Scar Symmetry "The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity)"

The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity) is the sixth full-length studio album by Swedish metal band Scar Symmetry, released by Nuclear Blast on 3 October 2014 (EU). This is the first album of the Singularity trilogy, and the first Scar Symmetry album to be composed, produced, mixed and mastered entirely by guitarist Per Nilsson, and is the last album with Kenneth Seil on bass.

The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity) sold 1,500 units in the USA in its first week and debuted at #199 on the Billboard 200.

The first phase of the trilogy is centered on the rise of "artilects (artificial intellects) with mental capacities far above the human level of thought" and that "by the year 2030, one of the world's biggest industries will be 'artificial brains,' used to control artilects that will be genuinely intelligent and useful." The lyrical content focuses on the divide between "those who embrace the new technology and those who oppose it" due to the social issues caused by the rise of artificial intelligence and the emergence of transhumanists who add artilect technology to their own bodies.

Writing for All About The Rock Anthony Biello scored the album 8.5 out of 10 and said 

"I wasn’t expecting such a well written record from a band I discarded years ago. If you are a fan of Power, Progressive or Death Metal, then check this out. Scar Symmetry blends all of those genres together unlike any other band I’ve ever heard before. Supposedly this is the first concept album of a trilogy, and if the next 2 are even close to The Singularity (Phase I – Neohumanity), I would consider it a success."

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Henrik Ohlsson; all music is composed by Per Nilsson.

1. "The Shape of Things to Come" 0:52
2. "Neohuman" 8:43
3. "Limits to Infinity" 4:57
4. "Cryonic Harvest" 6:12
5. "The Spiral Timeshift" 4:50
6. "Children of the Integrated Circuit (instrumental)" 2:25
7. "Neuromancers" 5:11
8. "Technocalyptic Cybergeddon" 10:12

Total length: 43:22

Recording information:

Recorded, mixed and mastered at Studio Kabyss, Gävle, Sweden.

Drums recorded at Studio Overlook, Gävle, Sweden.

Scar Symmetry "The Unseen Empire"

The Unseen Empire is the fifth full-length studio album by Swedish metal band Scar Symmetry. It was released on 15 April 2011 in Europe, and on 17 May 2011 in North America. The album sold around 1500 copies in the United States in its first week of release, and landed at position number 11 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart. This is the last album to feature contributions from guitarist Jonas Kjellgren, who left the band in 2013 due to other commitments.

Drummer Henrik Ohlsson said that the album "seeks to expose the hidden hand of the elite that pull the strings of mankind in order to fulfill their agenda of global domination."

All music composed by Nilsson and Kjellgren.
Recorded between November 2010 and January 2011 at Blacklounge and Abyss Studios.

Mastered by Plec at The Panicroom.

Scar Symmetry "Dark Matter Dimensions"

Dark Matter Dimensions is the fourth full-length studio album by Swedish metal band Scar Symmetry. It is the first album to feature new vocalists Roberth Karlsson and Lars Palmqvist after Christian Älvestam's departure. It was released on 2 October 2009 in Europe and on 20 October 2009 in North America.

According to drummer and lyricist Henrik Ohlsson, the title Dark Matter Dimensions refers to the "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".

Critics noted that while newcomers Karlsson and Palmqvist's vocals could not quite match the ability of Älvestam's, they did not detract from the album's quality; with BBC Music commenting that they had the "ability to overlap", adding "further depth to the complex, aggressive melodies that Scar Symmetry fans have come to expect". Music videos were created for "Noumenon and Phenomenon", "Ascension Chamber" and "The Iconoclast".