SCARSICK

I understand for a band's need for progression in their music, but I do not understand this musical devolution. Any trademark you've come to love from the band, any previous technique they employed, any of their sophistication has been thrown to the hounds. Pain Of Salvation have never stagnated their style between albums but certain techniques, the style of composition, and similarities in tonality where there to let you know it was a POS album. Scarsick shares more in common with your local mainstream metal station than anything from the band's past. Even simple things like Daniel's vocal style have changed. His quasi-rap vocal style on the previous three albums were always of the utmost excitement to me, but somehow he even manages to ruin that on Scarsick, trading in his quasi-rap for a boring rap style with little regard for the rhythm of the song. If you like me loved hearing the great versatility of his voice, and enjoyed seeing him explore his range, you'll be at an odds on this record. Except for a few moments (and I literally mean moments) of exception he's singing in essentially the same register. The music of the album is very much the same way. There's almost no variety; every song has the same mood attached to it. Except for "Disco Queen" (which provides many of the exceptions of the album) every song trucks on with the same attitude as the last.

Every song on the album isn't bad. There are some great tracks here. The best by far being "Disco Queen" which most reminds me of previous PoS. It features the only break from the monotony of the album, and the only lyrics with some artistic value to them. "Cribcaged", "Spitfall", and "Flame To Moth" are also worth listening to. The real problem is that there's no great songs on the album. Even the closer, usually their strongpoint, has almost no redeeming qualities.

I can sum up this album with one word: juvenile. Daniel seemed too concerned with preaching from his soapbox to put any attention into the music.

Share this PAIN OF SALVATION review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Equality 7-2521
• Report this review (#130421)
• Buy PAIN OF SALVATION music online with PA partners
• Show all PAIN OF SALVATION MP3/Stream
• Go to PAIN OF SALVATION page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Scarsick page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for PAIN OF SALVATION related discussions