Scar Symmetry
I could not find an existing topic for this fantastic melodic death metal band, so I decided to post my own. Scar Symmetry are easily my favourite melodic death metal band of all time, and that is saying something considering that they have only been active for about two years. Still, in these two years they have managed to put out two fantastic melodeath masterpieces that rank up there with the very best in the genre, and it is rumoured that these guys are going to be very big now that they have managed to nail a contract with Nuclear Blast.
So what is it that makes Scar Symmetry such a great band? First of all it is the excellent musicianship. From the fantastic, speedy and no-nonsense guitar solos to the extremely tastefully used keyboard material, the music is right out there. Everyone in this band knows exactly what he is doing and together, they make some of the best and most memorable songs that I have ever heard. Scar Symmetry certainly aren't familiar with the term 'filler'.
Another particularly brilliant part of Scar Symmetry's music is the vocals, all done by singer Christian Älvestam. His voice is incredibly diverse, capable of doing good clean vocals as well as death grunts and even the occasional scream. What is even more brilliant is that he can alternate between these styles extremely quickly.
Their two albums, Symmetric In Design (2005) and Pitch Black Progress (2006) are two great feats of melodeath music and both have gotten rave reviews and album of the month notations all around the world. Symmetric In Design is easily the heaviest of the two albums, more closely related to death metal than the sophomore album, but Pitch Black Progress has some pretty heavy tracks as well. Overall, the second album is much more melodic and the clean vocals are executed better than ever. Many fans will not care for the amount of clean vocals on this album, but there is enough deathsy goodness for them to enjoy as well.
My favourite tracks from both albums? Chaosweaver, Dominion, Reborn, The Illusionist, Mind Machine, The Kaleidoscopic God. Trust me though when I say that not one song from either of these albums will really disappoint. They're all good in their own right!
Check out a sample of Reborn here: Click
So what is it that makes Scar Symmetry such a great band? First of all it is the excellent musicianship. From the fantastic, speedy and no-nonsense guitar solos to the extremely tastefully used keyboard material, the music is right out there. Everyone in this band knows exactly what he is doing and together, they make some of the best and most memorable songs that I have ever heard. Scar Symmetry certainly aren't familiar with the term 'filler'.
Another particularly brilliant part of Scar Symmetry's music is the vocals, all done by singer Christian Älvestam. His voice is incredibly diverse, capable of doing good clean vocals as well as death grunts and even the occasional scream. What is even more brilliant is that he can alternate between these styles extremely quickly.
Their two albums, Symmetric In Design (2005) and Pitch Black Progress (2006) are two great feats of melodeath music and both have gotten rave reviews and album of the month notations all around the world. Symmetric In Design is easily the heaviest of the two albums, more closely related to death metal than the sophomore album, but Pitch Black Progress has some pretty heavy tracks as well. Overall, the second album is much more melodic and the clean vocals are executed better than ever. Many fans will not care for the amount of clean vocals on this album, but there is enough deathsy goodness for them to enjoy as well.
My favourite tracks from both albums? Chaosweaver, Dominion, Reborn, The Illusionist, Mind Machine, The Kaleidoscopic God. Trust me though when I say that not one song from either of these albums will really disappoint. They're all good in their own right!
Check out a sample of Reborn here: Click
| Ragana Rawrcat Posts: 4919 From: Latvia  |
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| Hellbound666 Account deleted |
Hellbound666
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I've heard last uear and i love them right away. Those lyrics and melody it's wonderfull. I can't wait to see it live 
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| Valaskjalf Account deleted |
Valaskjalf
Account deleted Written by Ragana on 31.01.2009 at 22:45 Prob not But Id advise you to give it a listen..pretty sweet
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| Ragana Rawrcat Posts: 4919 From: Latvia |
I've already seen few videos in YouTube with both of them; surely, just because of this sudden change of vocalists I won't forget about Scar Symmetry's existence. 
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| ForeverDarkWoods Posts: 1001 From: Sweden  |
Maybe they haven't clicked with me or something, but I think they're one of the most generic Gothenburg plastic death metal bands there are out there. But then again, I only like a few of the Gothenburg melodeath bands to begin with, and just about nothing recent from the Gothenburg scene is worth caring about to me, so maybe this just isn't for me.
---- Free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction! - George W. Bush, ex-president of the United States of America
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| Dane Train Beers & Kilts Posts: 8902 From: USA  |
Written by ForeverDarkWoods on 05.02.2009 at 19:26 Like any band, you either get it or you don't. I personally am sick of the whole Gothenburg/Melodeath/Metalcore deal, but these guys managed to really impress me.
---- (space for rent)
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| Dest Posts: 52 From: The Netherlands  |
I was really impressed with the Pitch Black Progress album. I got it on this promo cd and I love the vocals and the overall music. Mainly the vocals impressed me a lot. I too have heard way too many Melodeath bands, but for these guys, I can make an exception.:)
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| Abattoir Posts: 3629 From: Slovenia  |
Well for me is the first debut release, Symmetric In Design, for now the best sounding album from them. While the last one, Holographic Universe, haven't got my attention so good till now....
