Scarsick


Scarsick is the sixth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Pain of Salvation, released on 22 January 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".
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.

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
  • Consumer culture
  • Materialism
  • Industrialization
  • Capitalism
  • Commercialization
  • American imperialism
  • Conformity
  • Idolization of celebrities
  • Collectivist nature of religion
  • Decline of civilization
Daniel Gildenlöw 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 witnesses the falling of "He" on a mental level, the final song on Scarsick sees him fall on a physical level.

Track listing

Concept, music and lyrics by Daniel Gildenlöw.

Scarsicker

The band offered an edited version of the album as a download from their official store in 2008. It also featured two new short tracks. Gildenlöw said on the release,

Personnel