BE (Pain of Salvation album)

BE is the fifth studio album by Swedish band Pain of Salvation, released via InsideOutMusic in September 2004. It is a concept album focusing on the existence of God and humankind. Along with the band it features a nine-part orchestra, The Orchestra of Eternity, which features prominently throughout the album. It is the last album to feature Kristoffer Gildenlöw on bass and is the first Pain of Salvation album to be divided into more than three chapters.

BE
Studio album by
Pain of Salvation
Released27 September 2004
RecordedSweden, February–July 2004
GenreProgressive metal[1]
Length75:53
LabelInsideOut
ProducerDaniel Gildenlöw
Pain of Salvation chronology
12:5
(2004)		 BE
(2004)		 Scarsick
(2007)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Sputnikmusic[3]
Silencio Hungary[4]
RevelationZ[5]
Sea of Tranquillity[6]

The band performed it live as a rock opera. It was released as "BE" (Original Stage Production).

Outline

BE attempts to explore the many facets of human existence. It begins with the narration of Animae, someone or something who/that has existed for as long as they/it can remember and contemplate the nature of their/its existence and then begins a journey of understanding with the words: "I will call myself GOD and I will spend the rest of forever trying to figure out who I am".[7] The story continues from there. The characters that appear and disappear throughout the story are as follows:

  • Animae: Animae is the album's representation of God, or a Godhead.
  • Nauticus: Nauticus is the name of a fictional space probe that is, according to the album, the most intelligent space probe ever to be created. In reference to the marine 'neighborhood', Nauticus 'drifts' throughout space, searching for answers to save Earth from itself.
  • Imago: Imago is the image of humanity in its most natural form. Combined, Imago is the reflection of Animae.
  • Dea Pecuniae: Dea Pecuniae can be seen as a feminine version of Mr. Money, and the Eve of humanity's dark side. In a way, she represents sin.
  • Mr. Money: Mr. Money is the main character of the story; a man with the most wealth on Earth, who spends most of it on cryogenics in order to fulfill his wish - to be frozen, and not to be awakened until he is made immortal. He represents the darker side of humanity, being the Adam for Dea Pecuniae.

The sound and style are somewhat more varied than previous Pain of Salvation albums, but at the same time, calling upon those previous albums as influences. The album includes: narrative passages; a folk-like song; a gospel-prayer-like song; a church-hymn-like song; progressive metal songs; a classical piano/strings piece; a conversation with a radio in the background; news readings; and even a song that would not be out of place in a Broadway musical. Another song consists entirely of voice messages to be left on "God's answering machine". To approach this song, the band asks the subscribers of their newsletter to call a certain phone number and say what ever they would want to say to God.

In writing "BE", Daniel Gildenlöw used many resources for information, insights and inspiration. These are intended as "points of departure" for listeners to continue their "own journey through "BE" ".

Track listing

Prologue

01. Animae Partus ("I Am") - A God Is Born ("I Am") 1:48

"BE" (CHINASSIAH)

I Animae Partus

All in the Image of
02. Deus Nova - New God 3:18
03. Imago (Homines Partus) - Imago (Man Is Born) 5:11
04. Pluvius Aestivus - Summer Rain 5:00
Of Summer Rain (Homines Fabula Initium) - Of Summer Rain (The Story of Man Begins)
As is evident by the list to the left, the track listing and structure of the album are very detailed and confusing.

II Machinassiah

Of Gods & Slaves
05. Lilium Cruentus (Deus Nova) - Blood Stained Lily (New God) 5:28
On the Loss of Innocence
06. Nauticus (Drifting) - Nauticus (Drifting) 4:58
07. Dea Pecuniae - Goddess of Money 10:09
I Mr. Money
II Permanere
III I Raise My Glass

III Machinageddon

Nemo Idoneus Aderat Qui Responderet
08. Vocari Dei - Messages to God 3:50
Sordes Aetas - Mess Age
09. Diffidentia (Breaching the Core) - Mistrust (Breaching the Core) 7:26
Exitus - Drifting II
10. Nihil Morari - Nothing Remains
(Homines Fabula Finis) - The Story of Man Comes to an End 6:21

IV Machinauticus

Of the Ones With no Hope
11. Latericius Valete - If You Are Strong, Be Strong 2:27
12. Omni - Everything 2:37
Permanere?
13. Iter Impius - Wicked Path 6:21
Martius, son of Mars
Obitus Diutinus
14. Martius/Nauticus II - Martius/Nauticus II 6:41

V Deus Nova Mobile

...and a God is Born
15. Animae Partus II 4:08

Concept, research, original stories, lyrics, narrations and texts by Daniel Gildenlöw. All music by Daniel Gildenlöw, except "Iter Impius" by Fredrik Hermansson. All orchestral arrangements by Daniel Gildenlöw, except "Imago" by Jan Levander and Daniel Gildenlöw and "Iter Impius" by Fredrik Hermansson. News casts, fake interview and other "snipplets" written by Kim Howatt, Jim Howatt and Daniel Gildenlöw.

Credits

References
  1. "Pain of Salvation - "BE" review".
  2. Rick Anderson. "BE". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  3. "Pain Of Salvation - Be (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  4. nev (26 February 2011). "Pain of Salvation - BE (2004) // Silencio (Néma sírások visszhangjai)". Silencio.freeblog.hu. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  5. "RevelationZ Magazine - Your Heavy metal and Hard Rock resource". Revelationz.net. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  6. "Review: "Pain Of Salvation : Be" - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!". Sea of Tranquility. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  7. Full Animae Transcript Archived 2007-03-18 at the Wayback Machine (Partially included on album)
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