Kristoffer Gildenlow - Humanised. - Progressive Voyages Review.

Humanised is the new album from former Pain Of Salvation and Kayak member Kristoffer Gildenlow, It follows two years after his Empty album of 2024, This time around Kristoffer has returned to a harder sound that will be familiar to folks who have followed him since his Pain Of Salvation days, This new album consists of 9 tracks which are based around a central theme, That of showing Human Nature from different angles.

This commences with the instrumental track Rendering which has a suitably striking guitar line which sound like a Dire Straits outake especially when coupled with the atmospheric keyboard sound . Shortly after this begins a far tougher brutal sounding riff,which is actually very melodic in its tone, there then follows some Thunderous drum patterns and sounds, which really captures the attention.this is only a brief precursor to what is going to follow afterwards which is Nothing Lasts Forever which is about the brevity of the situation in a life, This track fluctuates between heavier and softer moments most effectively. I really like how this one sounds, yes it has Progressive metal touches but it never forgets melody at any stage.

Landfill follows and again we are in hard territory with a driving beat sludge like riffing and suitably affected voices, the hardest track so far it fair thunders along with usThis is about how we process things and how we get rid of thoughts, feelings and unwanted experiences and options, With us pushing them aside and burying them deep inside like human landfill.

Next track is The Almosts, which is very Bass driven with a punchy rhythm guitar riff. The track is about being overlooked feeling unseen and marginalised, treated like second class people because they fall outside of Normal conventions, Its a powerful brooding track with lots of muscle to it .

Intermezzo is a brief instrumental bridge between the two sides of the album, Oddly this shares traces of the opener Rendering as it follows a similar sound,This is followed by Nothing Stays The Same which is another harder initially song, that relies on arpeggio guitar chords to create a strong effect, this gives room for a very strong vocal delivery from Kristoffer, who uses the sound most effectively, a good bassline runs throughout the entire song.The last part of the track really impresses with its more urgent tempo and pacing, another strong track.

Next track The Fields is blistering, heavy and solid, i especially like the strong drumming pattern I like how it seems to misstep but the corrects itself, there's a fine guitar line that flows during the track only interrupted for a return to the blistering rhythm again before slipping into a very Pink Floyd sound for a solo from Thijmen Van Der Meer, Certainly one of the albums finest tracks,

This is rapidly followed by Before I Fall Asleep which begins with an athletic bit of bass playing from Kristoffer, this is followed by a further dexterous bit of playing , This song is very bass driven and it sounds great, different but captivating.The song appears to be about religious intolerance and disowning those who don't conform, an interesting song which balances its power and melody very neatly.The closing section has a great guitar solo.

Final track is Binary which i don't really know what it is about, Even so that doesn't mean that I don't like it, Its more that I personally don't understand what the song is trying to say.

I have really enjoyed this album though I know its one I will return to again.

If you like Interesting and different prog this might well work for you.

Info here: www.kristoffergildenlow.com.

Author John Wenlock-Smith Tuesday 26th May 2026.