A lot has happened with one of the most interesting prog rock names form Sweden in their two decades long career. Endless experimenting and denial to settle in any form for artistic comfort zone  has resulted and in number surprising releases from the band, most noticeably BE form 2004 and two the latest releases Road Salt parts one and two. These musical experimentations might have resulted in alienating of some of the fans of early era of Pain Of Salvation, but it's undeniable that this band has been recording uncompromising music for fifteen years now and Road Salt albums are great manifestation of the band strength and potential.

Another interesting aspect of Pain Of Salvation career are the numerous lineup changes. It stated with departure of Kristoffer Gildenlöw and Johan Langell in 2006 and 2007 respectively. And less than half a year ago longtime members, guitarist Johan Hallgren and keyboardist Fredrik Hermansson left the band.
Daniel Gildenlöw has always been the driving force of the band, but suddenly he finds himself in the band where the other longest lasting member is Léo Margarit, who has been in the band for hardly five years.

Pumpehuset proved to be way too big of a venue for Pain Of Salvation, and perhaps the only reason for choice of this venue was the fact that The Rock, the place where they usually play, has been closed for a while now. The venue was far from packed with only one third (or even one forth) of its capacity filled, which was pity for both, the band and the audience.
But on the stage the band played as if the place was packed.

At first it seemed somewhat odd that the drums were placed in the very front, so the only band member who was in the back was the band's new keyboardist Daniel Karlsson. But as the concert progressed it was clear that Daniel wanted more place for the band members to walk around so in the back there were placed platforms where he would occasionally go, especially in the songs where he didn't play guitar. New bassist Gustaf Hielm and new guitarist Ragnar ZSolberg would also change places on the platforms, but on such a small stage this kind of setup seems excessive and it didn't add much dynamics, but rather disordered feel.
And as for the new band members they did their job well. Daniel Karlsson played his parts, but was otherwise very antonym and somewhat uninterested. Gustaf Hielm on bass was part of Pain Of Salvation before as well as part of Meshuggah, so it's clear that he's a good player. Ragnar ZSolberg had quite big shoes to fill after departure of Johan Hallgren and he did a very good job, nonetheless with backing and lead vocals. It was a pleasure to see Léo Margarit all the way in the front, because his playing is just fantastic bland of energy of a rock/heavy drummer and the feel of a blues/jazz drummer. It's no wonder that this Frenchman was hired for the band, who at the time looked for a new Swedish drummer.

The main man himself was much like he always is, in the center of attention, witty, ironic, with plenty of eye-contact and just in very good control of his vocals. No matter if he was singing the softest melodies or screaming the highest notes he sounded good. On the stage he is in control, but I guess that's no surprise for the man who writes most of the band's songs, produces records, designs album artwork and website. He also communicated a lot with the crowd in his nonchalant and very ironic way.

Setlist was mainly focused around Road Salt albums, but there was room for older songs as well as quite a few surprises. First one came in form of “Iter Impius - Wicked Path” from BE, which was soon after followed by couple of more, less-typical Pain Of Salvation choices, the truly live epic “The Perfect Element” and the offbeat “Stress” from their 1997 debut. Also after the band left the stage they came back with couple surprises up their sleeve. First off, Daniel took the place behind the drums (perhaps another reason that drums were all the way in the front) for a somewhat too long jam session, which turned into cover of The Moody Blues’ “Nights In White Satin” with Margarit on lead vocals. He might not have the front-man makings, but he sings well. Album closer from Scarsic “Enter Rain” was unknown for most of the audience and that combined with radically weaker sound on last few songs, made this epic somewhat tiresome.
They finished the 2 hour and 10 minutes log show in a very good way with, what might seem like and weird closer; “Sisters” form Road Salt One. Focus was of course on the new albums and the choice of the older songs was interesting. Missing were at least one or two songs from the bands career-defining album One Hour By The Concrete Lake.

The new lineup has passed the test and Daniel is most definitely still hungry. It will be interesting to see what he and the new Pain Of Salvation will come up with in the studio This evening in Copenhagen they deliver a fine show, but not one of their best in the Danish capitol.
[4/6]


SETLIST:

01 - Softly She Cries
02 - Ashes
03 - Linoleum
04 - The Deeper Cut
05 - 1979
06 - To the Shoreline
07 - Iter Impius
08 - Chain Sling
09 - The Perfect Element
10 - Stress
11 - Healing Now
12 - Kingdom of Loss
13 - No Way
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14 – Nights in White Satin
15 - Enter Rain
16 - The Physics of Gridlock
17 - Sisters