Tag Archive: Scar Symmetry

Per Nilsson Joins The Absence

Jan.23, 2013

The Absence 2013

Per Nilsson, lead guitar virtuoso of legendary Swedish Melodeath band Scar Symmetry, and Floridian death metal band The Absence, have made joint announcements on Facebook concerning Per joining the band. According to Mr. Nilsson, he is already hard at work writing songs with the band. From the press release:

Tampa, Florida’s The Absence has announced that guitarist Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry has joined forces with the group. The band has already begun tracking for their new EP with James Murphy and will release a single from these efforts soon; keep your eyes peeled!

According to Per:

“Six years ago the guys asked me to do a guest solo for the “Riders” album and we’ve been friends ever since. I’ve followed their career as a fan and when they reached out asking me to join the band, it was a no-brainer. I am super excited to be a part of The Absence family; we’ve been jamming out some new tunes and I feel like we’ve got some killer stuff in the works for ya! Between Patrick and me, there’s gonna be some INSANE guitar shreddin’ on the new tunes!”
- Per Nilsson

Enemy Unbound, the last album The Absence released, was well received by both the press and the community, and the addition of Per on guitars can only mean a bright future for a criminally underrated band. No word yet on what this means for Scar Symmetry or Per’s role in the band, but it’s safe to assume they’ll continue on with or without him.

- CK

Tags: Scar Symmetry, The Absence

PREMIERE: Hateform’s ‘Perpetual Cold’

Filed Under: Audio, Features, New music, Upcoming releases

Jan.22, 2013

If you’re unfamiliar, Hateform are a band to keep an eye on in 2013. Featuring past members of Mors Principium Est, Hateform blend thrash, prog, and death metal for a package that should sit well among fans of Death, Revocation, and Obscura. Top shelf melodic death metal is getting harder to come by over the years, but Hateform are keeping the genre alive with technical guitar work and stellar songwriting. Their forthcoming new album Sanctuary In Abyss is seeing release through Spinefarm Records this March, but you can hear the first new track from the record ‘Perpetual Cold’ below:

Mixed and mastered by Thomas “Plec” Johansson (Watain, Scar Symmetry, Mors Principium Est) and featuring artwork from Jon Barmby (Architects, Devil Sold His Soul), Sanctuary in Abyss will see release March 1 (Europe) and March 6 (North America; Digital only) on Spinefarm Records. Visit Hateform on Facebook for more on the band and Sanctuary In Abyss!

- JR

Tags: Architects, Death, Devil Sold His Soul, Hateform, Mors Principium Est, Obscura, Revocation, Scar Symmetry, Watain

Heavy Blog’s Primer For 2013 – Part Nine: Memfis, Haken, Aegaeon, Caricature, Scar Symmetry

Filed Under: Upcoming releases

Jan.17, 2013

2013

Memfis – TBA (Self Released)

mEMFIS

I discovered Memfis based solely on the sweet, sweet artwork their 2011 release Vertigo had. I’ll give you a moment to wrap your brain around that geometric, pattern-laden nightmare. Got it? Alright. Vertigo is a sick blend of progressive tendencies, hardcore punk, groovy old school rock, and even a little keyboard-driven ambiance… because when you’re that talented, why the hell not? They’ve been hinting at some new material via pictures of them in the studio since late 2012, which leads me to assume they’ll be unleashing Dr. Memfistein’s monster on the world soon enough. I’d love to see them ramp it up to a whole new level of pure insanity for this record and finally get the recognition they deserve. Clue in to odd world of Memfis here on their Facebook.

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Tags: Aegaeon, Caricature, Haken, Memfis, Pathology, Scar Symmetry

Christian Älvestam – Self 2.0

Filed Under: Reviews

Dec.11, 2012

Christian Älvestam

Self 2.0

01. Once Adreamed
02. Time To Let Go
03. Origins
04. The Unforsaken
05. En Knippa Ljung

[10/19/12]
[Pivotal Rockordings]

Christian Älvestam’s name usually pops up in three separate categories of conversation; why Scar Symmetry was so much better or worse with him, how he manages to play a role in approximately four thousand good bands, or heated debates over his live performances. Now, surprisingly enough, his name can be safely worked into conversations dealing with pop music.

Despite clocking in at a little over 26 minutes, Self 2.0 manages to pack in more hooks than your average fishing trip, grabbing you right from the start with the synth-laden, twist-turn saxophone soloing, undeniably groovy ‘Once Adreamed.’ Much like the songs that come after it, the song provides memorable vocal melodies and well-thought out lyrics in the verses that gently push you along to the gargantuan chorus that’ll be stuck in your head for hours on end. The bonus about this seemingly formulaic approach to a pop song (and pop release) is that it never manages to rely on boring chord progressions, note choices, or instrumentation. Each song has its own unique signature that makes it stand out from the rest, but doesn’t set it too far apart where the release doesn’t flow as a singular work.

