BE (Pain of Salvation album)

Last updated

BE
PainOfSalvation-BE.jpg
Studio album by
Released27 September 2004
RecordedSweden, February–July 2004
Genre Progressive metal [1]
Length75:53
Label InsideOut
Producer Daniel Gildenlöw
Pain of Salvation chronology
12:5
(2004)
BE
(2004)
Scarsick
(2007)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
SputnikmusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Silencio HungaryStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
RevelationZStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Sea of TranquillityStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [6]

BE is the fifth studio album by Swedish band Pain of Salvation, released via InsideOutMusic in September 2004. It is a concept album focusing on the existence of God and humankind. Along with the band it features a nine-part orchestra, The Orchestra of Eternity, which features prominently throughout the album. It is the last album to feature Kristoffer Gildenlöw on bass and is the first Pain of Salvation album to be divided into more than three chapters.

Contents

The band performed it live as a rock opera. It was released as "BE" (Original Stage Production) .

Outline

BE attempts to explore the many facets of human existence. It begins with the narration of Animae, someone or something who/that has existed for as long as he/she/it can remember and contemplates the nature of his/her/its existence and then begins a journey of understanding with the words: "I will call myself GOD and I will spend the rest of forever trying to figure out who I am". [7] The story continues from there. The characters that appear and disappear throughout the story are as follows:

The sound and style are somewhat more varied than previous Pain of Salvation albums, but at the same time, calling upon those previous albums as influences. The album includes: narrative passages; a folk-like song; a gospel-prayer-like song; a church-hymn-like song; progressive metal songs; a classical piano/strings piece; a conversation with a radio in the background; news readings; and even a song that would not be out of place in a Broadway musical. Another song consists entirely of voice messages to be left on "God's answering machine". To approach this song, the band asks the subscribers of their newsletter to call a certain phone number and say what ever they would want to say to God.

In writing "BE", Daniel Gildenlöw used many resources for information, insights and inspiration. These are intended as "points of departure" for listeners to continue their "own journey through "BE" ".[ citation needed ]

Track listing

Prologue

01. Animae Partus ("I Am") - A God Is Born ("I Am") 1:48

"BE" (CHINASSIAH)

I Animae Partus

All in the Image of
02. Deus Nova - New God 3:18
03. Imago (Homines Partus) - Imago (Man Is Born) 5:11
04. Pluvius Aestivus - Summer Rain 5:00
Of Summer Rain (Homines Fabula Initium) - Of Summer Rain (The Story of Man Begins)
As is evident by the list to the left, the track listing and structure of the album are very detailed and confusing. PainOfSalvation-BEtracks.jpg
As is evident by the list to the left, the track listing and structure of the album are very detailed and confusing.

II Machinassiah

Of Gods & Slaves
05. Lilium Cruentus (Deus Nova) - Blood Stained Lily (New God) 5:28
On the Loss of Innocence
06. Nauticus (Drifting) - Nauticus (Drifting) 4:58
07. Dea Pecuniae - Goddess of Money 10:09
I Mr. Money
II Permanere
III I Raise My Glass

III Machinageddon

Nemo Idoneus Aderat Qui Responderet
08. Vocari Dei - Messages to God 3:50
Sordes Aetas - Mess Age
09. Diffidentia (Breaching the Core) - Mistrust (Breaching the Core) 7:26
Exitus - Drifting II
10. Nihil Morari - Nothing Remains
(Homines Fabula Finis) - The Story of Man Comes to an End 6:21

IV Machinauticus

Of the Ones With no Hope
11. Latericius Valete - If You Are Strong, Be Strong 2:27
12. Omni - Everything 2:37
Permanere?
13. Iter Impius - Wicked Path 6:21
Martius, son of Mars
Obitus Diutinus
14. Martius/Nauticus II - Martius/Nauticus II 6:41

V Deus Nova Mobile

...and a God is Born
15. Animae Partus II 4:08

Concept, research, original stories, lyrics, narrations and texts by Daniel Gildenlöw. All music by Daniel Gildenlöw, except "Iter Impius" by Fredrik Hermansson. All orchestral arrangements by Daniel Gildenlöw, except "Imago" by Jan Levander and Daniel Gildenlöw and "Iter Impius" by Fredrik Hermansson. News casts, fake interview and other "snipplets" written by Kim Howatt, Jim Howatt and Daniel Gildenlöw.

