This is a strange, strange thread. Just a couple quick points...
First, the lyrics on Scarsick aren't taking on a country or culture as a whole. If you read what they say, they're taking on the dark underbelly of a culture. They're critical of specifically the parts that are superficial, fake, destructive, etc. People here seem to have a bone to pick with Pain of Salvation for being critical of the parts of popular culture that most (if not all) of us are critical of ourselves. I mean, we're into progressive metal...we turn being anti-superficial into (literally) an art form.
Second, as the album is "the perfect element, part II - he" it's told from the perspective of a character in a story. While I'm sure the band doesn't disagree with the general themes in their lyrics, the fervor and extent of the sentiments is the character's, not the band's. You know, none of us spend a lot of time trying to crucify Geoff Tate for wanting to burn the White House down.
It's all moot anyway. Even if these bands did hold opinions as passionate as the characters in their stories, we shouldn't need to agree with an artist's views in order to enjoy their art. In the end, great art comes from whatever truly inspires an artist, whatever that may be. This is a band that sees a world with flaws and creates something to express what they feel about it. Whether their music syncs up with a listener is incidental and subjective. If it does for you, wonderful. If it doesn't, that's fine too. There's much more out there.
- Chris
