It seems that among the fact the album themselves are showcasing the band on their absolute top form, it seems that this year has been the year of the concept album. One particular concept is more extravagant than most, I’m talking of Scar Symmetry‘s excellent return to form Singularity.
Scar Symmetry – The Singularity (Phase I Neohumanity)
The album begins a three part saga of a depiction of a neohuman struggle with the age old idea that man will be enslaved by machine. It works fantastically. Introducing familiar subject matter to Scar Symmetry‘s well trodden ground, the idea of creating a concept album has well and truly breathed new life into what was beginning to be a rather stale band. Not that that meant they weren’t a good band, quite the opposite but they were slowly fading away from the spotlight. Rooted firmly in the spotlight The Singularity is quite possibly the bands finest hour.
Per Nilsson led the charge for much of the rock opera and features some of the most melodic solo work this year. Nilsson ensnares the melody from the off with his characteristic, legato and slide heavy lead playing creating a hook that reappears throughout the album giving a sense of continuity. The eight track record, showcases the best elements of Scar Symmetry. With the band having two vocalists the wealth is very fairly shared, not too much emphasis on the guttural vocals and in turn not being overshadowed by the clean choruses.Instead both work in brilliant ways to paint a more theatrical picture to the beginning of our journey into the future.
Throughout the album the excitement never wanes, keeping the story interesting and ever evolving whilst all the while each song being its own identifiable piece in the grander scheme of things. The music retains a constant motion moving to the album’s climactic finale the prodigious ten minute epic that is the fantastically titled “Technocalyptic Cybergeddon“. Some elements might not make this everyone’s cup of tea, what with some of the lyrics being slightly cheesy but the sheer song writing exhibited on the album is absolutely phenomenal. Instead of being throwaway songs every single track is memorable and has got enough hooks to really embed the melody.
Each band member at the very top of their game but as aforementioned Nilsson does steal the show with his lavish leads creating a real texture for the overall picture of The Singularity (Phase I Neohumanity), truly and inspired effort and we cannot wait for whatever the Swede’s will think up for Phase II and III but if its anything close to Phase I then this quite simply could be the late making of Scar Symmetry owning their niche completely. Brilliant.