Scar Symmetry is a Swedish melodic death metal band formed in Avesta in 2004. The band has released seven studio albums and is signed to Nuclear Blast Records.
Formation and "Symmetric in Design" (2004-2005)
Scar Symmetry was formed in April 2004 during a recording session for the band Altered Aeon at Black Lounge Studios. Guitarists Jonas Kjellgren and Per Nilsson, along with drummer Henrik Ohlsson, established the group. Vocalist Christian Älvestam and bassist Kenneth Seil joined later that month. The band recorded a demo of "Seeds of Rebellion", which helped secure a recording contract with Cold Records, a subsidiary of Metal Blade Records.
In July 2004, the band began recording its debut album, "Symmetric in Design", at Black Lounge Studios. Following its release, Scar Symmetry performed at festivals across Europe and toured with Soilwork, Hypocrisy and One Man Army.
"Pitch Black Progress" (2006-2007)
In June 2006, Scar Symmetry signed a record deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band began recording its second album, "Pitch Black Progress", eight months after the release of its debut.
Following the album's release, the band toured Europe with Communic on the Waves of Pitch Black Decay Tour in 2006. It also toured North America with Dark Tranquillity and The Haunted. The song "The Illusionist" received airplay on MTV2's "Headbangers Ball". In September 2007, the band participated in the Live Consternation Tour of North America, alongside Katatonia, Insomnium and Swallow the Sun.
"Holographic Universe" and new vocalists (2008-2009)
Scar Symmetry released its third album, "Holographic Universe", on 20 June 2008. The album received positive reviews, and the single "Morphogenesis" achieved commercial exposure. However, the band did not tour following the release.
On 11 September 2008, Scar Symmetry announced that Christian Älvestam had been dismissed from the band because of touring conflicts and creative and personal differences. On 6 October, the band announced that Roberth Karlsson and Lars Palmqvist would replace Älvestam, adopting a two-vocalist arrangement. Karlsson performed growled vocals and clean backing vocals, while Palmqvist provided clean vocals and backing growls. The band began touring in support of the album with the new lineup in December 2008.
"Dark Matter Dimensions" (2009-2010)
Scar Symmetry released its fourth album, "Dark Matter Dimensions", in Europe on 2 October 2009 and in the United States on 20 October. It was the band's first album to feature Karlsson and Palmqvist. The album received generally positive reviews.
The band released music videos for "Noumenon & Phenomenon", "Ascension Chamber" and "The Iconoclast". From late October 2009, Scar Symmetry participated in the Neckbreakers Ball Tour alongside Behemoth, DevilDriver and Arsis.
In February 2010, the band announced that it would support Hypocrisy on the A Taste of Extreme Divinity tour. Later that year, Scar Symmetry toured the United States and Canada with Epica, beginning in West Springfield, Virginia, on 16 November and concluding in Raleigh, North Carolina, on 18 December.
"The Unseen Empire" (2011-2013)
Scar Symmetry released its fifth album, "The Unseen Empire", in Europe on 18 April 2011. According to drummer Henrik Ohlsson, the album's concept concerned the alleged influence of powerful elites seeking global domination.
The album became the band's best-selling release in the United States at the time, selling approximately 1,500 copies in its first week and reaching number 11 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.
The band subsequently began writing material for its next album. In August 2013, guitarist Jonas Kjellgren announced his departure, citing scheduling conflicts involving his studio work and his other bands, Raubtier and Bourbon Boys. He was not officially replaced, although session guitarists occasionally performed with the band at live shows.
The Singularity trilogy (2014-present)
On 20 January 2014, Scar Symmetry announced plans for a trilogy of albums exploring transhumanism. The band also revealed the artwork and a short pre-production demo for the first instalment, "The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity)". The album was produced, mixed and mastered entirely by guitarist Per Nilsson.
Phase I - Neohumanity
The first instalment of the trilogy explores the development of artificial intellects, referred to by the band as "artilects", with cognitive abilities exceeding those of humans. Its lyrical themes include the potential growth of artificial intelligence, the social consequences of emerging technologies, and divisions between people who embrace such developments and those who oppose them. The album also addresses transhumanism and the integration of artificial technology into the human body.
Phase II - Xenotaph
On 9 January 2015, Scar Symmetry announced that vocalist Roberth Karlsson was expecting a child and that the band would not tour until at least autumn 2015. During this period, Per Nilsson and Henrik Ohlsson worked on the second instalment of the trilogy.
The band initially joked that the album would be titled "Phase II: The Force Awakens", but later clarified that this was not the intended title. On 16 November 2015, the band announced plans to begin recording the album after completing its upcoming tour. Recording commenced in December 2015.
In February 2017, Scar Symmetry announced that the album was scheduled for release that year. On 29 October 2018, the band revealed its full title as "The Singularity (Phase II - Xenotaph)".
On 12 March 2019, bassist Andreas Holma left the band following a dispute concerning touring.
The album's lead single, "Scorched Quadrant", was released on 30 March 2023, accompanied by a music video the following day. The band announced that "The Singularity (Phase II - Xenotaph)" would be released on 9 June 2023.
On 28 March 2024, Scar Symmetry announced the departures of founding member and drummer Henrik Ohlsson and guitarist Benjamin Ellis. The band named Lawrence Dinamarca as its new drummer and Stephen Platt as its new guitarist. Dinamarca had performed as the band's touring drummer since 2022, following Ohlsson's withdrawal from touring for family reasons.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar_Symmetry
Studio albums
Symmetric in Design (2005)
Pitch Black Progress (2006)
Holographic Universe (2008)
Dark Matter Dimensions (2009)
The Unseen Empire (2011)
The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity) (2014)
The Singularity (Phase II - Xenotaph) (2023)
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…shrink me down again