Scar Symmetry

Scar Symmetry
Background information
Origin Avesta, Sweden
Genres Melodic death metal,[1] progressive metal,[2] power metal[3]
Years active 2004−present
Labels Nuclear Blast, Metal Blade
Associated acts Altered Aeon
Members
Roberth Karlsson
Lars Palmqvist
Per Nilsson
Jonas Kjellgren
Kenneth Seil
Henrik Ohlsson
Past members
Christian Älvestam

Scar Symmetry is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Avesta in Dalarna County, formed in 2004. The band has released five albums, with six released singles. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast records.

Contents

History

Formation and Symmetric in Design (2004-2005)

Formed in April 2004, Scar Symmetry came together during the band Altered Aeon's recording session at Jonas Kjellgren's Black Lounge Studios by guitarists Jonas Kjellgren, Per Nilsson and drummer Henrik Ohlsson.[4] That same month, vocalist Christian Älvestam and bassist Kenneth Seil joined the band, which then recorded a demo for the song "Seeds of Rebellion" which helped the band get a recording contract with Cold Records (a subsidiary of Metal Blade Records).[5][6]

In July 2005, the band entered Black Lounge Studios to begin recording its debut album, Symmetric in Design. It followed it up by playing festivals in Europe,[7] as well as touring with Soilwork, Hypocrisy, and One Man Army.[8]

Pitch Black Progress (2006-2007)

In June 2006, the band signed a new record deal with Nuclear Blast records.[9] Eight months after the release of Symmetric In Design the band started recording its follow-up, Pitch Black Progress.[10] The band again followed up its recording by touring, this time with Communic for the Waves of Pitch Black Decay Tour 2006 throughout Europe, and they toured North America with melodic death metal pioneers Dark Tranquillity and The Haunted.[11][12] The song "The Illusionist" began receiving air-play on MTV2's Headbangers Ball.[13] In September 2007, the band embarked on another North American tour with headliners Katatonia, Insomnium, and Swallow the Sun, the "Live Consternation Tour."[14]

Holographic Universe and New Vocalists (2008-2009)

The band's third album, Holographic Universe, was released on June 20, 2008.[15] Following the release, despite an outpouring of good reviews and press for the album as well as the success of the single for "Morphogenesis", Scar Symmetry did not embark on tours. The band released a statement on September 11, 2008 announcing that they had parted ways with vocalist Christian Älvestam, due to touring conflicts and creative differences.[16] On 6 October, they announced the replacements for Christian Älvestam: they will continue with two singers, Roberth Karlsson (growls and backing clean vocals) and Lars Palmqvist (clean vocals and backing growls) [17] and the band finally began touring in support of the new album in December after six months.

Dark Matter Dimensions (2009-2010)

The band's fourth album, Dark Matter Dimensions, was released on 2 October 2009 in Europe, and on 20 October 2009 in the US. It is the bands first album to feature new vocalists Karlsson and Palmqvist.[18] Despite the replacement of previous singer, the album received generally positive reviews upon its release. A music video was filmed for the songs "Noumenon & Phenomenon",[19] "Ascension Chamber" and "The Iconoclast".[20]

From late October 2009, Scar Symmetry took part in the Neckbreakers Ball Tour alongside Behemoth, DevilDriver and Arsis.[21] In February 2010, Scar Symmetry announced that they were to support head-liners Hypocrisy at the "A Taste of Extreme Divinity" tour.[22] Towards the end of 2010, they toured with Epica in the United States and Canada - starting in West Springfield, Virginia on 16 November, and finishing in Raleigh, North Carolina on 18 December.[23][24]

The Unseen Empire (2011-present)

Scar Symmetry's fifth album, titled The Unseen Empire, was released in Europe on 18 April 2011. Drummer Henrik Ohlsson states that the title of the album "seeks to expose the hidden hand of the elite that pull the strings of mankind in order to fulfill their agenda of global domination".[25] The album is the band's best-selling yet in America in terms of first-week sales. It sold 1,500 copies, landing it at #11 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart.[26]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Session members

