Search - Pain of Salvation :: Perfect Element

One of the most beautiful and compelling albums I've listene

Squash 'N' Squeak | The Darkest Regions of Outer Space | 06/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Perfect Element... I'm not even sure if I can really put down in words how I truly feel about this album. Sure, I can talk about the superb musicianship, excellent vocals, and amazing lyrics, but I don't even think that will accurately describe my feelings of it.



The first time I listened to it, I didn't really care for it. Now, there was no doubt in my mind that it was a well-written, well-executed piece of work, but it just didn't sound to interesting. None of the songs sounded very inviting or warm, or really what I was hoping for. I now realize how stupid I was. This album.... geez, this album is incredible in every sense of the word. The HUGE amount of sheer emotion and soul and heart put into every little second of every song is indescribable. Lead singer/songwriter/lead guitarist Daniel Gildenlow is not only an excellent guitarist but a poet. There are only a few records that I own that have lyrics that give me the sort of feeling the lyrics of this album do. As for his voice, it's his own unique power metal-esque voice, very original and powerful, filled with anger, sadness, beauty, torment, despair, and passion.



The Perfect Element is a concept album (like all of POS' albums) that follows the story of a boy and a girl. They are both broken down by the pressures of society, and have become lonely, hopeless, and desolate. Through this, they are drawn to each other through their similarties. The boy is an outcast, who I believe has fallen into drug addiction and gotten in trouble with the law a few times. The girl is a runaway from home who has sold her body to feel accepted. The first song, Used is about the he character, and In The Flesh is about the she character. They meet and have sex (I believe so anyway) in the song Ashes. The next song, Morning On Earth, is the boy lying in bed with her, watching her sleep, reflecting on why they like each other and marveling at her innocence. These first four songs are part of the first chapter of the album: As These Two Desolate World Collide. The next chapter consists of the next four songs, and is called It All Catches Up On You When You Slow down, which focuses on the past of the two characters and the struggles they had to face. Then, the next four songs make up the 3rd chapter, Far Beyond the Point of No Return, which ends with the he character spiralling into seclusion and a mental breakdown. In the song Reconciliation, the boy has become too disordered and depressed, and he knows it, so he tells the girl to run away from him and get herself help. On the title track she meets back up with him, and sees that he is "at his last breath."



By listening to this album in its entirety, and paying attention to it's story, it's very easy to become emotionally drained by the end. This album has seriously made me come close to tears. I don't care how feminine or "homosexual" that makes me sound; I really don't. The fact is that this album probably strikes an emotional chord in me that doesn't strike most people. I was going through some pretty bad stuff about a year ago that isn't too different from the he character in this album. I was depressed, lonely, isolated, and was getting into some bad stuff. Things did get better eventually, and listening to this album almost sounds like the soundtrack to those days. But it doesn't make me shudder or feel depressed, it only makes me love this album all the more, knowing that I wasn't alone.



I can honestly say that this is one of the best prog metal albums ever; right up there with Dream Theater's Scenes From A Memory, Queensryche's Operation: Mindcrime, And Symphony X's V: The New Mythology (and those are all concept albums too!). Not only that, but I consider it to be one of the greatest albums written. Daniel Gildenlow is a genius in every sense of this word. So, please, I urge you to buy this album. Let Pain of Salvation take you on a journey through depression, sadness, hate, pain, anger, despair, tragedy, shame, regret, and beauty."

A must have for a progressive music fan

werp | minneapolis, mn | 05/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I cannot get enough of this album and I agree with the other reviews that would consider this a masterpiece. It has been a long time since a band has come along and knocked my socks off with their performance and songwriting skills and PoS has definitely done this.



I listen to this album daily."