Tag Archives: scar symmetry

Scar Symmetry Announce North American Headlining Tour

Now this is a grouping that I can get behind and say “yes indeed this is going to be a good one”. It seems that Scar Symmetry are making a long overdue return to these parts and bringing along Arsis, Shattered Sun and Painted In Exile. Check out the poster, press copy and the dates and know that I will return with some closing opinion.

Tour - Scar Symmetry - NA 2016

The Press Release:
Swedish Melodic Death Metallers SCAR SYMMETRY, will embark on a North American headlining tour this September. Joining them are label-mates ARSIS along with SHATTERED SUN and PAINTED IN EXILE. SCAR SYMMETRY guitarist Per Nilsson comments:

”We’re proud to announce the dates and venues for our first North American headlining tour this September! As you can see, we’ve chosen to keep this tour on the short side – but rest assured the shows will be of full length and girth! With us on this metal pilgrimage we have Virginia tech-death overlords ARSIS, Texas metalcore masterminds SHATTERED SUN and New York prog professors PAINTED IN EXILE.
“Out of all the tens of thousands of cities in North America, we have chosen to grace a mere eleven with our presence which is bound to leave some of you disappointed – but trust me, if this tour is a raging success I promise you we will come back early 2017 for another bunch of shows (yes California you’re on our mind too)! For now, spread the good word and come out to one of our shows, can’t wait to see you all!”

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PiercingMetal’s “Best Of” 2008: The Music

If you have been observing the releases that came upon us during 2008 then you will agree that this was a tremendous year for Metal. We’ve noted in our editorial that it felt like the year of the comeback as much as it delivered new bands that we hope will shine far into the future. The multi-faceted genre that makes up our Metal not only delivered quality music releases but also DVD’s, Books and Concerts that left you sore and with that in mind we are lining out some of the best stuff that we felt was delivered. In this installment I will only be giving the tip of the hat to the best albums for 2008 since I liked a lot of them. Doing it like this lets us all keep a proper focus. Here we go.

Logo - The Best Of

The Best Albums Of 2008:

Eluveitie “Slania” (Nuclear Blast Records): Pagan/Folk Metal of resounding proportions. I loved this one and played it quite a bit.

Meshuggah “Obzen” (Nuclear Blast Records) – Reminding us with every groove and spine crushing riff that they are one of the most powerful Metal bands on the planet. If this is news to you, then get with the program.

Journey “Revelation”(Columbia Records): New singer, new album, new versions of classic material & a DVD concert all in one package? Truly this is a standout release from the Rock legends.

Whitesnake “Good To Be Bad” (SPV Records): It’s as if no time had passed by and this CD came out after the juggernaut self-titled album from the eighties. Great work guys.

Def Leppard “Songs From The Sparkle Lounge” (Universal Music): I haven’t liked a Def Leppard album in years and was set on giving them up entirely until this one came out and showed us that they still had it in them.
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“Holographic Universe” by Scar Symmetry

Artist: Scar Symmetry
Title: “Holographic Universe”
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 7/8/2008
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Rating: 4/5

We sometimes find that by the time a band gets to their third album that they are now just sitting back a little after knowing how they impressed with the debut and then continued their magic to beat the “sophomore curse” as they proved that they could still impress you with little difficulty. Truth be told, the third album is probably the most important as it is a release that will either show you that the group is in this for the long haul or it could be one that proves you no longer have what it takes. Based on this premise it is with great pleasure that I report that Scar Symmetry will once again knock your socks off with their latest and third release on Nuclear Blast Records – “Holographic Universe”. The band seemed to come out of nowhere with “Symmetric In Design” (2005), an album that I missed entirely when it first came out, but when they offered up “Pitch Black Progress” (2006), I found them to be one of the most exciting groups that I had heard in a long time. Perhaps it is because they are Swedish in origin and they come from a land that seems to be overflowing with Melodic Death Metal acts of note, but perhaps it is something different entirely. The one thing that I do know is that lead singer Christian Alvestam gives you more than your moneys worth with his ability to sing perfectly in both Melodic and Death vocals and almost duels with himself vocally and this trait makes Scar Symmetry’s music all the more interesting. As a release, “Holographic Universe” is the perfect next step in the bands progression from their second album which many had lauded as a recording to purchase if one was seeking the best in the genre.
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Katatonia @ B.B. King Blues Club (9/6/2007)

Katatonia are an incredible Dark Metal band and their dramatic style of music would be the entertainment at B.B. King’s this evening. The tour also featured Scar Symmetry, Insomnium and Swallow The Sun so there was a very interesting mix of styles going on. We were there for everyone on the bill and if you want to see more just keep scrolling past the logo below. We reviewed and photographed everyone for all to enjoy.

Logo - Katatonia

Artist: Katatonia
Venue: B.B. King Blues Club (New York, NY)
Opener: Scar Symmetry, Swallow The Sun, Insomnium
Date: 9/6/2007
Label: Peaceville Records

It was great to find Katatonia performing a headlining set of music for the Metal heads of New York City when they came around for the second time with a tour of their own. When we first caught them they had been the direct support for Portugal’s Moonspell and while this was a terrific show on its own there was quite a different dynamic happening between the Doom-laden Atmospherics that they possessed and the crushing Gothic Metal of the headliner. The show very clearly proved to the audience that Katatonia was a headlining band without question and immediately after they finished there was requests of them to return as soon as possible. The touring bill would find three opening slots which allowed Swallow The Sun, Insomnium and Scar Symmetry to join in and bring their own brands of Metal to hopefully quite a few new Metal hungry fans. Those who have been following the newer arrivals to the Metal scene would agree that this particular show would lean a little much to the Doom side and have a lot of similarity in the overall sound but with each band being interesting in their own right I don’t think anyone in the club would mind. As expected, B.B. King Blues Club would be the scene of this “Doomfest” and with the crowd building rather early tonight it seemed that the trudging and solemn vibe of this kind of Metal was set to begin. Here is what the night held for those who made it down.
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