### Scar Symmetry: Holographic universe

#### 20/06/08 || Euthanatos

Scar Symmetry made little to no success when they released their debut album, “Symmetric in Design”. Ah, but then came “Pitch Black Progress”. Everyone went apeshit over it. It was the new milk and cookies of metal. Soilwork? In Flames? No, sir! Sweden would now spit on its former poster boys of modern metal; Scar Symmetry had triumphantly usurped the throne. Then what? Having to follow up a successful album like “Pitch Black Progress” is no piece of cake. Remember when Soilwork released “Figure Number Five” after “Natural Born Chaos”? Yeah, that’s how serious it is. Luckily, “Holographic Universe” is a damn good album, but there are some pointers I’d like to give those who are anxious to get their hands on this.

First of all, this album is a lot more melodic than the previous one. The vocal work is nothing short of spectacular, second only (in 2008, at least) to Mercenary’s “Architect of Lies”. A lot of clean passages, multiple tracks, vibrant melodies. Brilliant stuff. And that atmosphere certainly extends to the instrumental as well. See, the great captivator for most in “Pitch Black Progress” were the guitar riffs. They were amazingly intricate and original, which was what made Scar Symmetry sound so different from anything and everything that was dubbed “Gothenburg” at the time. This time, the guitar riffs are obviously still there, but they’re not as appealing or innovative as before. I think it’s only fair to expect that.

But, before you get your knickers all worked up, let me once again remind you; just because the guitar work isn’t as interesting as the one on the album prior to this one, it does not mean that “Holographic Universe” is stale, boring or uninspire – quite the contrary. Scar Symmetry simply chose to explore other areas of their sound, mainly the vocals and keyboards, and I think they did a great job in doing so.

A crystal clear production courtesy of Jonas Kjellgren also greatly contributes to make this quite the kick-ass album. It’s one of those records that you have to listen several times to fully comprehend it, to slowly grasp every minute detail the band has placed to entice us. Trust me, it’s worth it.

The cover: It’s uh… I have no idea what this is. Reminds me of those crazy spirals Vintersorg uses as his covers. Looks okay, though.

9 I’m running out of clever things to put here out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Nuclear Blast
- Website: www.scarsymmetry.com
- Band
- Christian Älvestam: vocals
- Jonas Kjellgren: guitars
- Per Nilsson: guitars
- Kenneth Seil:bass
- Henrik Ohlsson: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Morphogenesis
- 02. Timewave Zero
- 03. Quantumleaper
- 04. Artificial Sun Projection
- 05. The Missing Coordinates
- 06. Ghost Prototype I (Measurement of Thought)
- 07. Fear Catalyst
- 08. Trapezoid
- 09. Prism and Gate
- 10. Holographic Universe
- 11. The Three-Dimensional Shadow
- 12. Ghost Prototype II (Deus Ex Machina)