LifeSavers Underground
July 30, 2006
Seeking a refuge from the sunny pop-punk of the LifeSavers, Michael Knott created a shadowy sibling for the outfit, LifeSavers Underground, or L.S.U.. Shaded Pain’s dark chords and death-obsessed lyrics created a maelstrom on its initial release, causing it to be returned in mass quantities by horrified listeners expecting a jovial punk rock album. Shaded Pain instead recalls the same sort of hollow, threatening darkness conjured by artists like Bauhaus and Nick Cave. Knott sings like a man possessed, howling and shrieking through driving numbers like “Die Baby Die” and moaning like a prophet of doom in the chilling “Bye Bye Colour.” There is no absolution on Shaded Pain, just endless emptiness. Even the up-tempo “Our Time Has Come” is built around the grim chorus: “Our time has come to kiss the cleaver.” Despite this, the record still sounds like a burst of creative energy, Brian Doidge’s guitar screaming like a rabid swine and Knott’s haunting voice is the embodiment of regret and self-loathing. Though it was misunderstood at the time of its release, Shaded Pain would go on to attain the status of cult classic, inspiring artists like Starflyer 59 and the Huntingtons.
J. Edward Keyes
Similar artist : The Cure
Audio Sample : 90 seconds
christiannewwave.wordpress.com 
The cure? Shaded Pain is pure Bauhaus, with later LSU going the Janes addiction way. Not that that is bad, Mike Knott is an unsung hero and a great creative force in music. I still imitate his banshee yell when sing sometimes.
This is still my all-time favourite LSU album!