๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ - ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ย ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐โฆ
15 years ago today, an โArtificial Sun Projectionโ illuminated our way through โThe Three-Dimensional Shadowโ exposing โThe Missing Coordinatesโ to the โPrism and Gateโ of the โHolographic Universeโ.
On this day (June 20) in 2008, Scar Symmetry released their third full-length studio album โHolographic Universeโ in Europe via Nuclear Blast (on June 24, 2008 in North America).
(๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐)
It is the last album to feature vocalist Christian รlvestam, who parted ways with the band shortly after the album's completion.
The album peaked on the charts at 37 in Finland, and 65 in Austria.
Background:
Upon its release, the science-themed โHolographic Universeโ was considered by many to be Scar Symmetry's most commercially focused album, with critics drawing comparisons with progressive bands including Dream Theater.
AllMusic commented that the band "appears more serious than ever about contrasting super melodic choruses, guitar harmonies, and even intermittent synths, against aesthetic evil twins like furious Death Metal growls, aggressive riffing, and torrential drumming".
Blabbermouth.net claimed that the album did not dramatically expand on previous releases, but was a "well-planned and structured album that comes across as accessible and heavy at the same time".
Following the release, despite an outpouring of good reviews and press for the album as well as the success of the single for "Morphogenesis", Scar Symmetry did not immediately embark on any tours. The band released a statement on September 11, 2008 announcing that they had fired vocalist Christian รlvestam, due to touring conflicts, creative and personal differences. On October 6, 2008, they announced the replacements for รlvestam; they would continue with two singers, Roberth Karlsson (growls and clean backing vocals) and Lars Palmqvist (clean vocals and backing growls), and began touring in support of the new album in December 2008.
โHolographic Universeโ wass also the only album at the time where all the members of the band shared equal credit on writing and composition. A thirteenth track, "Disintegrate the Hourglass", was written and recorded for the album, but was not included on the album.
Notes:
โHolographic Universeโ was produced by Scar Symmetry guitarist, Jonas Kjellgren.
A music video for the song "Morphogenesis" premiered on 18 September 18, 2008.
The album is rumored to be loosely based on Michael Talbot's book โThe Holographic Universeโ.
"The Three Dimensional Shadow" was the first Scar Symmetry song to feature the use of an 8 string guitar.
Critical Reception:
In his review for Sputnikmusic, Kyle Ward stated; โWhether Scar Symmetry chooses to advance their sound away from the tried and true formula which they play now is solely up to the band members, but for now all I can tell you is that Holographic Universe was an extremely pleasant surprise and an album I will most certainly be listening to a lot. Well done, Scar Symmetryโ
While AllMusicโs Eduardo Rivadavia stated; โEver since their entirely unpublicized, or at least unexpected, emergence via 2005's impressive โSymmetric in Designโ, and its even more undeniable follow-up, โPitch Black Progressโ, released just one year later, the quintet made up of spare parts left over from other bands, looked capable of trouncing any competitor, and possibly blazing a future trail for technical, yet accessible Heavy Metal. Unfortunately, record sales didn't respond in kind to this widespread critical acclaim, and although the band's core strengths remain as sharp and potent as ever on their third album, 2008's โHolographic Universeโ, you can't help but wonder whether a broader Heavy Metal audience will ever get the band, in the end.โ
Recommended Tracks:
Morphogenesis
Holographic Universe
Artificial Sun Projection
Ghost Prototype II (Deus Ex Machina)
Ghost Prototype I (Measurement of Thought)
Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:
Click this link to listen to the โHolographic Universeโ via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/holographic-universe/1456937604
Click this link to watch the official music video for โMorphogenesisโ: https://youtu.be/mebSi4PDC34
Click this link to follow Scar Symmetry on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scarsymmetry
Click this link to follow Per Nilsson on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pernilssonofficial
Click this link to follow Jonas Kjellgren on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonas.kjellgren1
Click this link to follow Henrik Olsson on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ApocryphonSweden/
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. โ E.N. Wells
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