Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane
InsideOut Music
Progressive Metal
13 songs (68:12)
Release year: 2002
Pain of Salvation, InsideOut Music
Reviewed by Keegan
Archive review

Much more accessible than, One Hour by the Concrete Lake and The Perfect Element, Pain of Salvation’s Remedy Lane remains true to the progressive nature of the band, while offering a more polished and focused set of songs that can be taken in individually as well as collectively. That said, Remedy Lane, like previous Pain of Salvation work is a concept album based around events in singer/guitarist Daniel Gildenlow’s life. Despite the linkage of songs on the album through a concept, not a single track is reminiscent of any other heard previously, making every second of music on Remedy Lane sound fresh and entrancing.

The secret to Pain of Salvation’s success is in their ability to make extremely experimental and progressive concepts and compositions extremely melodic, digestible, and intriguing. The mood of the album changes from track to track, Ending Theme screams of 70s-progressive majesty with walls of keyboard textures and legato guitar solos while it’s successor, Fandango feels more influenced by Bartok and Faith No More than Yes. Pain of Salvation shifts style every chance they get, yet not on song on Remedy Lane feels out of place, even when listened to out of the context of the concept of the album.

Remedy Lane lies on the lighter side of Pain of Salvation’s music, a bridge between the aggression of One Hour by the Concrete Lake and their live acoustic project, 12:5. Songs such as Second Love, while barren of odd the time signatures and solos is equally as entertaining and fulfilling to listen to as heavier tracks such as A Trace of Blood.

While Gildenlow is often praised solely for his insane vocal range and versatility, the skill and creativity of his, as well as Johan Hallgren’s guitar playing is equally impressive. Fredrik Hermansson’s piano and atmospheric keyboards glues the dynamic guitar work and vibrant drumming of Johan Langell, whose style is similar to Tool’s Danny Carey, together. Besides being excellent musicians, each member of the band does fantastic backup vocal work, creating harmonies and intertwining melodies with Gildenlow.

With a knack for storytelling through interesting melodic songs filled with excellent musicianship, Pain of Salvation has come to remind me of a modern Genesis. Barring any near future disasters, Pain of Salvation will become a leader of progressive metal in the very near future.

Killing Songs :
Fandango, A Trace of Blood, Second Love, Beyond the Pale
Keegan quoted 92 / 100
Other albums by Pain of Salvation that we have reviewed:
Pain of Salvation - Panther reviewed by Goat and quoted 80 / 100
Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day reviewed by Goat and quoted 88 / 100
Pain of Salvation - Road Salt Two reviewed by Goat and quoted 84 / 100
Pain of Salvation - Road Salt One reviewed by Goat and quoted 82 / 100
Pain of Salvation - One Hour by the Concrete Lake reviewed by Thomas and quoted 95 / 100
To see all 9 reviews click here
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