Well-produced and infinitely listenable.

Over the last decade or so you could never accuse Pain Of Salvation of being predictable; the Swedes have released records that include just about every style other than the Progressive Metal they originally became known for. 'Falling Home' is an acoustic album recorded in the studio, showcasing re-imagined versions of mostly songs from their recent albums, along with two unusual covers and one new song; the title track. Leader and main song-writer Daniel Gildenlow is joined here by former bassist Gustaf Hielm, long-time drummer Leo Margarit and the two most recent additions to POS, keyboard player Daniel Karlsson and the talented Ragnar Zolberg on guitars and vocals.

Just to confuse you right from the beginning, the version of the classic 'Stress' from the 'Entropia' record is played in a Jazz style but retains the beautifully arranged vocal harmonies. The only other pre-2007 song – 'Chain Sling' from 'Remedy Lane' – is done pretty faithfully without losing any of the intensity. There's a three-song section from 'Scarsick' with the brilliant 'Mrs. Modern Mother Mary', the syncopated rhythms of 'Flame To The Moth' and the sombre 'Spitball' not straying too much from the originals whilst the angst-ridden 'Linoleum' is the sole representative from the divisive 'Road Salt One'. 'Road Salt Two' provides a couple of highlights in the short and snappy 'To The Shoreline' and the great ballad '1979' but the most curious choices are the two cover versions.

I could really do without the fairly straight version of Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' because I've never really cared for the original, but the one that will get the most attention is undoubtedly Dio's 'Holy Diver', played in a "Lounge Lizard" style with a Reggae section and an instrumental Jazz workout in the middle. Gildenlow's vocal is genius on this, and whilst I'm sure many Dio fans will be up in arms, it's refreshing to hear someone do something a little different with the song.

The standard jewel case version of the album ends with the new song 'Falling Home', a superb ballad and one of the most normal songs they've ever written; if you go for the limited edition digi-pack or the vinyl LP you also get 'She Likes To Hide' and 'King Of Loss'.

Well-produced and infinitely listenable, 'Falling Home' is a great album that proves that a good song is a good song, no matter how you dress it up.

Phil Ashcroft