Only Pain Is Real

Only Pain is Real is the second and final studio album by the Portuguese band Silence 4. It was released in July 2000, after the huge success of its predecessor, Silence Becomes It. Recorded in London, the album presented new sounds and fuller orchestrations, with 14 songs all written in English. Even not equaling their first album, it went to become another massive success for the band, achieving two platinum albums and selling 100 000 units.

Musical critics pointed the band's more mature sound and songwriting, mostly done by lead singer David Fonseca. Only two singles were released: "To Give" and "Only Pain Is Real". The album seems somewhat autobiographical or conceptual, even if David Fonseca never clarified if all the lyrics were related or tried to tell a story. Nevertheless, the album shows a new level of maturity and introspection, more consistent then their debut album. The themes of loneliness, sadness, loss, melancholy and hope, are basically the same of their first album, but with an added level of poignancy.

The band toured the record for an extended period of time across Portugal until December 2000. The tour proved to be exhausting, and the members of the band decided to go for an indeterminate hiatus, which meant the end of the band, since all their four members went into different directions. David Fonseca went on to start his own successful solo career with Sing Me Something New, released in 2003.