| | Full Review | Ratings (919) |
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| 0.0 | Jom STAFF | June 22nd 08 |
Holographic Universe - Scar Symmetry's third album - validates the assertion that it takes only one band to jumpstart a genre on life support. The band's hybrid melodic death metal sound comes to full fruition on the record, with blistering leads, devastating riffs, and a relentless rhythm section, all wonderfully complemented by Christian Avestam's juxtaposition between harsh and clean vocals. Guitarists Jonas Kjellgren and Per Nilsson are on point throughout the record with some of the best rhythm and lead work in 2008, and bassist Kenneth Seil and drummer Henrik Ohlsson deliver an intense, precise performance. The allure of Holographic Universe is positively intoxicating right from the get-go with "Morphogenesis," "Timewave Zero," and "Quantumleaper" as well as the unique "Ghost Prototype" series. The album's song lengths are longer but rarely drag, further proving the Swedish quintet's versatility and ingenuity. Also worth checking out is the Blade Runner-esque title track and the phenomenal "Prism and Gate" as well as "Artificial Sun Projection." All told, Scar Symmetry prove that there is plenty of innovation and creativity that's been untapped in a relatively stagnant genre as of late.
5 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | 45nothings | March 28th 10 |
2008's best record. Hooky choruses, catchy solos, great vocals. Soars above anything else melodic death metal has managed to do in recent years.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Thor | November 18th 08 |
Scar Symmetry release a modern melodic death metal album that doesn't sound like it's ripping off Slaughter of the Soul the entire time. While that should be enough to get you to listen to Holographic Universe, throw in a solid instrumental performance on all fronts and more vocal hooks than you'll ever be able to remember. The title track might also be the song of the year. A must have for metal in 2008.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | davepezz88 | March 20th 12 |
Holographic Universe, in my opinion was a turning point for the band. It's the one album that really sticks out from the rest, although all of their albums are excellent, Holographic Universe has a unique sound. Thier tends to be more of the clean vocals on the album, but overall, it balances out perfectly with the sound of the album. A perfect example of a well-balanced song with mostly clean vocals but yet, still producing a potent, heavy sound would be Track 2- Time Wave Zero. It is probably the most stand out song on the entire album, it really shows how great Christian is at singing,hitting high notes, and also mixing in all of his growls with everything. The guitar work is also phenomonal on this record, from fast, heavy riffs, to melodic, yet very complicated sounding solos. Holographic Universe is an outstanding example of Swedish Melodic Metal, with a very futuristic sound. For those who are into foreign melodic metal bands, this is the number one band to check out. Buy the recor, you won't regret it.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 1.5 very poor | Watchuu lookin at? | March 9th 22 |
a shitty conglomeration of autotuned annoyingly high pitched cleans, mccore song structures, and riffs consisting entirely of bridge sections
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Flave | January 8th 15 |
This is by far not the classic melodic death metal from the 90's, but some very modern approach with a lot of clean vocals and electronic sound effects reminiscent of modern pop music. I wouldn't call it a classic, but its an enjoyable album with good riffs and all, if you don't mind those influences.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | branflakes911 | September 8th 14 |
More highs and lows here as the band pares things back a bit and explores a more glamorous side of their melo-death. The great songs are great and ceaselessly catchy but things border on painful in some of the more high-flying and riffless passages.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | CactusJack | July 11th 12 |
I really love this album. The cover art still amazes me to this day. However, the effects used on the clean vocals keep this from becoming a 5 for me.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Xenorazr | January 8th 10 |
The shift to a mellower sound is one that brings mixed results. There are tracks that bring some great melodies but the stretches of dull cliches bring this album below its predecessors all told, but not significantly.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | XfingTheSullen | December 7th 09 |
This album is really something, although the lack of heaviness doesn't deserve it a 5.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Piem | March 12th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jake E. | March 1st 24 |
| 3.5 great | alamo | December 26th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aeternal | September 20th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hawks | July 19th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | s0nicx | July 19th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Halez | June 2nd 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | DJD1ed | March 31st 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | haxxiy | February 20th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | Shwany | January 13th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Spag | November 29th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | Davey | May 5th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | zethmal | March 22nd 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | chaz1254 | February 28th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Akifexx | February 16th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Masha2k | January 10th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | JoneHK | December 6th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | November 22nd 21 |
| 3.5 great | Suyan | May 28th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Luna | April 2nd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Laen | December 3rd 20 |
| 3.5 great | Scytale | November 29th 20 |
| 3.0 good | vdop | November 7th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | ChuppaC | September 19th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Santet | September 5th 20 |
| 2.5 average | RMHQ | May 29th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | mEyck07 | November 19th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | JTPlays | October 28th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | kodama | October 20th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | jounik | September 6th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | HybridF | August 20th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | josh | June 10th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | May 20th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Adamn | May 8th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Rausku | January 8th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rice303 | October 28th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | ElSomni | October 8th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Loveloth | September 23rd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | chayka | July 1st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rosier | February 12th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Awake88 | February 9th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | deaad | December 12th 17 |
| 2.5 average | Fear | December 9th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Arolde | November 22nd 17 |
| 5.0 classic | triviut | November 5th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mesm277 | September 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Enzx | August 4th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Momos | March 7th 17 |
| 3.5 great | chanson | February 10th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Elynna | January 20th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | KyoZM | December 21st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | ellinho | December 13th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | tysly | November 21st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Soossi | October 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | nickj109 | September 23rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Vynikal | June 18th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Wiosna | April 12th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | mursu | April 7th 16 |
| 3.5 great | endtime | February 29th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Leymon | February 25th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pegana | November 22nd 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Ribwich | November 13th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | RealTyp | November 10th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | mEyck97 | November 8th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Puckoff | October 22nd 15 |
| 4.5 superb | misho87 | September 18th 15 |
