Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe [Review]

This is the first in the series of reviewing albums, and personally I cant find a more suitable album then Scar Symmetry's latest release Holographic Universe.
Shortly after the release of the album the band announced the worst news any die hard Scar Symmetry fan could find out, The band parted ways with Christian Alvestam the band's vocal force which will cause a very tough task for the band to find a suitable sound for their future releases (Christian has very unique vocal abilities that a very few if at all any can push the perfect balance between brutal death metal growls and melodically clean vocals which he pertains)

Here we go :

Reviewed !

Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe:

The album kicks off with "Morphogenesis" the first video release, Christian uses his signature growls to start off the track, leading into a sing along chorus that will push you to throw your horns up and yell along ! the track uses heavy keyboards (although that applies to the whole album)

"Timewave Zero" is a punch outta nowhere, the song starts of with abnormal guitars and keyboard sounds alternating, then the opening riff kicks in and onto Christian's vocal overlay,the song seems to come to a complete stop when Christian starts singing with only a drum pattern repeated along with a subtle guitar and bass line, but then it starts to build up to something destructive with the opening riff taking over again along with Christian's vocal overlay, GROWLS !! THE SONG DESTROYS ALL THATS IN ITS WAY ... Destruction, Brutality, SCAR SYMMETRY at their finest, switching between Melodic beautifully sung choruses to Death Metal verses that will crush your bones ! there is no need to mention how well crafted the solo presented in the song...

"Quantumleaper" is a drum driven track that has a little bit of black metal elements concerning the atmospherics keyboards used at times during the song,the chorus is a very catchy one (in my opinion every frigging Scar Symmetry track has one of the following a catchy chorus, a destructive verse, growls from hell or all together)

"Artificial Sun Projection" is the foot stomping track of the album, its got such a melodic SLUDGY AS FUCK opening, that gives Christian all he asks for when it comes to how he hits the first note, the chorus is another sludge filled bag of Scar Symmetry ! Per and Jonas send goosebumps through out your spine with the song's solo !!

"The Missing Coordinates" starts off with some trippy guitar tapping, leading into a Slap from Christian along with a thrashy as fuck riff !! keyboards are used in a fading in and out fashion at times during the song with Christian returning over and over again to sing along to the thrashy as fuck verse, this track is a rollercoaster ride that you had no idea you got on but your enjoying the hell outta the ride !

"Ghost Prototype I (Measurement)" starts off with some sweet riffing and licking from Per and Jonas ! the song has one of the most MELODIC solo's on the album a bluesy one !

"Fear Catalyst" starts off with a death metal riff, pounding drums while Christian growls with power only could be consumed by his guttural destruction !!! then Snaps into some of the smoothest (not the best word to use while reviewing a death metal track but you feel it, trust me ! )singing, the song swtiches between heavy demonic growls and clean soothing vocals !

"Trapezoid" uses the futuristic keyboard sounds again with Christian calmly singing to Per and Jonas's guitar playing while Henrik beats you with his drumming to slowly return to Christian singing softly the song's chorus, which is another master-catchy one ! the solo HITS !! its like a Sting !!

"Prism and Gate" starts of with Christian Growling right into your fucking ears letting you know your in for some of Scar Symmetry's Death Metal insanity pounding you down to Christian Singing some crazily MELODIC Words !, but the song keeps returning to the growls to remind you of the brutality ! switching to clean melodic singing, the swings in this song between clean singing and death growls is simply GENIUS ! the solo is one hell of a technically thrash filled experience ! the song is very atmospheric at times with blast beats that pulverize the listener and push him into a state of crazed head banging,

"Holographic Universe" starts off with a demonic death metal riff that yells out This is the Flagship sound of Scar Symmetry ! the song is a pretty long one marking 8 minutes and 40 seconds of pure Scar Symmetry ! the song has so many elements of past albums that it might as well be the perfect song to demo Scar Symmetry to any curious listener !

"The Three Dimensional Shadow" has a very strong drum build up to a growling rock verse with the chorus being as melodic as possible with a fading in keyboard sampling thrown through out the song with fading in and out effects again, Per and Jonas create one hell of a speedy solo that takes over with a sludgy drum pattern to cover it with keyboards backing up the structure !

"Ghost Prototype II (Dues Ex Machina)" is a another unpredictable track starting with slow clean singing from Christian to build up to Scar Symmetry's signature sludgy filled grooves that will leave you wanting more and more ....


Overall the album is another masterpiece from Melodic Death Metal titans Scar Symmetry,
they prove without a shadow of a doubt that the formula they tend to use is pure genius and the balance between brutality and melody is pushed to perfection on the album, it is a true shame they parted ways with Christian after releasing such a work of art ...

I Give Holographic Universe a 9/10