Scarsick
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About.com | [1] |
Blabbermouth.net | [2] |
Scarsick is the sixth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Pain of Salvation, released on January 22, 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.
Overview
According to Daniel Gildenlöw, "Scarsick is much more band oriented and down to the core. Threatening and disturbing".[citation needed]
The liner notes reveal that Scarsick is actually The Perfect Element, part II - "he". The album is divided into two chapters: side A and side B.[3]
Concept
Scarsick is the second part of a planned, three-piece concept and the follow-up to The Perfect Element, part I. It continues the story of the male character from the latter album. Unlike its predecessor, Scarsick is a politically charged social commentary, and deals with a number of topics, including:
- Frustration (with society in general, and most of the things listed below)
- Consumer culture
- Materialism
- Industrialization
- Capitalism
- Commercialization
- American imperialism
- Conformity
- Idolization of celebrities
- Collectivist nature of religion
- Decline of civilization
Daniel Gildenlow has revealed in interviews that the life of "He" is an allegory for all of mankind; that in him we see the problems of society on an intimate, personal level. Thus as The Perfect Element, part I deals with the subject of dysfunction in a psychological context that deals with the individual, Scarsick deals with them in a sociological sense and explores the relationship between the two. Just as the final song on the first part of the concept ("The Perfect Element") witnesses the falling of "He" on a mental level, the final song on Scarsick ("Enter Rain") sees him fall on a physical level.
Track listing
Concept, music and lyrics by Daniel Gildenlöw.
Side A: His skin against this dirty floor
- "Scarsick" – 7:08
- "Spitfall" – 7:17
- "Introducing Star"
- "Thus Quote The Craving"
- "Redefining Vomatorium"
- "Man Of The Masses"
- "YO"
- "Cribcaged" – 5:56
- "America" – 5:05
- "Disco Queen" – 8:22
- "Tonight I'll Fall"
- "A Cheap Sellout Drug"
- "A Tighter Groove"
- "My Disco Queen"
Side B: Why can't I close my eyes?
- "Kingdom of Loss" – 6:41
- "Mrs. Modern Mother Mary" – 4:14
- "Idiocracy" – 7:04
- "Flame to the Moth" – 5:58
- "Enter Rain" – 10:03
- "Running"
- "Standing"
- "Falling"
A further updated 2008 release known as "Scarsicker" contained two additional tracks - both of which were very short. "Nausea" (0:25) was inserted at the start of the album before "Scarsick" and "Slipsync" (1:07) which was inserted as Track 11 between "Flame to the Moth" and "Enter Rain." Some songs were also edited shorter.
Personnel
- Daniel Gildenlöw - lead vocals, guitars, bass guitar, banjos and samplers
- Fredrik Hermansson - keyboards, samplers
- Johan Hallgren - guitars, vocals
- Johan Langell - drums, backing vocals
References
- ^ Bowar, Chad. "Pain Of Salvation - Scarsick". About.com. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ Alisoglu, Scott. "Pain Of Salvation - Scarsick". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ YouTube - Pain of salvation Daniel Gildenlow scarsick concept P 2