NEW SCAR SYMMETRY RECORD: DEATH JOVI 2008
Thursday, June 5th, 2008 at 1:07pm by Vince Neilstein
I really can’t take credit for this one. But “Death Jovi” really is the perfect way of describing Scar Symmetry’s new record Holographic Universe (thanks: Metal Injection). Never before have hooks so big, sugary and sweet been combined with this kind of punishing death-influenced metal. While yes, the “Gothenburg” sound is definitely running its course (thanks to the thousands of American imitators), you just can’t knock the Swedes who know how to do it best. And based on just a couple of listens, this is one of the most delicious slices Gothenburg has had to offer in the past couple of years, easily beating out the recent releases by In Flames and Soilwork.
First single “Morphogenesis” on Scar Symmetry’s MySpace page is just the tip of the iceberg. Holographic Universe has so much to offer in the way of hooks, brutality, and astonishing musicianship. It drops June 20th on Nuclear Blast in Europe and July 8th in North America.
-VN
When I first listened to this album, I have to admit I was VERY dissappointed. It seemed like much of the brutality of their original sound was gone. There was either too much clean vocals, or the melody of the vocals wasn’t catchy. However, I decided to keep the songs for a few days and listen to them more.
Shit, am I glad I did.
It turns out, the brutality is all there, but hidden in more complex riffs and song structure. The vocals also grow on you. Before they sounded unorganized, but after a few listens you realize they actually fit very well into the songs. Morphogenesis is the only song on this album that actually sounds like Pitch Black Progress/Symmetric In Design, and it’s still the best song on the album, but Holographic Universe is a GREAT album.
9 out of 10
Preordered it today, gonna be awesome:0
I reviewed this for Ultimate-Guitar.com (review is running soon) and my tagline is going to be:
“A dynamic union of arena ready AOR and melodic Death Metal. Top 10 Metal Album of the Year contender without question!”
Sooo…”Death Jovi” ISN’T an insult? I’m confused.
I really dig the album though. Have they stumbled on the formula for “accessible without being ’sellout’?”
Not that I give much credence to the term “sellout.”
The first two albums were awesome I am definitely looking forward to this one. This is really becoming a solid year for metal!!
I like frosted mini wheats