Scar Symmetry: The Unseen Empire – new album

Sweden's SCAR SYMMETRY seeks to “expose the hidden hand of the elite that pulls the strings of mankind in order to fulfill its agenda of global domination” with their new album ‘The Unseen Empire’. Furthermore, the album's concept deals with theories of shadow governments and secret ancient bloodlines and even speculates about malevolent influence from metaphysical reptilian-based intelligences. Ours, the listening public's, only hope to survive seems to be an internal awakening where the influence of the unseen empire that rules in secrecy is washed away from the minds of the masses. We are to step outside the framework and make  “The Unseen Empire” visible. Mhm. Well, I’m making ‘The Unseen Empire’ – the album - visible here. The album has hit European stores today, April 15th, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. North American release date is set for May 17th, 2011:

SCAR SYMMETRY: Illuminoid Dream Sequence – courtesy of  Nuclear Blast Records

SCAR SYMMETRY: Extinction Mantra – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

Death and power metal (“with progressive flourishes, drawing positive comparisons to bands like SOILWORK and INTO ETERNITY” – E. Rivadavia, AllMusic) outfit SCAR SYMMETRY was formed in 2004 when guitarist Jonas Kjellgren (CARNAL FORGE, CENTINEX, WORLD BELOW), drummer Henrik Ohlsson (THEORY IN PRACTICE, MUTANT, ALTERED AEON), guitarist Per Nilsson (ALTERED AEON), vocalist Christian Älvestam (UNMOORED, INCAPACITY, TORCHBEARER) and bassist Kenneth Seil decided to play some music “that would express a fresh and heavy form of catchy death metal without any boundaries whatsoever.” The band released their debut album, ‘Symmetric In Design’ (Cold Records / Metal Blade Records) in 2005. SCAR SYMMETRY signed a record deal with Nuclear Blast in 2006, with the release of second studio effort, ‘Pitch Black Progress’, following soon after:

SCAR SYMMETRY: The Illusionist – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

2008's sci-fi themed ‘Holographic Universe’ caused music critic Eduardo Rivadavia to exclaim: “With their daunting versatility, sheer instrumental prowess, and prolific songwriting talents, Sweden's SCAR SYMMETRY must drive other heavy metal bands absolutely crazy with envy!” (Read his review of the album here):

SCAR SYMMETRY: Morphogenesis – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

SCAR SYMMETRY: Prism and Gate – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

‘Holographic Universe’ was the last album to feature long time vocalist Christian Älvestam; the band decided to continue with two singers - Roberth Karlsson (growls and backing clean vocals) and Lars Palmqvist (clean vocals and backing growls). This new lineup released ‘Dark Matter Dimensions’ in 2009 with which they showed an “appreciation and acknowledgement of the unseen worlds and dimensions, because without the existence of these unseen forces our physical universe would never be able to exist” – as explained by drummer and lyricist Henrik Ohlsson:

SCAR SYMMETRY: The Iconoclast – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

SCAR SYMMETRY: Ascension Chamber – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

SCAR SYMMETRY: Noumenon and Phenomenon – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records