Credits

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transatlantic (band)</span> Multinational progressive rock supergroup

Transatlantic is a multinational progressive rock supergroup consisting of Neal Morse, Roine Stolt, Pete Trewavas and Mike Portnoy. They formed in 1999 as a side project to their full-time bands, but disbanded in 2002. They then reunited in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Flower Kings</span> Swedish progressive rock band

The Flower Kings are a Swedish progressive rock band formed in 1994 by guitarist and singer-songwriter Roine Stolt. The group began as Stolt's touring band to support his third solo album The Flower King. They continued performing after the tour and have gone on to become one of the most prolific studio recording units in progressive rock, having released over twenty hours of music spread across fifteen studio albums. Their music is similar to early symphonic progressive rock groups such as Yes, marked by sharp dynamic changes, polyrhythms, heavy bass, vocal harmonies, abstract and occasionally nonsensical lyrics, and extended song lengths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal Morse</span> American rock musician

Neal Morse is an American singer, musician and composer based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1992, he formed the progressive rock band Spock's Beard with his brother Alan and released an album which was moderately successful. In 1999, he joined Dream Theater's co-founder and then drummer Mike Portnoy, together with Flower Kings' Roine Stolt and Marillion's Pete Trewavas they formed the super-group Transatlantic. In 2002, Neal Morse became a born again Christian, left Spock's Beard and began a Christian rock solo career, releasing many progressive rock concept albums about his new religious faith. In the meantime, he continued to play with Transatlantic and formed three new bands with Portnoy, Yellow Matter Custard, Flying Colors and The Neal Morse Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pain of Salvation</span> Swedish progressive metal band

Pain of Salvation is a Swedish progressive metal band led by Daniel Gildenlöw, who is the band's main songwriter, lyricist, guitarist, and vocalist. Pain of Salvation's sound is characterised by riff-oriented guitar work, a broad vocal range, oscillation between heavy and calm passages, complex vocal harmonies and the structures of their albums, syncopation, and polyrhythms. Thus far, every album released by the band has been a concept album. Lyrically, the band tends to address contemporary issues, such as sexuality, war, the environment, and the nature of God, humanity, and existence.

<i>One Hour by the Concrete Lake</i> 1998 studio album by Pain of Salvation

One Hour by the Concrete Lake is Pain of Salvation's second studio album. It is a concept album focusing on the issues of nuclear power and waste, displacement of indigenous peoples, the firearm industry, and human discovery.

<i>Entropia</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Pain of Salvation

Entropia is Pain of Salvation's first studio album. It is a concept album concerning the story of a family in a fictional society that is torn apart by a war. The title is a portmanteau of Entropy, and Utopia. This is the only album to feature Daniel Magdic on guitar.

<i>The Perfect Element, Part I</i> 2000 studio album by Pain of Salvation

The Perfect Element, Part I is Pain of Salvation's third studio album, released in October 2000. It is a concept album that focuses on the forming of the individual, particularly on the events from one's childhood and adolescence. It is the first segment of a planned three-part concept. The Perfect Element, Part II was released in 2007 under the title Scarsick.

<i>Remedy Lane</i> 2002 studio album by Pain of Salvation

Remedy Lane is the fourth album by Swedish progressive rock band Pain of Salvation, released in January 2002. It is a concept album focusing on a character's search for self-discovery. It was described by Allmusic as Pain of Salvation's breakthrough album.

<i>12:5</i> 2004 live album by Pain of Salvation

12:5 is the first live album by Swedish band Pain of Salvation. It was released in 2004 and was recorded from a concert in the band's home town of Eskilstuna, Sweden, on 12 May (12.5) 2003. It was an "unplugged" show, meaning that there were only acoustic instruments, i.e. no electric guitars; grand piano and harpsichord instead of synthesizers. It features songs from all the band's albums to that date except One Hour by the Concrete Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eva O</span> American musician

Eva Ortiz, better known as Eva O, is a music artist most notable for her previous works in Christian Death and a band she formed with her then-husband Rozz Williams called Shadow Project. Regarded as a veteran and "one of the most striking figures of the American Gothic scene," Eva O has had a significant influence on the emerging death rock movement, which garnered her the "Queen of Darkness" title from the press and audience. She is known for her heavy guitar playing style and dramatic, authoritative vocals.

