Description

2020 anniversary mix. Double album on black vinyls with gatefold cover and the complete album on CD as bonus

Swedens Pain of Salvation represents a consortium of progressive/metal rockers who seemingly enjoy the concept album format. The Perfect Element I, signifies the band’s follow-up to its 1999 effort One Hour By The Concrete Lake. Here, the group effectively melds relatively strong compositions with pertinent injections of technical proficiency and shrewdly crafted rhythmic developments. However, in most instances, the musicians infuse raucous heavy metal type licks with 70s-style progressive rock, as they perhaps intimate the best of both idioms via resplendent imagery, driving beats, and crunching guitars along with a penchant for fabricating memorable melodies. Lead vocalist/guitarist Daniel Gildenlow often toggles his wares between gruff, dark intonations and harmonious or infectious lyricism. Hence, the singer’s dual approach instills a bit of a paradox, as the overall demeanor of this band seemingly fluctuates on a moment’s notice. However, The Perfect Element I is a reasonably stylish effort — one that should extend the musicians current fan base.

Track listing:
1. Used
2. In The Flesh
3. Ashes
4. Morning On Earth
5. Idioglossia
6. Her Voices
7. Dedication
8. King Of Loss
9. Reconcilliation
10. Song For The Innocent
11. Falling
12. The Perfect Element
13. Epilogue