| BE | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Pain of Salvation |
| Cover: | PainOfSalvation-BE.jpg |
| Released: | 27 September 2004 |
| Recorded: | Sweden, February–July 2004 |
| Genre: | Progressive metal[1] |
| Length: | 75:53 |
| Label: | InsideOut |
| Producer: | Daniel Gildenlöw |
| Prev Year: | 2004 |
| Next Title: | Scarsick |
| Next Year: | 2007 |
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.
The band performed it live as a rock opera. It was released as "BE" (Original Stage Production).
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".[2] The story continues from there. The characters that appear and disappear throughout the story are as follows:
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" ".
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)
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.