<i>BE (Original Stage Production)</i> 2005 live album by Pain of Salvation

"BE" is the second live album by Swedish progressive metal band Pain of Salvation, documenting one of the performances of their 2004 album BE in its entirety in Eskilstuna, Sweden, on 12 September 2003. In contrast to the studio album, The Orchestra of Eternity are given credit on the front cover of the album.

The image of God is a concept and theological doctrine in Christianity, Islam, as well as in Judaism. This concept is a foundational aspect of Christian and Jewish understandings of human nature. It stems from the primary text in Genesis 1:27, which reads: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female he created them." The exact meaning of the phrase has been debated for millennia.

An imago is the last stage of development of an insect.

<i>Scarsick</i> 2007 studio album by Pain of Salvation

Scarsick is the sixth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Pain of Salvation, released on 22 January 2007. It is a concept album focusing on contemporary issues including capitalism, materialism, and consumerism. Scarsick is the last album to feature Johan Langell on drums.

<i>Ending Themes (On the Two Deaths of Pain of Salvation)</i> 2009 live album by Pain of Salvation

Ending Themes (On the Two Deaths of Pain of Salvation) is a live album and documentary by Swedish progressive metal band Pain of Salvation. It was released on January 26, 2009, with a DVD version released on March 3, 2009. The DVD release has a double disc feature. The first disc has an 80-minute documentary of the band's 2005 world tour directed by Per Hillblom and the second disc has the full concert video from the Paradiso show recorded on March 2, 2007. A limited edition version will also be released that will include a double audio CD version of the Amsterdam concert. The CD version was released independently of the DVDs as well.

"The DVD is starting to come together, and will consist of two separate discs — one will be the live show from our last tour, and the other one will be a documentary following the band on the 2005 tour, which marked the end of that line-up. The fact that the band has seen such major changes the last two years made it very difficult emotionally to invest time and energy in this product, and it wasn't until the documentary draft was proposed by Per Hillblom that I started to see what this DVD was trying to communicate. We still have a few commentary tracks to record but we are starting to see the end of it."

<i>Road Salt One</i> 2010 studio album by Pain of Salvation

Road Salt One is the seventh studio album by Swedish band Pain of Salvation, released 17 May 2010 on InsideOut. While a concept album in keeping with all previous Pain of Salvation albums, the album was more song-oriented and streamlined in its production values.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel in the lions' den</span> Story in the Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible

Daniel in the lions' den tells of how the biblical Daniel is saved from lions by the God of Israel "because I was found blameless before him". It parallels and complements chapter 3, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: each begins with the jealousy of non-Jews towards successful Jews and an imperial edict requiring them to compromise their religion, and concludes with divine deliverance and a king who confesses the greatness of the God of the Jews and issues an edict of royal protection. The tales making up chapters 1–6 of Daniel date no earlier than the Hellenistic period and were probably originally independent, but were collected in the mid-2nd century BC and expanded shortly afterwards with the visions of the later chapters to produce the modern book.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ragnar Zolberg</span>

Ragnar Zolberg is an Icelandic singer-songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist.

<i>In the Passing Light of Day</i> 2017 studio album by Pain of Salvation

In the Passing Light of Day is the tenth studio album by Swedish band Pain of Salvation, released on 13 January 2017 via InsideOut Music. A concept album like every other by the band, the lyrics focus on mortality, death and the joys and angers of life. The album is dedicated to "my lover, my best friend", in reference to Daniel Gildenlöw's wife Johanna Iggsten.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friendly Folk Records</span> Record label based in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Friendly Folk Records is an independent record label based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2017 by music journalist and entrepreneur Kathy Keller. The early label roster represented mostly 'up and coming' folk artists from various genres, including Celtic Folk, Traditional Folk, Pagan Folk, and singer-songwriters. Friendly Folk Records is the sponsor and host of Friendly Folk Stage at Fantasy Fest Rijswijk every March and October.

References

  1. "Pain of Salvation - "BE" review".
  2. Rick Anderson. "BE". AllMusic . Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  3. "Pain Of Salvation - Be (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  4. nev (26 February 2011). "Pain of Salvation - BE (2004) // Silencio (Néma sírások visszhangjai)". Silencio.freeblog.hu. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  5. "RevelationZ Magazine - Your Heavy metal and Hard Rock resource". Revelationz.net. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  6. "Review: "Pain Of Salvation : Be" - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!". Sea of Tranquility. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  7. Full Animae Transcript Archived 2007-03-18 at the Wayback Machine (Partially included on album)