BE

"Be" is a conceptual piece mainly based around existential lyrical content. The guys from Eskilstuna really achieved a concept that maintained a certain focus and maturity that they hadn't yet attained (this maturity, of course, being in their standards, which are amazing). The artwork really accentuates the music quite well also. Daniel's lyrics are poignant and as meaningful as ever.

One of the characters (Mr. Money), is a business man who spends all his assets on Cryobiology (the science of studying the effects of very low temperature on life). He is cryogenically frozen and not revived until he is made immortal. Once awaken from his cryogenic slumber he comes to the realization that there are no other beings left, and that no one else chose immortality because of the state the world was in (the world being so decimated and sterilized by man's quest to understand life and profit monetarily from it). The story is much more capacious than what I've described. Daniel gives us some info about the concept in the booklet and leaves the remnants for further investigation.

"Imago" is a tremendous folk-inspired song. "Pluvius Aestivus" executes the amalgamation of a sting section with the group exquitistely well; touching. Uncharted territory is trespassed on "Nauticus" with its sullenly soulful and bluesy performance. "Dea Pecunia" is the album's emotional zenith and masterpiece. The song's sardonic lyrics are superb and the incorporation of a female co-singer and choir make the song as a whole magnificent. The end of this song is one of the most exciting in the band's impeccable repertoire. "Vocari Dei" is an affectionate song musically and subject matter wise. This track is very moving and I wish not to go any further into it, for its sake of catching you off guard, thus, giving it more emotive potency. "Omni" is mostly organ-based with a desperate vocal performance by Daniel. "Iter Impius" is also another very powerful song where the album seems to peak again. Great string work and dynamics.

The album has recurring themes if you pay close attention. This is a very focused album that maintains a somewhat dark ambiance throughout. "Be" is a classic, just as all of their works to date. It presents the musical world with another dynamic and a very different album than any of their previous conceptual works. PAIN OF SALVATION's musical trajectory is a vast and magical forest that has the ability to present the "aware" eye with many hue's and season's, for whatever it wills on the senses, it succeeds.