Pain of Salvation

Pain of Salvation
Pain of Salvation at the Sweden Rock Festival, 2008.
Background information
Origin	Eskilstuna, Sweden
Genres	Progressive rock, progressive metal, art rock, experimental rock
Years active	1984−1991 (as Reality) 1991−present (as Pain of Salvation)
Labels	InsideOut Music
Associated acts	Crypt of Kerberos, Q-krunkers from Hell, The Flower Kings, Dark Funeral, Programming Defaced, Transatlantic, Meshuggah, Sign (band)
Website	painofsalvation.com
Members	Daniel Gildenlöw Gustaf Hielm Léo Margarit Daniel Karlsson Johan Hallgren
Past members	Joakim Strandberg Mikael Pettersson Daniel Magdic Johan Langell Magnus Johansson Kristoffer Gildenlöw Fredrik Hermansson Simon Andersson Ragnar Zolberg

Pain of Salvation is a Swedish progressive rock 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.

Their music is heavily inspired by The Beatles, Faith No More, Jeff Buckley, Jesus Christ Superstar, also other musical genres like jazz, classical music, ethnic music.

The band have also covered songs by Leonard Cohen, Stevie Wonder, Kiss, Lou Reed, Dio, The Moody Blues, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Elton John.

The name "Pain of Salvation" was devised by Daniel Gildenlöw, who interpreted the name as having "the meaning of balance. Taking the good with the bad. It is also a good expression in everyday use: when something does not go the way you planned, [the phrase 'pain of salvation'] indicates that this is just a slight setback on an otherwise painless journey towards your goal".