Discography

Demos

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ "Scar Symmetry: New Studio, Tour Footage Posted Online - June 16, 2009". blabbermouth.net. June 16, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122052. Retrieved 2009-07-02. 
  2. ^ "Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe". about.com. July 8, 2008. http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/gr/scarsymmetryhol.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
  3. ^ Henderson, Alex (2009-09-22). "Dark Matter Dimensions - Scar Symmetry". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1647045. Retrieved 2011-11-06. 
  4. ^ Patrick Rennick. "Jonas Kjellgren of Scar Symmetry Interview". Metal Review. Archived from the original on 2007-11-02. http://web.archive.org/web/20071102040737/http://www.metalreview.com/viewinterview.aspx?ID=30103. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  5. ^ "Scar Symmetry Bio". The Gauntlet. http://www.thegauntlet.com/bio/1160/Scar-Symmetry.html. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  6. ^ "Scar Symmetry Complete Work on Debut Album". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=29020. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  7. ^ "Scar Symmetry Confirmed for Progpower UK Festival". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=53142. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  8. ^ "Soilwork Frontman Says New Guitarist Hasn't Yet Been Confirmed". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=52115. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  9. ^ "Scar Symmetry Sign with Nuclear Blast Records". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=38427. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  10. ^ "Scar Symmetry Bio on Nuclear Blast". Nuclear Blast. Archived from the original on 2007-06-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20070607210854/http://www.nuclearblastusa.com/bands/scarsymmetry.html. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  11. ^ "Scar Symmetry to Team Up with Communic for 'Waves Of Pitch Black Decay' European Tour". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54737. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  12. ^ "Scar Symmetry Guitarist Comments on Maiden Tour of North America". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=66911. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  13. ^ "Scar Symmetry: "The Illusionist" Video to Receive 'Headbanger's Ball' Premiere". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54298. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  14. ^ "Katatonia, Scar Symmetry, Insomnium, Swallow the Sun: North American Dates Announced". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=73128. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
  15. ^ "Scar Symmetry: New Album Preview". Nuclear Blast Records. http://www.nuclearblast.de/splash/scarsymmetry/index.html. Retrieved 2008-06-21. 
  16. ^ "SCAR SYMMETRY Parts Ways With Singer". Roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=104530. Retrieved 2011-11-06. 
  17. ^ "Scar Symmetry - New Vocalists Announced". www.metalstorm.ee. http://www.metalstorm.ee/events/news_comments.php?news_id=7420. Retrieved 2008-11-06. 
  18. ^ "Scar Symmetry: Dark Matter Dimensions". www.nuclearblast.de. July 14, 2009. http://www.nuclearblast.de/showShopProductDetail.php?artikelnummer=161124&kat=. Retrieved 2009-07-14. 
  19. ^ "SCAR SYMMETRY Films 'Noumenon & Phenomenon' Video". Blabbermouth.net. Sep. 29, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=127825. Retrieved 5 October 2009. 
  20. ^ "SCAR SYMMETRY: 'Ascension Chamber' Video Released". Dec. 1, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=131227. Retrieved 2 December 2009. 
  21. ^ "BEHEMOTH, DEVILDRIVER, SCAR SYMMETRY, ARSIS To Team Up For 'Neckbreakers Ball Tour'". Blabbermouth.com. 13 May 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=120003. Retrieved 22 January 2011. 
  22. ^ "SCAR SYMMETRY Added To HYPOCRISY Tour". 11 February 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=134972. Retrieved 22 January 2011. 
  23. ^ "EPICA: Worcester Footage Available". Blabbermouth. 22 November 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=149825. Retrieved 22 January 2011. 
  24. ^ "EPICA: 'This Is The Time' Video Available". Blabbermouth. 25 June 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=142125. Retrieved 22 January 2010. 
  25. ^ "SCAR SYMMETRY: New Song Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth. 9 March 2011. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155053. Retrieved 10 March 2011. 
  26. ^ "SCAR SYMMETRY: 'The Unseen Empire' First-Week Sales Revealed". Roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=158871. Retrieved 2011-11-06. 

External links

Scar Symmetry
Roberth Karlsson · Lars Palmqvist · Jonas Kjellgren · Per Nilsson · Kenneth Seil · Henrik Ohlsson
Christian Älvestam
Studio albums
Demos
"Seeds of Rebellion"
Singles
Other songs