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Tags: Christian Alvestam, pivotal Rockordings, Scar Symmetry, Self 2.0

Scar Symmetry Cancel Upcoming North American Tour

Filed Under: General News, Tours and Rumors of Tours

Nov.14, 2012

A couple of weeks ago, Scar Symmetry announced a North American tour featuring support from Threat Signal and Stealing Axion which was set to take off next weekend, but the band has hit a bit of a snag with getting their visas, so the tour has been cancelled. Here’s the word from the band’s Facebook page:

NORTH AMERICANS can we have your attention please!

It is with deep regret that we bring you these news: due to unforeseen problems securing our US work visas in time, our North American headlining tour will have to be cancelled. The waiting time for a visa interview appointment was several weeks longer than what we’ve experienced before. Our sincere apologies to Threat Signal, Stealing Axion, Lord of War and Kings Field – you guys rule and we do hope for the opportunity to share a stage with you sometime in a not-to-distant future instead!

To our fans… we will work our asses off to make this up to you! Expect to see Scar Symmetry back in North America in 2013 – back with a vengeance!

Bummer. Hopefully the band will make good on their promise to return to North America next year with a bit more in the terms of extensive itinerary.

- JR

Tags: Kings Field, Lord of War, Scar Symmetry, Stealing Axion, Threat Signal

Christian Älvestam Goes Pop

Filed Under: Audio, General News, New music, Upcoming releases

Sep.14, 2012

Hell yeah!

Did you really expect Christian Älvestam (ex-vocalist of Scar Symmetry) to have done something that wasn’t fantastic? This is the man that had to have two vocalists fill his shoes in Scar Symmetry. The man who guests on every single album to ever be released and even manages to get a smash-hit electronica song in there with DJ Henrik B. The man with the most jealousy-inducing handlebar moustache ever. Now he’s cranking out astounding pop-flavored tunes on his solo EP, Self 2.0, which is for fans of artists like Michael Cretu (Enigma), Dead Letter Circus, Mute Math and Pendulum. If you’re still not convinced, here’s what Älvestam has to say-

It’s not exactly a secret that I have a weak spot for more pop-oriented stuff – especially in the vein of the sound of the ’80′s. In fact, I have always been listening to softer music, alongside the heavier stuff, which is probably why my own music so often, unintentionally, tends to end up being a mixture of the two. I simply can’t help myself when it comes to merging the aforesaid styles together, it seems. I’d like to call it unavoidable influence, as a direct result of having been indoctrinated with both, from childhood upwards. With that said, fighting against it is not an easy thing, whether you want to or not. At the same time, some would call it a mixed blessing I guess. Anyhow, I wanted to do something a bit different from what I usually do for a long time now and that is to make an all stripped-down and laidback album, where I use my clean vocals only. Those who have followed me since the early days know I’ve made brief digressions, musically, of that sort before, like the ‘Final State‘-trilogy (Unmoored) and ‘Lethean Tears‘ (Solution .45), to name a few, so it’s not like Self 2.0 is me heading out into completely unexplored territory. I’ve been there before, grubbing in its periphery. Then again, I guess you could see Self 2.0 as me going all the way for the first time, if you like!

Self 2.0 will be a digital-only release through Pivotal Rockordings on October 19th!

- GK

Tags: Christian Alvestam, DJ Henrik B, Scar Symmetry, Self 2.0, solution .45, Unmoored

In Mourning – The Weight Of Oceans

Filed Under: Reviews

Apr.24, 2012

In Mourning

The Weight of Oceans

01. Colossus
02. A Vow To Conquer The Ocean
03. From A Tidal Sleep
04. Celestial Tear
05. Convergence
06. Sirens
07. Isle Of Solace
08. The Drowning Sun
09. Voyage Of A Wavering Mind

[04/24/12]
[Spinefarm Records]

Many years ago, Sweden gave heavy metal fans everywhere a new type of music to enjoy. From the likes of Dark Tranquility, At The Gates, and In Flames, melodic death metal soon took the metal community by storm. Slaughter of the Soul, some may argue, is THE melodic death metal record, one that will never be beaten and nearly impossible to match. Around the same time, Opeth was redefining death metal by including clean acoustic passages interwoven with blast beats and growling vocals comparative to some or the finest death metal out at the time. Many years later, bands like Daylight Dies and Elysian are carrying the torch alongside the godfathers of melodeath. One Swedish quintet, however, have taken the necessary steps to create what may be their own magnum opus in The Weight Of Oceans.

