By all accounts, fans of Pain Of Salvation are mixed in their opinions. For some, it's a stunning foray into a whole new genre, but for others it's just a disappointing failure to live up to their previous style. Having never heard any of their back catalogue I am, thankfully, free to judge the album on it's merits. And it has them in buckets.
From the very first bars of No Way it's obvious that this is a blues rock inspired album. Certainly not what I expected and for a moment it put me off a little. Within the space of half a track, though, I was hooked.
As a concept album, Road Salt One succeeds in many ways, but maybe not in the way other concept albums do. It's definitely a song based album, with each new track taking on a whole new sound, ranging from the hard hitting blues ballad at the outset, and veering through country, folk, hard rock and even a strange, cacophonous carnival sound that, despite sounding like it will be terrible, suits the lyrical content perfectly. The songs are short and to the point, leaving no time to become complacent. Each one packs a punch and leaves you reeling.
The concept itself is a trip through the circumstances that alter and drive the course of all our lives. The characters portrayed throughout the album are each on the brink of a life changing event. Either a decision must be made or an situation must be dealt with. Although not explicit, an underlying narrative seems to drive the album and the interactions of the characters affect each other as the album progresses. Films like Magnolia and Crash spring to mind, each about choices and consequences, actions and intentions.
But the beauty of this album is not in the narrative. It's treated as a framework to support some of the most poignant, beautiful songs ever released on a metal label. The raw, distorted sound gives a distinctly retro feel and conjures images of dusty 70s recording studios. Daniel Gildenlöw's vocal brings such a variety of emotion to each and every track that it's hard not to be moved.
There are some common themes threaded through the songs and permeating the problems and issues affecting so many people's lives. Sexuality is prominent, and has entire songs delving into the hidden pains associated with life as flawed, sexual beings. Loneliness, self-discovery and the hiding of true feelings also feature prominently. In some songs, such as Sleeping With The Stars, hidden agendas are painfully evident. In others, such as Linoleum and No Way, the breaking down of bravado to reveal the torment within is beautifully handled.
As the underlying narrative progresses, there are occasional breaks into introspective songs all referencing the common theme of "the road". It could be considered cliché, but it's been handled so well and so carefully that it has the impact it really deserves. But by avoiding the common faux angst that so many bands bawl out, Road Salt One instead draws its inspiration from those personal feelings that are shared among us all, but are so rarely discussed. Many of these tracks have a personal impact for me because, in all honesty, I don't remember ever hearing a track tackling the issues that this album takes in and portrays with such raw emotion.
The imagery is what makes the songs so instantly memorable. Being catapulted from the hazy, muggy memories of a drunken evening to the seedy, filthy underside of neon lit cities and then back to the quiet suburban home ripped apart by hidden pain, a different picture springs instantly to mind for every song. And where some song writers may give the listener an out by giving closure, no such luxury exists here. Each image is only a snapshot of the situation presented, and the hoping, yearning, desperate longing for a resolution is left heavy in the listeners mind as each song draws to a close.
Road Salt One is a superb mixture of great music, sublime production and emotive song writing. It doesn't just tug the heartstrings. It rips them out of your chest and leaves you hanging on for more.
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