ROAD SALT ONE

Pain of Salvation have never been ones to stagnate, and this album lives up to its name. It is dirty. Instruments and tones blend together in a almost live feel to the music. I love it. You don't have a separate frequency spectrum for each instrument, it all meddles together and the effect gives you a geniune feeling that most modern music misses out on. Daniel's vocals are at his finest and most natural here and he sounds great. Its impossible not to sing along and realize how intricate and soulful his singing is. Here we have a heavy influence from 70's hard rock and blues and the effect is a welcome meshing with the dark style of POS. The Road Salt saga are the last albums recorded with long time members Johan and Fredrik. (On guitar and keys respectively.)

The album opens powerfully with No Way, which has a very classic hard rock sound. The subtle and very organic drumming sounds great, and the new member Leo holds up. The song enters lighter, melodic parts which thrust you back into the fury of this song. It can really be said that this song is all about frustration and confusion. (Why can't I get the girl if she likes me better? Is it possible that you have something that I don't?) And the song conveys it well. The retro-sounding breakdown at the end of the song is great as bluesy guitar solo falls into a drum solo. It rocks!

The next highlight is Sisters, which impresses as the best song on the album. This song conveys thoughts of inevitibility and lack of self control. We see POS doing something totally different here with a soft, emotional, ballad-like song, a very gradual build and a powerful payoff. The piano and melody is slow, thoughtful, and haunting. Daniel's visceral vocals really pull this song together. I promise you will feel something listening to this.

Darkness of Mine sneaks up on you, which is very fitting. This song is all about mood and tension. First we have ominous long guitar tones and delicate, pained vocals. Listening carefully, the guitarist moves his hands back and forth across the frets making a dark laughing-like sound. Neat! Before you know it the heavy section slides in to brutalize you for just one iteration before slinking back into the darkness. A really well constructed and interesting song.

Where it Hurts is a really dreary and dramatic song which could be a bit over the top but still remains cool. Everytime the heavy drums come in it thrills. Also, there is a really cool jam section in the middle of the song as Leo again shows his chops. The end guitar solo is nearly ruined by Daniel going overboard screaming "touch me where it hurts" but its still manages to pull through.

On the other hand, I found Curiosity and Innocence to be somewhat uninteresting even if they fit into a more traditional Pain of Salvation sound. Sleeping Under the Stars is kind of awkward and misfitting but tolerable.

I love what POS has done on this album, and it is a great and refreshing contribution. Not their best work by any means. Good, but non-essential.

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