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| Dest Posts: 52 From: The Netherlands |
Written by Abattoir on 09.02.2009 at 13:10 Funny, I just got this CD yesterday. I still have to listen to it, but I wonder how they sound on it
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| Abattoir Posts: 3629 From: Slovenia |
Written by Guest on 11.02.2009 at 00:36 Hm, I'm pretty curious how will this work out...with two vocalists I mean. I would love to see the concert with two vocalists on the stage and the combination of them.
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| Crazy Booduh Posts: 38 From: USA |
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| Black_Sheep Posts: 108 From: Finland  |
I liked the first album. The second wasn't that good. The new one is ok, but i haven't listened to it properly yet.
---- "Reality is almost always wrong."
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| Crazy Booduh Posts: 38 From: USA |
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| Black_Sheep Posts: 108 From: Finland |
I don't really remember anymore. I just didn't like it. Sounded like they were trying too much. Holographic Universe is indeed very good one, i like the prog elements a lot.
---- "Reality is almost always wrong."
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| MetalSpider Posts: 1386 From: Canada  |
The new song is decent...nothing special imo. I definitely think Christian is a better all around vocalist...although these 2 new vocalists are pretty good. I'll definitely have to listen to the new album.
----  Thanks to Corrupt for these banners!
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| Ag Fox Angel No More Posts: 4774 From: Hong Kong  |
Written by Guest on 22.08.2009 at 00:25I'm more looking forward to solution.45
---- loves 小巫
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| Uller Posts: 498 From: Mexico  |
Scar symmetry its a good band, they sound good, but i cant stand their clean vocals 
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| severed torso Posts: 1 From: Papua New Guinea  |
I only got to know scar symmetry recently and they actually sound pretty good! I heard the Holographic Universe album and only recently got the Pitch Black Progress from a mate and they're a way cool band. They sound like a cleaner version of Soilwork in the Holographic Universe album.
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| GamlaSonn Posts: 169 From: Norway |
Written by Uller on 11.09.2009 at 07:06 agreed, the clean vox are gay
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| Valaskjalf Account deleted |
Valaskjalf
Account deleted Written by GamlaSonn on 11.09.2009 at 14:12 How can clean vocals be gay?? If it is sung well and not in an emo/whiney way the way Anders from In Flames does it then it adds a shitload of quality to an album! This seriously pisses me off from people on the forum...always complaining about clean vocals being shit. Christian Alvestam is prob the most versatile vocalist in the melodic death scene today and frankly I think having a versatile voice makes a vocalist /band BETTER. Unless you like music that offers no variety whatosever.....if clean vocals are sung well it creates a fantastic contrast with growls and that is something that made/makes Scar Symmetry so good. I think they would have sounded weaker if they only had growls.
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| GamlaSonn Posts: 169 From: Norway |
Written by Guest on 13.09.2009 at 16:38 I don't complain about clean vocals in general, but the vocals sounds like backstreet boys or somethin, i just can't help being annoyed
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| Uller Posts: 498 From: Mexico |
Same here, I like clean vocals like the ones in Persefone, Noumea, In Mournin. But not the ones in Scary Symmetry, Norther, Insomnium, In Flames. And I like Norther and Insomnium a lot, dont take it personal, its just a coment
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| MetalSpider Posts: 1386 From: Canada |
New album has leaked in low quality (128 kbps). I'll post my thoughts once I hear it.
---- Thanks to Corrupt for these banners!
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| MetalSpider Posts: 1386 From: Canada |
Like Nile's new album, the more I listen to Dark Matter Dimensions the more I like it. The music is just pure awesome! Like Valaskjalf said...this is Scar Symmetry to its core. They were deadly with Christian and are just as deadly without him. The new vocalists are great! While I prefer Christian's clean vocals (personal preference I guess), Lars does one hell of a job! Robert's growls are powerful! Vocalists aside...the music is some of their best! As of right now, Im finding that there are really no weak songs. These guys are crazy musicians thats for sure! Their level of technicality is way up there. Its funny...when I first heard The Consciousness Eaters, and then Noumenon and Phenomenon and Non-Human Era....I wasnt that impressed. The more I listened to them, the more I enjoyed them. And now that Ive heard the whole album....Im really impressed overall. Is it better than Holographic Universe? I still need a few more listens but its definitely up there.
---- Thanks to Corrupt for these banners!
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| Crème fraiche Posts: 692 From: USA  |
I honestly have never heard any Scar Symmetry before DMD, and I'm seriously in love. Guitar work is fucking awesome and the vocals are killer (it did take a couple listens to get into the clean parts though). SS is one of those bands I wish i got into earlier ;(
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| Westvann Posts: 77 From: Norway  |
DMD is an freaking good album with no bad songs... i liked all of them:) the sad is the Christian fanboys out there thats not even hear at the music like they did when christian was in the band and automatecily hate it... if they want christian, start to listen to solution. 45... they are pretty good...
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