Genre: Progressive Melodic Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Members: Lars (Lerta) Palmqvist - clean vocals
Roberth Karlsson - brutal
Per Nilsson - Lead and Rhythm Guitars
Jonas Kjellgren - Rhythm and Lead Guitars
Henrik Ohlsson - Drums
Kenneth Seil - Bass Guitar
Website: http://www.scarsymmetry.com/
Well, what to begin with? I'd been waiting for that release for about 2 weeks, it was highly anticipated. I just hoped that this album wouldn't let me down (to be honest with you, the previous SCAR SYMMETRY album called "Dark Matter Dimensions", the edge point where the two singers replaced Christian Alvestam and his uncommon talent, wasn't as good as I expected). And it didn't! This is SCAR SYMMETRY return, a return back to the old quality songwriting, where lyrics and instruments are combined in a way that only the Swedish metallers can achieve. The first song on "the unseen empire" called "the anomaly" reminds me a bit the band's hit "the illusionist", that's a promising start...
The album contains both high and low tempo songs, both soft/smooth/sexy and heavy parts. Creativity is again a main element, and it seems to me that the equilibrium between the clean and brutal vocals has been achieved greatly. Lars and Roberth have found courage, strength, support and experience to overcome the high obstacle called "Christian Alvestam" and the two have established their role in the band's performance far clearly than in "Dark Matter Dimensions". I like the fact that synthesizer is wisely used now and then in the songs. SCAR SYMMETRY have more emphatically entered other metal fields as well as our beloved Melodic Death metal, having Progressive metal to be probably the easiest spotted one. Lyrics, talking about the unseen empire that is taking decision over the most important things, are pretty interesting, too.
To sum it all up, "The Unseen Empire" gets a "thumbs up", SCAR SYMMETRY do still write great music, and as a consequence this album is a must buy for a prog-melodeath metal fan. The versatility of the album, though, can attract ears from all metal genres.
My favourite songs on the album:
- The Anomaly
- Domination Agenda
- Astronomicon
- The Draconian Arrival
8.5/10
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