First review (Apparently - and suprisingly - a realistic one?):https://www.rocking.gr/reviews/album/Pain-Of-Salvation-In-The-Passing-Light-Of-Day/7098
Google translator:
The course of Pain Of Salvation as reflected in their music development and through the decisions of their mastermind mind of Daniel Gildenlow, is at the same time chaotic and totally logical. Suffice someone is willing to follow the beliefs and the coherence of artistic concerns profess it.
But, they employ us sworn fans of the music of Pain Of Salvation and Daniel as personality. For all other enough to be moving another excellent album, which - like almost every album of this band - has its own special history.
Almost a decade ago, Daniel felt the need to move away from the progressive metal sound and to turn the music of the band to more organic and '70s paths, which paid off with two delicious "Road Salt" albums. Although this change seemed more permanent tensions and the members departures led to an even mandatory reboot, with almost total change of line-up, which also affected the musical band.
Some, perhaps, have the feeling that all these turbulences due to the fact how Daniel runs the band with the blacksmith punch, but is not at all so. Proof of this, how o Ragnar Zolberg, this petit and effeminate Icelander, has already become the wingman that Daniel sought from the time of Daniel Magdic and the first two albums of the band.
So, the first factor that determines the new album is that the line-up stabilized with the "old» Leo Margarit on drums, the Ragnar on guitars and vocals, the Daniel Karlsson be moved on keyboards and bass take the Gustaf Hielm. This is a very strong technical composition, while seems to have a calm and restore balance to the band.
The second factor was the crush of Daniel with death. Almost three years ago, he introduced rushed to the hospital to deal with a rare disease, a bacterium that ate the flesh. He had to undergo dangerous surgery and spent months in hospital, and the future seemed uncertain. Eventually, he managed to emerge stronger at all levels, but such a personal experience could only be watered in the medulla always sharp and highly personal content of the lyrics. In fact the lyrics are that largely determine the value of this album.
The third factor has to do with an offer accepted by the Prog Power festival in 2014, for a special look that would include the entire "Remedy Lane", which also accepted. At the same time they staged a reissue of the album with new mix and master, and eventually all this revival of "Remedy Lane" pushed the new material to the (at most) "golden" era of the band. That the principles of '00s.Toulachiston, it claimed its creators ...
It is, therefore, the "In The Passing Light Of Day" a dip in the past? Yes and no. From the first seconds of "On A Tuesday" it is understood that returned the heavy guitars and technical play. Or to put it more simply, returned the prog metal music of Pain Of Salvation. However, when during the 10-minute song starting things calm down, it becomes clear that the band substrate continues to be more organic, closer to the '70s sound of the previous two albums. More like a combination of two worlds, despite a unilateral return to the past, which eventually applies throughout the album. Lyrically, Daniel restores intense personal information of older easements, seeking the reasons that motivate the human species (and the same) to continue to strive for something seemingly futile.
Thereafter, the "Tongue Of God" just like the composition dreamed those excited by the theoretical return to "classic" sound of the band. Progressive approach staccato rhythms, double vocals with strong contribution from Ragnar and a Daniel more pissed off than ever messes with gods and demons. Fantastic!
Regarding "Meaningless", is a song that sticks in the mind and therefore you could say that is the role of "Barker". It is by far the most catchy cuts on the album, and composition of Ragnar has himself to interpret much of. They welcome decided to work on it and to include it in the album.
Curiously, the "Silent Gold" does not stick with any other composition in the album. It's a '70s ballad organic, which seems to have come straight from the "Road Salt" and is essentially a song by Daniel to his wife. But it is beautiful and gives a nice breath of the total flow.
Instead, the "Full Throttle Tribe" brings us back to prog metal molds, heavy guitars and technical play. Approaching and that ten minutes, is one of the strongest moments of the album, with a very special and particular chorus lyrics, as Daniel decides to explain what it's made and how it has taken a decision to see things in this life.
And the "Reasons" is probably the most prog metal song of the album and definitely the most special. With tremendous rate variations, polyphonic melodies, erotoapantiseis in verse and a nervous outburst from Daniel when listing the reasons crushes are already among my favorite album compositions.
The next triplet tracks is an audio link, which would describe as a mix of roughness "Scarsick" and organic play of "Road Salt", but with one of their own nature. In any case, however, in all three compositions by Daniel puts the knife a little deeper and twist it a little ache.
In "Angels Of Broken Things" talks about all these things that the constant pain managed to wear out and probably wondering if indeed what does not kill you makes you stronger or leaves broken eventually. By contrast, in "Taming Of The Beast" puts the alter ego of the surface, Icarus wants to reach in the sun even if burned and how hard it is to tame the "monster" lurking within. In particular, "If This Is The End" flirting with the idea that everything can be finished prematurely and faced with determination, but also with anger and irony.
All these lead to the grand finale of the 15-minute job eponymous song, similar song which certainly have not rewrite the Pain Of Salvation. He starts and ends calmly, strengthening the intermediate and is ultimately an ode by Daniel in life and in love, full of lyricism and emotions. Without becoming melodramatic or pedestrian, in the end leaves a sunbeam to penetrate and to recall how the long road of life there is an informal balance. Pain (pain) generously provided and we ourselves who must eventually find ourselves redemption (salvation) through it.
When you boot into the Pain Of Salvation, the vision of Daniel Gildenlow was to make the biggest band in the world. The child that grew and the dream died, but at the same time achieved something equally important: to offer a group of people a special link emotions with his music. And if the "In The Passing Light Of Day" is not the stuff of greatness of some earlier work, is irrelevant. Because, offers something different and gave back this link, which please forgive me if you do not spell it quite convincingly - I do not know if possible.
Maybe it takes time to indulge in a musical band or the temperament of Gildenow perhaps requires attention to the lyrics, maybe nothing of all this for some. Whatever you require, however, it is worth it. The music of Pain Of Salvation and return it to the above. The "In The Passing Light Of Day" is no exception.