Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Progress
Nuclear Blast - NB1658-2 - April 21, 2006
by Amanda J. Carlson
The alternation between clean and growling vocals is a cool style in metal, and it’s the stellar utilization of it that makes Scar Symmetry a quality band. Their sophomore album, Pitch Black Progress, is a huge improvement on what they already had mastered on Symmetric in Design. This latest release is slamming with heaviness that is doubled when the vocalist lets out his deep-throat growls. The clean sung lines are my favorite, of course; he has a little bit of that rough edge to his voice at times, but hits every note with precision.
Musically, I hear a lot of Nevermore resemblances, with their dark and sometimes complex riffs. An example would be "Calculate the Apocalypse." One of the heaviest tunes on the album, it has a variety of crazy riffs between more steadfast ones, though all calculated and put together into a smooth four-minute string. "The Kaleidoscopic God" is another showing of style diversity, where they juggle angry riffs and calmer, more streamlined metal - not to mention some orchestration halfway through. My favorite track is "Dreaming 24/7," as it is the perfect combination of melodic vocals and kick ass crunching guitars.
On the negative side, the death style vocals aren’t quite my taste; at times they’re a bit too cookie monster-esque, and since I’m picky about what I consider likeable in the death metal world, it does take away from the coolness a few times. Nevertheless, Pitch Black Progress deserves to spend many a day in the CD player. If they’ve come this far with just two albums, Scar Symmetry can only go up from here.
8/10
UM's Review Rating Scale
Scar Symmetry Official Website
Nuclear Blast Official Website
Nuclear Blast - NB1658-2 - April 21, 2006
by Amanda J. Carlson
The alternation between clean and growling vocals is a cool style in metal, and it’s the stellar utilization of it that makes Scar Symmetry a quality band. Their sophomore album, Pitch Black Progress, is a huge improvement on what they already had mastered on Symmetric in Design. This latest release is slamming with heaviness that is doubled when the vocalist lets out his deep-throat growls. The clean sung lines are my favorite, of course; he has a little bit of that rough edge to his voice at times, but hits every note with precision.
Musically, I hear a lot of Nevermore resemblances, with their dark and sometimes complex riffs. An example would be "Calculate the Apocalypse." One of the heaviest tunes on the album, it has a variety of crazy riffs between more steadfast ones, though all calculated and put together into a smooth four-minute string. "The Kaleidoscopic God" is another showing of style diversity, where they juggle angry riffs and calmer, more streamlined metal - not to mention some orchestration halfway through. My favorite track is "Dreaming 24/7," as it is the perfect combination of melodic vocals and kick ass crunching guitars.
On the negative side, the death style vocals aren’t quite my taste; at times they’re a bit too cookie monster-esque, and since I’m picky about what I consider likeable in the death metal world, it does take away from the coolness a few times. Nevertheless, Pitch Black Progress deserves to spend many a day in the CD player. If they’ve come this far with just two albums, Scar Symmetry can only go up from here.
8/10
UM's Review Rating Scale
Scar Symmetry Official Website
Nuclear Blast Official Website
