Search - Scar Symmetry :: Holographic Universe

Absolutely one of the greatest albums of the last decade

Pete | The Glass Prison | 04/24/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sweden is home to many a great melodic death metal bands. Since the popular Gothenburg movement with pioneers In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, and At The Gates, melodic death metal has become very popular with metal fans in general, seemingly regardless of taste.



A somewhat newer band is Scar Symmetry. Forming in 2004 by Centenix guitarist Jonas Kjellgren, the group released a trio of consistent albums in their original form.



2008 saw the release of what many consider to be the band's ultimate release: Holographic Universe. While the previous albums Pitch Black Progress and Symmetric In Design have shown snippets, Holographic Universe blends the band's melodic death style with progressive metal, and as a result have longer songs and more varied song structures.



Guitarists Jonas Kjellgren (formerly of Centenix) and Per Nilsson really shine on this album, with plenty of brilliant harmonies and melodies complimenting the heavy riffs. Not to mention there are PLENTY of fantastic guitar solos, and the complexity of them really showcase their progression as guitarists and songwriters as you can easily hear in the title track. Sad to say Ken Seil's basslines usually aren't quite audible, but he plays competently and keeps up with the rhythm, having a nice bass groove in "Timewave Zero." Henrik Ohlsson's drumming is also very well done, always changing up time signatures, and plenty of complex patterns and double-bass rolls.



And last but most certainly not least, towering over everything else is the vocal performance by the one and only - Christian Alvestam. This man has one of the greatest ranges I have heard from any band. He can do deep guttural death growls (most of the songs showcase), soaring falsetto (Ghost Prototype II - Deus Ex Machina), crystalline singing, and sometimes all within a few seconds of each other! He gives many vocalists a run for their money, and I firmly believe he can hold his own against many classic metal singers like Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford.



Like I said, this album has what most metal fans would ever want: soaring singing, intense growls, thoughtful lyrics, amazing guitar solos and melodies, and pounding drums.



Highlights - (well, the best highlights, the entire album is a highlight)



"Morphogenesis" - The lead single of the album. Starting from a fade-in riff into a superb melody then being supplemented by Christian's intense growls. Then suddenly, we hear him switch to his clean singing voice which will leave you in awe. The chorus features a mix of both singing and growling, done to great effect, and leading to an amazing solo section/bridge before finishing up with one last repeat of the chorus.



"Ghost Prototype I - Measurement of Thought" - For this song, you mostly hear Christian singing, not growling until the bridge. Easily one of the best songs they've done, sounds a lot like a power metal song, and Christian's voice absolutely shines, before leading into the pounding Meshuggah-inspired bridge.



"Holographic Universe" - Oh....my.... The epic 9-minute title. WOW. Starting with a sci-fi keyboard intro before pummeling the listener with a galloping run, which in turn breaks into a heavier hitting pounding section, with lyrics (I think that are) about the formation of the universe.



"Bathe in laser light, the beam will underline

The birth of universe from nothingness

Prime awakening, the second beam comes in

To bounce and interfere as drawn by will"



Seriously, there need to be more melodeath bands with lyrics this gargantuan.



The pre-chorus even has a cool robotic voice dubbed along with Christian's growl, all leading into what is possibly THE best chorus I've ever heard with an ABSOLUTELY AMAZINGLY MINDBLOWING performance from Christian's clean voice.



"While all we did was to divide...

Breaking down the whole

We never looked at what we found...

Hologram within

While we relied on space and time...

No one here can know

At last we looked at what we found"



And all builds up to what I think is THE best solo in any Scar Symmetry song. Brilliant brilliant brilliant. This is truly a song that needs to be heard to be truly appreciated.



"The Three-Dimensional Shadow" - This is a much more straightforward and groove-based song than most of the album. What truly makes this song a stand-out is the pre-chorus/chorus, beginning with Christian trading off growls and singing, with the prime chorus featuring more epic singing.



"Now it's time to turn the page we've waited for so long

Waiting for the dawn to come when we control the sun"



"Ghost Protoype II - Deus Ex Machina" - The PERFECT ending to a perfect album. Starting out with a soaring guitar melody/solo with Christian's singing shining yet again, even with falsetto, showing the diversity of his amazing voice. The chorus is yet another one of the greatest I have ever heard, with more trade-off between Christian's growls and singing.



"A holographic world-view, existence in display

Where everything must work as one and never break in two

This concept lives forever outside all state control

And ever shedding skin"



The conclusion: Holographic Universe is a progressive melodic death metal masterpiece. Has anything a music fan would want: great singing, great guitars, great drums, great lyrics, great artwork. Just plain great. This album gets my highest recommendation possible.



For fans of:

Melodic death, progressive metal, Into Eternity, Mercenary, Dream Theater"