Search - Scar Symmetry :: Pitch Black Progress

Best melodic death album in years

K. McGinn | Upstate NY, USA | 05/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Scar Symmetry, one of the few bands worthy of the title "supergroup", quickly return to the fold after the solid debut entitled Symmetric in Design. It's true that if you listen to Symmetric in Design and Pitch Black Progress in the same day, you could say they didn't really stray too far from where they went on the debut, BUT I'd say they improved the formula about ten-fold. In terms of sheer diversity, Pitch Black Progress is my new example of how it's done right. Not one of the songs on this disc reminds me of another, and this is due to several things. While some may say Scar Symmetry are "one more melodic death band", their songwriting and technical ability bury just about all bands currently in the genre. Instead of just focusing on catchy choruses (of which there are many), they pay attention to the subtle details beneath as well. They don't write ho-hum riffs that repeat the ground that has beaten to death by thousands of At the Gates and In Flames ripoffs. Going through the album, you'll hear hints of anything from Megadeth to Strapping Young Lad to Cannibal Corpse to Edge of Sanity to Dream Theater. Pitch Black Progress also manages to avoid the "more brutal yet more melodic" curse. "Calculate the Apocalypse" relentlessly opens in what can only be described as SYL gone death metal. The title-track is no-frills death metal and "Retaliator" maintains a frantic pace throughout while "Slaves to the Subliminal" somehow balances a brutal, death metal verse that is countered by one of the most melodic choruses the band has done. For those seeking a more epic, mid-paced song, "Mind Machinery", "The Kaleidoscope God" and "Dreaming 24/7" will certainly fill that void.



As I've mentioned, the guitarwork is stunning but the soloing and leads deserve some extra praise. Every solo here is memorable to the point that one could pinpoint the solo and match it to the song. "The Kaleidoscope God" is a case in point, at over 7 minutes it displays some of the most epic soloing on the disc and weaves in some keyboards to enhance the effect. Anyone silly enough to think that bands like Shadows Fall and Trivium are 'bringing back the solo' would do well to check this disc out to see soloing done right.



Of course I wouldn't be able to end this review without mentioning the biggest standout element on the disc: the vocals of Christian Alvestam. I've followed his work since Unmoored's Kingdoms of Greed and this is by far the strongest performance he's done. Thats actually downplaying it though, as his work on Pitch Black Progress fulfills the band's promo-sheet of singing "every style of singing known to metal" and proves his namesake as the genre's most diverse and underappreciated vocalist. This might be the best vocal performance I've heard, regardless of genre. I do not remember the last time a vocal performance left me so slack-jawwed. "Oscillation Point" features one of the most epic and powerful choruses I've heard in metal. Other songs, like "Retaliator" and "The Path of Least Resistance", display incredibly smooth transitions between multiple vocal styles. His ability to bellow low, intelligible growls to black metal rasps to clean singing that puts most power metal and mainstream bands to shame is simply unprecedented.



The backing instruments, meaning the bass, drums, and keys are all wonderfully solid as well. Henrik's drumming is intense and frantic or mellow and subdued when necessary and the bass gives the band a nice, thundering sound on occasion. The keyboards really bring in additional layers without sounding cheesy and overblown. Closer "Deviate From the Form" is aptly named with the heavier key usage that changes its pace from the rest of the disc. I've already mentioned this effect on "The Kaleidoscope God", but other tracks like opening of "The Illusionist" and "Carved in Stone" are equally good representations. Guitarist Jonas Kjellgren's production gives the band a clear sound that is both futuristic and meaty.



I think the point has become abundantly clear that Pitch Black Progress is an extraordinary album. In fact, I don't think I've been this excited about a cd in years. This is the quintessential template for what melodic death should sound like and a landmark album for the genre. It's early in the year, but I dare anyone to find a better album than Pitch Black Progress."

Solid Melodeath

Mike | Maryland | 05/02/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I hesitate to use the term "melodeath" to describe some bands like Dark Tranquility and the like, because the term has a negative connotation among some people. Yet, I can't think of a better term to describe this release from Scar Symmetry. It is melodic, and has death growls, but the lyrics aren't Satanic or brainless lyrics about death. Like many more recent bands of their ilk, Scar Symmetry uses the death growls in the verses and clean vocals in the chorus. Yet one of the things that seperates "Pitch Black Progress" from the rest of the melodeath bands out there is the death growls are powerful, no hardcore or metal-core screaming to be found here. Then the choruses, the use of clean vocals isn't awkward like most bands of the genre. This guy actually has talent. The choruses are powerful, like something you would find from a power metal band, yet less cheesy. The riffs are decent, the drumming is good. There's also some awesome guitar-work going on throughout the album, especially in the soloing department. It's nowhere near as good as Arch Enemy or early Soilwork, but is impressive nonetheless. "The Illusionist" is a strong opener, setting the pace for the rest of the album. "Calculate the Apocalypse" and "Oscillation Point" are the strongest tracks on here, powerful choruses and great soloing. They don't deviate much from their main formula, but there's no filler or weak tracks to be found, no failed experiments either. While there's no innovation in an already crowded genre, Scar Symmetry do what they do, and do it well. Definitely recommended."

This Swedish Melo/Death deviates from the current form...

CathodeParticleShift | Southgate, MI USA | 05/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As we all may notice, if we listen to bands like In Flames and Soilwork, the biggest of Sweden's Melo/Death acts have been trying to push for bigger audiences by attempting to steal the former nu-metal fan bases in America. Unfortunately, it marks them as potential sell-outs and forces them to re-visit and revise their sounds (best examples are In Flames' "Come Clarity" and Soilwork's "Stabbing the Drama") in order to gain their respect in their more hardcore metal fans. Then enter a band like Scar Symmetry. Pulling the right strings and stealing the thunder of these more well known and popular acts by combining the best of the Melo/Death genre with the likes of Opeth style progressive insturment work and clean vocals. This isn't the half of it...



When I first heard Scar Symmetry's "Symmetric in Design", I heard something that I haven't heard in a long time. A great melo/death album that stands up there with Dark Tranquillity's "Projector" and In Flames' "Whoracle"; an album full of great vocals (both the clean and the death growls), great instrumental work, and, generally, a great sound. It astounded me that a melo/death band was finally coming to take it back into the underground. After the release of "Pitch Black Progress", I realized that this group wasn't only taking it back, but reinventing the melo/death "steel" if you will; giving the genre some new and much deserved lifeforce.



"Pitch Black Progress" has many a stand out track; including the amazing opener "The Illusionist", the title track "Pitch Black Progress" (one of the heaviest on the CD), "Calculate the Apocalypse" (which contains this heavy, mind-blowing death metal opening with some actual "blasting" behind the drum kit), "Dreaming 24/7" (the "ballad" of this album with clean vocal work to die for), and "Retaliator" (shows the extent of their Opeth-like roots in the opening seconds of the track). Every track on this album deserves to be listened to over and over again because of how great they are. Full of great vocals, great metal riffs and huge solo work by the band's guitarists, and the awesome ambience provided by their master behind the keys. I actually find this CD to be better than the previous Scar Symmetry release.



In closing, if there is one band to pay attention to in this genre over the next several years it is this band. Scar Symmetry brings a great amount of talent and skill into the slowly draining pool that is the melo/death genre. As long as they stick to their program, Scar Symmetry could become a major influencing force behind the metal bands of the future (much like their counterparts in In Flames and Soilwork)."