Scar Symmetry Album: “Symmetric in Design”

Scar Symmetry are a death metal band with both style and aggression in abundance. Christian Alvestam, (frontman), even looks like he wants to head butt your face through the back of your skull. In short, "Symmetric in Design" is a fest of agressive and pounding death metal, (which keyboards).

What I mentioned in my review for

stands true for this album. The percussions are traditional death metal beats for the most part, maintaining a frenetic pace and pounding bass. The guitars make good with the melodies and the solos are all technically excellent.The keyboards, while not overdoing it, add a good level of atmosphere to the music, just hovering in the background and doing their bit. Taken in total, the music is tight and accomplished: everything a death metaller would expect and more.

Vocally, grind and clean combine to provide a unique mix of aggression and melodic range. Alvestam can really sing well, and does both styles exceptionally well.

Personal favourite songs include "Chaosweaver", "Underneath the Surface", "Reborn" and "Hybrid Cult".

Since hearing Scar Symmetry, I have definitely become a fan of theirs and will eagerly await anything else they bring out. Simply awesome death that is innovative and new.

Oh my god!! Where did these guys come from???? Third earth??? phew!! Superb melodic metal with clean and death metal vocals... The reason why every melodic metal band succeeded in their quest is because they emphasize their music in melody. Melody will stick in your head for eternity!!! The brutality of growling vocals is intense... Great lead and rythym guitar work. There's nothing like Scar Symmetry in 2005. I highly recommend melodic metal fans to feast on this album!!

I first heard and listened to SS with their second album Pitch Black Progress (which rocks). I like their newer stuff so much that I bought this one. It is a solid debut, but unless you love their second album, you probably won't like this one a whole lot. The vocals are a little too unpolished for me (both the clean and growls). Musically, this album does showcase the enormous progressive metal potential they have. All in all I think they are a great band to support, and look forward to their 3rd album.

For some context, I was never really into any kind of Death Metal (except for some occasional CoB) before I heard Scar Symmetry about one year ago. Pitch Black Progress was my first album of theirs, and it did take a while to get into and appreciate; I only enjoyed and could remember some of the songs with some of the powerful clean choruses like "Mind Machine", then I put it aside for a few months. However, something must have clicked when I heard Holographic Universe, because after a few listens these two albums have become two of my favorite metal albums of all time, and I've given them many plays through.

I'm giving Symmetric in Design five stars even though I enjoy Pitch Black Progress and Holographic Universe much more, because it still deserves the rating. For one thing, Scar Symmetry does things in this album that they haven't just rehashed in a later release, so whatever order you buy these albums you may be surprised at their song-writing diversity; for example, listen to the simple-but-catchy riffing under the growled chorus of "Obscure Alliance", or the interesting half-clean tense verse vocals of "Hybrid Cult" followed by some Black/Death ones. I think the overall style of this album is closer to HU rather than PBP though because of the occasional use of keyboards and general lyrical themes.

Many of the guitar solos here are also different from the later two releases. A good example is the crazy one in "Detach from the Outcome". Also have to love clear classic-metal influence in the solos from "2012 - Demise of the 5th Sun".

I particularly enjoy the first 7 songs, but the rest are very good as well. Despite what I've heard others mention, the songs "Veil of Illusions" and "Underneath the Surface" are excellent. If you are just getting into the band or want to try out an album, go for PBP or HU first and get this one if you think those are great. The vocals on those two are more polished and distinctive song-tosong, and the riffs feel even more complex and powerful. Any Scar Symmetry album can be appreciated and easily listened to from start to finish, including Symmetric in Design.

Can't wait to see what they do in their 2009 release.

Just found out about this band from a friend I heard the song REBORN, and was blown away. As a huge fan of the melodic Deth, I was hooked to this band right away. The Heavy riffs, fast drumming, and vocals are really easy to get into. Both clean and Growling vocals on this album are awesome!!! I could go on and on about how much I love this band, but I'll tell you that if you love metal, then this CD is for you.