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Tags: At The Gates, Carcass, Carnal Forge, Dark Tranquillity, daylight dies, doom, Elysian, In Flames, In Mourning, melodic death metal, October Tide, Scar Symmetry, Spinefarm Records

Paul Wardingham Announces New Album The Human Affliction

Filed Under: General News, Upcoming releases

Jan.24, 2012

Australian guitarist Paul Wardingham made quite a few waves early last year when he released his debut album Assimilate Regenerate. Indeed, the record was quite fantastic, sounding like a far more interesting instrumental version of Scar Symmetry. Wardingham got the idea of guitar-oriented instrumental metal right, with the perfect blend of melody and technical showmanship. If you haven’t heard it, seek it out as soon as possible.

For the rest of us who know of this man’s greatness have something new to look forward to in the coming months; Paul Wardingham just announced his new album The Human Affliction. Set to be released-mid 2012, this record will be a concept album. Here’s what Paul had to say:

“I wasn’t planning on making an album like this for a few years, but the music began to take on a life of its own and a story materialized from the themes of each track. Assimilate Regenerate was conceptual in that it was inspired by science fiction, future technology and the effect it has on society, and I have always had visual references in my mind associated to the music I write, so it feels quite natural to progress to an album like this.

“I would say it’s going to be darker, more progressive and more epic than ‘Assimilate Regenerate’, still with a heavy dose of melodic shred and ambient synth work like before.”

Sounds excellent! We’ll be sure to follow up with more information. Keep up with Paul Wardingham on Facebook in the mean time!

- JR

Tags: Assimilate Regenerate, Paul Wardingham, Scar Symmetry, The Human Affliction

Farewell, 2011: Nayon’s Top 21 of 2011

Filed Under: Lists!

Dec.27, 2011

Wow, this year was an amazing year for metal. There were many great technical and progressive albums, which is what I consider to be my ‘main’ genre. A lot of my favorite bands came out with excellent albums, and there were a few surprising newcomers. Some of these I’ve reviewed myself and given a great score, so it won’t be a surprise. Some of these I didn’t have the time to review, which was a shame. Anyway, without further ado, here is my list of top 20 of 2011:

Honorable mentions:

Tre Watson – Gravestones

The reason I’m not giving this an actual rating is because Tre is a close friend of mine, so I can’t be unbiased about this. It’s a really great EP, and especially the last track is a masterpiece. Definitely listen to this.

Substructure – Monolith

These guys just came out of nowhere. They do a great blend of Born of Osiris and The Contortionist, a.k.a progressive spacecore. The reason it’s not in my actual list is because it’s quite short and a bit derivative. It’s still a good listen though.

Empirine – The Great Excursion

These guys perform a technical/progressive death blend of Opeth, Obscura and Cynic. They’re pretty incredible, and we’ve covered them a few times, so you should definitely check them out.

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Miseration Undergo Lineup Changes; New Album In The Works

Filed Under: General News, Upcoming releases, Video

May.31, 2011

Swedish death metal act Miseration posted news today that they have undergone some lineup changes and it’s not all bad! Multi-instrumentalist Jani Stefanovic (Solution .45, The Few Against Many) has rejoined the band, taking over once more his duties on lead guitar. Here’s the statement he wrote in regards to rejoining:

Hello everyone!

A short input from my part. As you all have noticed I am back in business again and this feels extremely good. I am so happy that the rest of the guys gave me the benefit of a doubt to come back although I decided to leave awhile ago.

To briefly explain why I left: I was simply in a place in life where I needed to focus on other things, which did not include Miseration. And rather to hold back the band I decided to leave, so that they could carry on without me holding them back from any future plans they had. I was unemployed at that time and had been that for quite some time, which just ate me up. Coming out from a really bad life situation, in every aspect, I needed to recharge my batteries. My life is just great now, being married to a wonderful girl and having a great steady day-time job. In fact, I can´t remember the last time I felt this happy.

However, during this off-period from the band, I never stopped having contact with Christian, since we are good friends outside our bands as well. So there were no hard feelings whatsoever when I left. Needless to say, as my life situation got better, my hunger for music grew strong again and I started to regret my decisions, cause I assumed that I would never be able to rejoin. But life is smiling at me right now and things turned out pretty good from my point of view. I was a part of creating Miseration, so it has a very special place in my heart. I am really excited to be back and I am so glad the band decided that they wanted me back. It warms my heart endlessly. I think we have a strong unit, with a lot of potential and so I am ready to strike at full force again. Hope to see you all out there soon.

Cheers people!

Awesome! He’s a killer guitarist and his resignation last year didn’t sit all that well with me. Sadly, though, there is also bad news. Tobias Alpadie, the guitarist who replaced Jani, has left the band. While we did never get to see him in action as he only joined the band in 2010, it’s always a little sad to see a band member leave. But it seems to be a mutual departure as he has his schedule conflicts with other bands and Miseration truthfully has no need for 3 guitarists (I’m looking at you Whitechapel). But that’s not all the changes Miseration have undergone.

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Tags: miseration, Scar Symmetry, solution .45, the few against many, Whitechapel