I can already tell, that this is the best melodic death stuff in 2009
Even without Alvestam SS are one of the most important bands in this century
Awesome technical skills and melodies

After all the (very) bad things I heared about the new singers, I was a bit weary. Okay, the old singer was genius and perfect in every way, still this is not too bad at all. Though I must say the grunts are a bit overdone and the clean is a bit over-gayish.

Its pretty good. Vocals aside...the music is great as usual! The technicality is just top notch and the melodies are awesome! I dont really have a favourite song or a song that I hate...I'll have to listen to it some more.

As for the vocals...I find the growls to be powerful, much like Christian's. The clean vocals on the other hand, Im still not sure about. Lars is a good singer and it shows on some songs more than others. I think Christian has a great range and is a more technical singer. However, Lars is a more metal clean vocalist (if that makes any sense).

Written by Asitis on 25.09.2009 at 19:41

After all the (very) bad things I heared about the new singers, I was a bit weary. Okay, the old singer was genius and perfect in every way, still this is not too bad at all. Though I must say the grunts are a bit overdone and the clean is a bit over-gayish.

Agreed, the clean vocals are indeed "a bit over-gayish".

Written by Kinzoku on 25.09.2009 at 21:57

Written by Asitis on 25.09.2009 at 19:41

After all the (very) bad things I heared about the new singers, I was a bit weary. Okay, the old singer was genius and perfect in every way, still this is not too bad at all. Though I must say the grunts are a bit overdone and the clean is a bit over-gayish.

Agreed, the clean vocals are indeed "a bit over-gayish".

Therein lies the flaw my friend...in your comment that is. Why is it gay-ish? Maybe you should eleborate not just put it out there like that because when you do assholes like me will scrutinize you - as Im doing now.

They have always had clean vocals...its not like they FINALLY started doing it - and even though its a new clean vocalist theres isnt a MARKED difference in his style of singing to that of Alvestam. And if you have a problem with clean vocals in general then why the HELL are you even commenting? If you think you are too "brutal" to like clean vocals then fine - thats your choice. Clean vocals adds a complete new dimension to this type of music and tons of bands are doing it. So in the end it comes down to you perhaps not liking the genre in general for its use of clean vocals. So if thats the case then I beg the question once more....why even comment on it?

Written by Guest on 25.09.2009 at 23:04

Written by Kinzoku on 25.09.2009 at 21:57

Written by Asitis on 25.09.2009 at 19:41

After all the (very) bad things I heared about the new singers, I was a bit weary. Okay, the old singer was genius and perfect in every way, still this is not too bad at all. Though I must say the grunts are a bit overdone and the clean is a bit over-gayish.

Agreed, the clean vocals are indeed "a bit over-gayish".

Therein lies the flaw my friend...in your comment that is. Why is it gay-ish? Maybe you should eleborate not just put it out there like that because when you do assholes like me will scrutinize you - as Im doing now.

They have always had clean vocals...its not like they FINALLY started doing it - and even though its a new clean vocalist theres isnt a MARKED difference in his style of singing to that of Alvestam. And if you have a problem with clean vocals in general then why the HELL are you even commenting? If you think you are too "brutal" to like clean vocals then fine - thats your choice. Clean vocals adds a complete new dimension to this type of music and tons of bands are doing it. So in the end it comes down to you perhaps not liking the genre in general for its use of clean vocals. So if thats the case then I beg the question once more....why even comment on it?

Haha, easy there. I have no problem with clean vocals in the genre, or any genre of metal as long as they're done right. I agree with your opinion of clean vocals there and I'm in no way the "brutal" kind lol. So let me rephrase that statement. IMO Compared to Alvestam's vocals, the new singer's vocals sound a bit "over-gayish" as the fellow above me commented.

Boring album uggg : ( i hope i can like this more. each song is so damn simple and annoying. come onnnn

Didn't care for the vocals much; guitar work was awesome though!

Didn't care for the vocals much; guitar work was awesome though!

In related news, entire Scar Symmetry album now available for pirating on limewire.

Sounds pretty good despite the lack of Alvestam though.

Written by Guest on 26.09.2009 at 12:24

In related news, entire Scar Symmetry album now available for pirating on limewire.

Sounds pretty good despite the lack of Alvestam though.

Do people really still use Limewire? I thought the torrent killed that years ago!!

Man.. sorry guys i think this album is the biggest let down of the year. Truly empty album, just uninspired and bland. Makes me really sad...
Yes, the vocals are quality in SOUND, guitar also. But the vocal melodies are average like anyone could have written them. Just boring aaaahh.. T_T

As someone who loves the shit out of this band and was terrified that the new vocalists would turn the band into a epic disappointment take it from me: the vocals are fine. Karlsson's growls are almost indistinguishable from Alvetam's and Palmqvist, despite having a much different style than Alvestam, is still a competent, and by no means "over-gayish" clean vocalist. You want "over-gayish" listen to Raunchy's last two trainwrecks. This guy is fine. Scar Symmetry was never a really innovate band in the modern melodic death metal scene, they just happened to do their thing EXTREMELY well. They still do. Despite the verse-chorus-verse template they still cling to this is a quality slab of melodeath. Looking forward to Alvestam's new work in Solution .45 too.

I've given this cd 4x spins, and my only complaint is the over use of clean vocals. I think track 2 is the only one where the clean vocals actually force me to skip it.

Written by Wes on 26.09.2009 at 21:03

Man.. sorry guys i think this album is the biggest let down of the year. Truly empty album, just uninspired and bland. Makes me really sad...
Yes, the vocals are quality in SOUND, guitar also. But the vocal melodies are average like anyone could have written them. Just boring aaaahh.. T_T

100% agreed

Well I think the guitaring on the album is top notch, the soloing is insane and the song structures are a bit more intricate than on the previous albums. The vocals are also good, eventhough I feel the formula behind each song is somehow more apparent than on previous releases thats prob why some people consider it a boring album.

I still like it alot, it depends what you listen for in an album. I myself adore and have always adored their solos and thats what really sticks in my head with the new album. The crazy sweeping over the clean vocals are just orgasmic, while other people might miss all that and focus on other things that are more important to them, which probably isnt as good as previously - i.e vocals.

One thing I do have a slight issue with is the guitar tuning on some songs, one song in particular (Dark Matter Dimensions) reminded me a bit of a new slipknot song I unfortunately heard a while ago and thats just not cool. Im not saying the song is bad at all theres just some unfortunate reminders in it that could have stayed.

Overall I think its a decent album, I didnt immediately like Holographic Universe but now I love it, this album still grows on me. So for its prob around 7.8 or 8/10 for me. I think the thing is, unlike the other albums where I had distinct favourites. Perhaps 3 or 4 REALLY insane songs on each of the first 3 albums, yet on this one theyre all sort of even and not ridiculously amazing.

I agree with the above post though about the vocals melodies, they do seem a little straightforward and I remember checking out "Conciousness Eater" and "Non-human Era" on youtube a while ago and realised that the choruses were almost exactly the same! Not necessarily in the way they sounded, but more in their execution: Sung in a mid-range voice in the first part only to be ended off slightly higher (poor description but you will know what I mean if you listen the two choruses in succession).

Anyhoo, still good album despite it all..