Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Progress
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Scar SymmetryEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-05-02
Music Label: Nuclear Blast Americ
Soundtracks:
- The Illustionist
- Slaves To The Subliminal
- Mind Machine
- Pitch Black Progress
- Calculate The Apocalypse
- Dreaming 24/7
- Abstracted
- The Kaleidoscopic God
- Retaliator
- Oscillation Point
- The Path Of Least Resistance
- Carved In Stone
- Deviate From The Form
Free Music Notes for Pitch Black Progress
Free Music Review: Best melodic death album in years
Hit: 5 Stars
Scar Symmetry, one of the few bands worthy of the title "supergroup", quickly return to the fold after the solid debut entitled Symmetric in Design. It's true that if you listen to Symmetric in Design and Pitch Black Progress in the same day, you could say they didn't really stray too far from where they went on the debut, BUT I'd say they improved the formula about ten-fold. In terms of sheer diversity, Pitch Black Progress is my new example of how it's done right. Not one of the songs on this disc reminds me of another, and this is due to several things. While some may say Scar Symmetry are "one more melodic death band", their songwriting and technical ability bury just about all bands currently in the genre. Instead of just focusing on catchy choruses (of which there are many), they pay attention to the subtle details beneath as well. They don't write ho-hum riffs that repeat the ground that has beaten to death by thousands of At the Gates and In Flames ripoffs. Going through the album, you'll hear hints of anything from Megadeth to Strapping Young Lad to Cannibal Corpse to Edge of Sanity to Dream Theater. Pitch Black Progress also manages to avoid the "more brutal yet more melodic" curse. "Calculate the Apocalypse" relentlessly opens in what can only be described as SYL gone death metal. The title-track is no-frills death metal and "Retaliator" maintains a frantic pace throughout while "Slaves to the Subliminal" somehow balances a brutal, death metal verse that is countered by one of the most melodic choruses the band has done. For those seeking a more epic, mid-paced song, "Mind Machinery", "The Kaleidoscope God" and "Dreaming 24/7" will certainly fill that void.
As I've mentioned, the guitarwork is stunning but the soloing and leads deserve some extra praise. Every solo here is memorable to the point that one could pinpoint the solo and match it to the song. "The Kaleidoscope God" is a case in point, at over 7 minutes it displays some of the most epic soloing on the disc and weaves in some keyboards to enhance the effect. Anyone silly enough to think that bands like Shadows Fall and Trivium are 'bringing back the solo' would do well to check this disc out to see soloing done right.
Of course I wouldn't be able to end this review without mentioning the biggest standout element on the disc: the vocals of Christian Alvestam. I've followed his work since Unmoored's Kingdoms of Greed and this is by far the strongest performance he's done. Thats actually downplaying it though, as his work on Pitch Black Progress fulfills the band's promo-sheet of singing "every style of singing known to metal" and proves his namesake as the genre's most diverse and underappreciated vocalist. This might be the best vocal performance I've heard, regardless of genre. I do not remember the last time a vocal performance left me so slack-jawwed. "Oscillation Point" features one of the most epic and powerful choruses I've heard in metal. Other songs, like "Retaliator" and "The Path of Least Resistance", display incredibly smooth transitions between multiple vocal styles. His ability to bellow low, intelligible growls to black metal rasps to clean singing that puts most power metal and mainstream bands to shame is simply unprecedented.
The backing instruments, meaning the bass, drums, and keys are all wonderfully solid as well. Henrik's drumming is intense and frantic or mellow and subdued when necessary and the bass gives the band a nice, thundering sound on occasion. The keyboards really bring in additional layers without sounding cheesy and overblown. Closer "Deviate From the Form" is aptly named with the heavier key usage that changes its pace from the rest of the disc. I've already mentioned this effect on "The Kaleidoscope God", but other tracks like opening of "The Illusionist" and "Carved in Stone" are equally good representations. Guitarist Jonas Kjellgren's production gives the band a clear sound that is both futuristic and meaty.
I think the point has become abundantly clear that Pitch Black Progress is an extraordinary album. In fact, I don't think I've been this excited about a cd in years. This is the quintessential template for what melodic death should sound like and a landmark album for the genre. It's early in the year, but I dare anyone to find a better album than Pitch Black Progress.
Pitch Black Progress Poster
Don't think melodic death metal is about to become extinct. Scar Symmetry proves it's still possible to improve the down written scene. I think many bands can only look and listen with open mouths to this release. This, ladies and gentlemen, is top quality!Hard Rock & Metal Music CDs
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