| 2.5 average | ICDD | September 6th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Wilk0 | September 3rd 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Dmax28 | July 10th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hydra12 | June 10th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Dummit | May 22nd 15 |
| 3.5 great | r1xTer | January 19th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | drewclt | December 15th 14 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | November 19th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | naju890 | November 11th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | damthor | November 10th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | ahat543 | November 6th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dizchu | October 26th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | cromag1 | October 10th 14 |
| 2.5 average | Trey STAFF | October 10th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | ariich | October 5th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Pherin | September 1st 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | betray | August 22nd 14 |
| 5.0 classic | JSJC | July 7th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | NVCTOR | June 20th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | ngk44 | April 20th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | heck | March 20th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hybza | February 28th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tobeza | February 4th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | trilo | January 21st 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Drugoli | November 21st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Solaire | November 10th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kazem | October 14th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Nosdelc | October 5th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | daberu | September 18th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | angryab | September 12th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Hati | September 10th 13 |
| 2.5 average | adr | September 9th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | SMK | February 16th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Escain | January 6th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | kornass | December 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | StBrox | December 2nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Dongen | October 20th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Spice | July 24th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | N2B3J | July 22nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Nayz | July 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Drawk | July 11th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Emyay | April 9th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Feels | April 4th 12 |
| 3.5 great | matrix | March 30th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | adace1 | March 30th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shvyin | March 1st 12 |
| 3.5 great | Wahknee | February 28th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ignored | November 28th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | StlPaulL | November 26th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Themac | November 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shuyin | September 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nitzcho | September 17th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | ANJ45 | August 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Weed | August 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | voodman | August 9th 11 |
| 3.5 great | simonj | July 29th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | YUJOS | June 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | zhaotai | June 13th 11 |
| 2.0 poor | Spec | April 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | W477ZY | April 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | April 20th 11 |
| 2.0 poor | qwe3 | April 19th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Asator | March 26th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Crysler | March 20th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Smaizi | March 16th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Luffy | February 5th 11 |
| 3.5 great | AdamK | January 28th 11 |
| 2.5 average | lobby | January 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mowgli | January 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | CIRES | January 13th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Slug | November 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Scoot | November 10th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oceans | October 17th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | iZac | October 11th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Vesper | September 30th 10 |
| 2.5 average | Kriss | September 21st 10 |
| 3.5 great | lachis | August 10th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | JayVex | August 4th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Loot | July 30th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | geakal | July 8th 10 |
| 2.5 average | Snuron | June 30th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | coopj | June 2nd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | wakeem | May 14th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Fobeus | May 12th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | ArchoN | April 17th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | 32left | March 18th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | IRAI | February 24th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | stum93 | February 20th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Hoenir | February 15th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Fandog | January 24th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Manland | December 30th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | drewkar | December 27th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ripped | December 11th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | TheKevon | November 22nd 09 |
| 3.0 good | Merkin | November 18th 09 |
| 1.5 very poor | krazaln | November 12th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Tandred | October 20th 09 |
| 2.5 average | Ragez | October 11th 09 |
| 3.5 great | ameypv | September 22nd 09 |
| 3.5 great | pride | September 9th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Curse. | August 28th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Zion | August 23rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | GibTG | June 28th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Orknip | June 18th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | mfwf09 | June 18th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | BertFF | June 14th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Tez | June 11th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | GBJ | June 7th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | maguza | April 12th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | A7xjk | April 2nd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | OllieS | March 6th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | R6Rider | February 6th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | wexenhex | December 29th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rugter32 | December 24th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | csaboo | December 11th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Koste68 | November 1st 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | skitz | October 23rd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Steev | October 22nd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | zuzek | October 9th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ben101 | October 8th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Poshul | October 8th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | pixfix | October 2nd 08 |
| 1.5 very poor | McP3000 | September 21st 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Saidir | September 21st 08 |
| 3.5 great | Fina1e | September 19th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Gmaj | September 19th 08 |
| 3.0 good | JesseSD | September 15th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Pluh | September 12th 08 |
| 3.0 good | Tyler EMERITUS | September 4th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | fritz | August 26th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | AltE | August 20th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | mikev | August 3rd 08 |
| 3.5 great | Altmer | July 14th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Sempel | July 14th 08 |
| 3.5 great | yontar | July 12th 08 |
| 2.5 average | Wizard | July 3rd 08 |
| 3.0 good | beans | June 21st 08 |
| 2.5 average | Zoo | June 13th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kyle Ward EMERITUS | June 12th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | advate | June 12th 08 |
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