PAIN OF SALVATION: Panther (PROGRESSIVE METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

"Panther" is a concept album that deals with the way modern societies consider people out of the norm or abnormal. Thematically and musically, it is both a synthesis and a continuation of the boundless inspiration of Daniel Gildenlöw, the band's leader. The mixture of humanity and animality is at the centre of "Panther", as it has been at the centre of all Pain Of Salvation's albums for thirty years. "In The Passing Light Of Day" was emotional and wild, "Panther" is crazier but also more peaceful. Yet a lot has happened in the band's life in the last three years. Ragnar Zolberg left, Johan Hallgren came back and Gustaf Hielm, even though he is credited on the album on bass, decided to leave the ship after a painful burn-out. But Pain Of Salvation has seen many others and nothing can stop the creative drive that has placed it for so many years at the top of the world progressive metal scene.

Tracks like 'Restless Boy' or 'Keen To A Fault' are perfectly in the spirit of the Pain Of Salvation of the early 2000s, 'The Perfect Element' and 'Remedy Lane', while the magnificent 'Icon' is the direct continuation of 'In The Passing Light Of Day'. It is certain that this cathartic album will remain for a long time one of the jewels of the band's discography. Moreover, its logo appears prominently on the magnificent artwork of "Panther". But beyond the symbolic, it's indeed the sound of this new album which continues the work of the previous one, starting with the superb work of Leo Margarit on drums, whose dry and organic strike highlights the unbridled polyrhythmic work of each composition.

But what makes Pain Of Salvation so endearing and respected is also and above all its creativity and its fierce will to take risks. "Panther" is no exception to the rule and is full of sound discoveries and sound effects of all kinds, ready to surprise or even destabilize the listener. Daniel Gildenlöw plays with the vocal filters, the vocoder on 'Restless Boy', the autotune on 'Wait', plays with the guitar effects (the magnificent solo on 'Icon'). And yet the compositions are all perfectly coherent because they are all filled with the audacious spirit of its creator, capable of making the craziest tracks touching. This is the case of the amazing 'Species', which sounds like an offbeat tribute to The Who, and it is especially the case of 'Panther', which blithely combines electro, hip hop and metal influences, tribal percussions and delicate piano arpeggios while Daniel alternates rap verses and heart-rending choruses.

Pain Of Salvation's strength lies in its ability to bring out emotion in the midst of madness. Of course, Daniel Gildenlöw's sublime voice has a lot to do with it. But also Daniel Karlsson's keyboards. And contrary to "In The Passing Light Of Day" which was more metal, "Panther" offers him many times the possibility to express his talent, either by developing the symphonic aspect of some tracks ('Accelerator', 'Unfuture'), or by building himself the melodic bases with magnificent piano arpeggios ('Wait', 'Icon').

Pain Of Salvation is one of the very rare bands able to renew themselves without ever sacrificing their unique identity. With this inventive and soothing, racy and moving album, the band once again puts its talent at the service of audacity and creativity. - Official website

PAIN OF SALVATION

PANTHER

CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS

PROGRESSIVE METAL