are only fathers and sons...
Earth bleeding through their proceeding.
All greedy voltures are needing.
WAR! WAR! Dad - who is winning a war?
And dad - who is it for?
I won't shed a tear - I won't show no fear!
Won't disappoint you dad (all greedy voltures need war)
I WON'T MISS YOU DAD!
...I'll shut down...
...but daddy, I miss you so.
And I need you here - dad I'm alone here and
DADDY, I'M LOSING YOUR WAR OUT HERE!
Daddy need me, love and lead me.
Your superseding war won't feed me.
The Pain of Salvation's Winning a War is a poignant song that speaks about the impact of war on individuals and society. The song starts with a nostalgic reference to the world that used to exist, which was untouched and grateful for the love it received. The lyrics then shift to a father-son duo, and how their relationship is affected by the war. The son is left behind to deal with the pain of separation, and the father is off to fight a battle that he considers important. The son is curious and asks his mother about the reasons for his father's departure. She assures him that the father is there fighting for him and they need to have faith.
The song highlights the horrors of war and the agony it causes to families. The lyrics describe the devastating effect of the war on the environment, with birds of prey and faceless men relentlessly taking over the land. Those returning from the war are emotionally damaged, and the lyrics touch on the importance of fathers and sons and how they all become soldiers serving in the frontlines. The last part of the song reveals the son's inner turmoil, as he struggles to cope with the pain of losing his father, and the disappointment that arises from knowing that the war did not protect or feed him.
Winning a War is a song that has various interpretations, depending on who is interpreting it. However, generally, the song is about the effects of both emotional and physical wars, and the scars that they leave on those who are left behind to deal with the aftermath. The song explores various themes such as father-son relationships, the impact of war on the environment, war propaganda and the role of greedy vultures, and the emotional pain faced by those left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Once there was a world out on these fields, that was untouched.
There was once a pure and innocent world, uncorrupted by humanity.
Grateful for its love we thanked the earth that gave so much.
We appreciated the bountiful gifts that nature bestowed upon us.
And oh, I loved it so!
It was a place of beauty and wonder that I cherished deeply.
Once there was a pair of eyes, unbroken just like my heart.
I once had a relationship with my father that was unbreakable, like my spirit.
Belonging to a father and his son, now torn apart.
But now he is gone, leaving me devastated and alone.
"Why, mommy? Tell me why daddy is walking away - leaving me!"
I am confused and desperate for answers, turning to my mother for comfort and understanding.
I remember birds of pray, dark shadows piercing the ground!
I recall the ominous, looming presence of predatory birds and faceless attackers in the distance.
Faceless men came shouting about a pride to which we were bound.
Nameless soldiers were calling for us to join them, citing a sense of loyalty that we were expected to uphold.
And oh, I searched for him so!
I longed for my father, hoping he would return and save me from this tumultuous situation.
"Faith darling, have faith my son! Your daddy is winning a war..."
My mother reassured me that my father was fighting a battle for a noble cause, and that he would return to us victorious.
"...for you!"
She emphasized that all of his actions were done out of love for me and our family.
Daddy need me, love and lead me.
I need my father to guide and care for me, as any child would rely on their parent.
Your superseding war won't feed me!
But his war and its importance to him is not enough to satisfy my need for his presence and protection.
Watch fathers and sons pale cling to their guns.
I witness the devastating effects of war on families, as fathers and sons hold tightly to their weapons out of fear for their own and each other's lives.
Marching line by line leaving reason behind.
They march like automatons, following orders blindly and pushing aside rational thinking in favor of duty.
Their eyes now tensed with fear; enemies are near.
Their fear is palpable, as they sense the danger that lurks around them.
But all armies are only fathers and sons...
Despite their adversarial roles, both sides are made up of individuals with loved ones who will be affected by the outcome of the conflict.
Earth bleeding through their proceeding.
The very ground upon which they fight is being stained and ruined by their actions.
All greedy voltures are needing.
Opportunistic birds and other scavengers eagerly await their chance to feed on the carnage left behind by war.
WAR! WAR! Dad - who is winning a war?
The relentless drumbeat of war and its associated questions of who will triumph and at what cost haunt me and my thoughts.
And dad - who is it for?
I question who will ultimately benefit from this conflict, if anyone.
I won't shed a tear - I won't show no fear!
I vow to remain strong, refusing to give in to my fear and pain despite my grief for my father's absence.
Won't disappoint you dad (all greedy voltures need war)
I feel the burden of living up to my father's expectations and desperately want to make him proud, but I also see that war serves the interests of those who exploit it.
I WON'T MISS YOU DAD!
I am both angry and heartbroken at my father for abandoning me in a time of need, but my heart still yearns for his presence.
...I'll shut down...
Despite my bravado, the pain is becoming too much to bear, and I am beginning to shut down emotionally.
...but daddy, I miss you so.
The mask of stoicism falls away as I admit to myself that I am lost and alone without my father's guidance and love.
And I need you here - dad I'm alone here and
I am desperate for his return, feeling completely isolated and vulnerable without his presence.
DADDY, I'M LOSING YOUR WAR OUT HERE!
I can feel myself being dragged down by the chaos and heartache surrounding me, unable to keep up the facade of strength and resilience any longer.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind