THE PERFECT ELEMENT - PART 1

'The Perfect Element - Part 1' is the third studio album by Pain of Salvation, released in October 2000. It is a concept album that focuses on human development, specifically the progression from childhood to adolescence. Like the two previous Pain of Salvation studio albums, 'The Perfect Element - Part 1' is divided into three chapters. "Chapter I: As These Two Desolate Worlds Collide" consists of the tracks "Used," "In the Flesh," "Ashes," and "Morning on Earth." "Chapter II: It All Catches Up on You When You Slow Down" consists of "Idioglossia," "Her Voices," "Dedication," and "King of Loss." Finally, "Chapter III: Far Beyond the Point of No Return" consists of "Reconciliation," "Song for the Innocent," "Falling," and "The Perfect Element." An aspect that makes 'The Perfect Element - Part 1' stand out in the Pain of Salvation discography is the incorporation of a chamber orchestra, which is featured on the tracks "Used," "Morning on Earth," "Idioglossia," "King of Loss," and the title track.

Many different themes, including child abuse, sexuality, and tragedy, are dealt with as the story explores the lives of two characters. One male and one female (known as "He" and "She," respectively) are the main characters of the story, and are both broken, dysfunctional people. They both meet in the song "Ashes," and the two previous songs depict their troubled pasts: "Used" for "He" and "In the Flesh" for "She." The opening track, "Used," is one of the heaviest Pain of Salvation songs. I love the juxtaposition of Daniel Gildenlöw's vocals as he switches between horrorcore rapping and soaring tenor notes. The climax during the coda progressively builds to an overwhelming intensity. "In the Flesh" is the perfect foil to "Used" as it's atmospheric and takes its time to crescendo. The piano and acoustic guitar interplay during the final minute of "In the Flesh" are gorgeous. "Ashes" is the single on 'The Perfect Element - Part 1,' and rightfully so. It's a well-crafted, accessible rock song that works as a standalone piece. "Morning on Earth" begins with an intricate melody played on a kalimba that Daniel Gildenlöw then sings note for note. Not only does Gildenlöw have a broad range, but he has great vocal agility, allowing him to sing melodies that wouldn't suit most singers. The chamber orchestra enhances the music greatly on "Morning on Earth," as well as the following track, "Idioglossia."

"Idioglossia" is cinematic as the chamber orchestra plays the chords in the musical background. Daniel Gildenlöw's vocals are among his best on "Idioglossia," especially when he belts out "why can't these scars ever mend?" "Her Voices" starts off as a beautiful ballad, and then the music tantalizes the listener with distorted guitar for a couple seconds, indicating the heaviness to come. The second half of "Her Voices" is mostly instrumental and has a snake charmer quality with great guitar playing from (who I presume is) Johan Hallgren. "Dedication" is an acoustic piece that features Kristoffer Gildenlöw on fretless bass. Fredrik Hermansson's piano playing is simple yet stunning and perfectly serves "Dedication." The music takes on a darker tone as it transitions into "King of Loss," my favorite song on 'The Perfect Element - Part 1.' I love the tight vocal harmonies during the second verse on the lyric "mother" and "in those." The chorus is so heavy and intense during the chorus. The third verse has great groove provided by drummer Johan Langell. The bridge is ethereal. This section reprises the chorus of "Used" and is followed by a guitar solo. This moment is the climax of 'The Perfect Element - Part 1.' The chorus of "King of Loss" is repeated one last time at the end and goes on longer than any other one, creating a chaotic effect.

The album audibly starts to wrap-up by the third chapter, which is a testament to the impeccable flow of 'The Perfect Element - Part 1.' "Reconciliation" is a reprise of "Morning on Earth," but with a rock arrangement. Daniel Gildenlöw's ascending vocals on the last word, "help," are incredible. "Song for the Innocent" starts peacefully and then builds into a heavier piece as it reprises "Her Voices." "Falling" is an atmospheric synth interlude that contains a Gilmour-esque guitar solo, which acts as the precursor to the 10-minute title track. "The Perfect Element" is the perfect closer to this album. The section with the lyric "now he is dressing this naked floor" is an emotional highlight. The music crescendos beautifully during the "I am the waking child" lyric. Johan Langell's powerful drumming is the last thing we hear at the end of "The Perfect Element."

In conclusion, 'The Perfect Element - Part 1' is Pain of Salvation's magnum opus, and the band's first masterpiece. It was 'The Perfect Element - Part 1' that introduced me to Pain of Salvation, and from the first notes of "Used," I fell in love with the band and instantly became a fan.