Tracklist:
01. The Anomaly
02. Illuminoid Dream Sequence
03. Extinction Mantra
04. Seers of the Eschaton
05. Domination Agenda
06. Astronomicon
07. Rise of the Reptilian Regime
08. The Draconian Arrival
09. Alpha and Omega
Country: Sweden
Genre: Melodic death metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Released: April 15:th, 2011
Website: http://www.scarsymmetry.com
Line-up:
Lars Palmqvist - clean vocals
Roberth Karlsson - harsh vocals
Per Nilsson - guitars
Jonas Kjellgren - guitars
Kenneth Seil - bass
Henrik Ohlsson - drums
First of all, let's get this out of the way: Scar Symmetry is a better band with Lars and Roberth on vocals than they ever were with Christian Älvestam. Sure, the dude could sing, and he could do the growls and cleans, but in the studio. These 'new' guys bring it live, as well. That's important. If the previous offering, Dark Matter Dimensions, was a little hesitant, the new platter, mysteriously named The Unseen Empire, sees the vocalists in full confidence, delivering on all fronts.
Opening track "The Anomaly" could be a pop song, if you stripped it of the growls. Featuring a chorus smoother than the ass of a babe, it's an instant hit that only these guys can do. "I'm the poison that you need / I'm the hand that feeds / If you follow I will lead" croons Lars Palmqvist during the chorus, and you believe him. Yes you do. All of this underpinned by a meaty rhythm guitar and a steady drum beat. The song features an airy and somehow dreamy guitar solo that is the cherry on top.
By now, these guys have the formula harsh verse/clean chorus down to a pat and they make no mistakes. The speed varies, from mid tempo to pretty fucking fast, and before you know it, there's another solo to melt your face off. Sure, if you're not a fan of this brand of melodeath, there's nothing saving you now. But for Scar Symmetry, album number five is basically just about serving the discerning metalhead even more catchy/brutal tunes, where the word brutal applies with the restrictions that this particular genre imposes.
The song "Extinction Mantra" features some very deep growls from Roberth around the one-minute mark, accompanied by equally serious chugging guitars that have absolutely nothing do with breakdowns, but would invite comparisons based solely upon the following clean chorus. An interesting thing are the 'upper register' harsh vocals that feature in some songs. They are a welcome addition to the 'regular' deep grunts and something I believe the band has not done before. I'm not sure which of the vocalists is responsible, but kudos are due.
By now you must have figured out that I'm a fan of this album and this band. There's really no getting around Scar Symmetry and The Unseen Empire if you are interested in hearing what melodic death metal has to offer in 2011.
Opening track "The Anomaly" could be a pop song, if you stripped it of the growls. Featuring a chorus smoother than the ass of a babe, it's an instant hit that only these guys can do. "I'm the poison that you need / I'm the hand that feeds / If you follow I will lead" croons Lars Palmqvist during the chorus, and you believe him. Yes you do. All of this underpinned by a meaty rhythm guitar and a steady drum beat. The song features an airy and somehow dreamy guitar solo that is the cherry on top.
By now, these guys have the formula harsh verse/clean chorus down to a pat and they make no mistakes. The speed varies, from mid tempo to pretty fucking fast, and before you know it, there's another solo to melt your face off. Sure, if you're not a fan of this brand of melodeath, there's nothing saving you now. But for Scar Symmetry, album number five is basically just about serving the discerning metalhead even more catchy/brutal tunes, where the word brutal applies with the restrictions that this particular genre imposes.
The song "Extinction Mantra" features some very deep growls from Roberth around the one-minute mark, accompanied by equally serious chugging guitars that have absolutely nothing do with breakdowns, but would invite comparisons based solely upon the following clean chorus. An interesting thing are the 'upper register' harsh vocals that feature in some songs. They are a welcome addition to the 'regular' deep grunts and something I believe the band has not done before. I'm not sure which of the vocalists is responsible, but kudos are due.
By now you must have figured out that I'm a fan of this album and this band. There's really no getting around Scar Symmetry and The Unseen Empire if you are interested in hearing what melodic death metal has to offer in 2011.
