Nine years since the first installment of “The Singularity Trilogy”, virtuosic progressive metallers Scar Symmetry, who recently re-signed to Nuclear Blast Records, have announced “The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph)”, which will be released on June 9th, 2023. To coincide with the announcement, the band have also released the video for the albums first single “Scorched Quadrant”.
Watch the video for “Scorched Quadrant” below and stream on all services now here.
In the wake of the announcement, band mastermind Per Nilsson comments: “It brings us the utmost pleasure and pride to announce the long-awaited and much-teased ‘Phase II’ to the world along with its first single! It’s been a long time coming but I’m glad that we went the extra mile to make everything as perfect as we felt it needed to be.
The world is a different place in 2023 than it was in 2014 when ‘Neohumanity’ was released… We see the rise of AI before our very eyes and while we all look in awe at the wonders it can create it is easy to think of some very disturbing scenarios. In our new album, we once again explore these themes of neohumanity, artificial intelligence and the technological singularity from a dystopian point of view.
The AI-enhanced neohumans are waging war upon the unmodified majority of mankind who don’t stand a chance against their technologically superior oppressors, until one day, a glimmer of salvation appears in the night sky. Almost impossible to first take in; as an utterly alien mirage, seemingly out of nowhere mysterious, giant spacecrafts silently emerge from the heavens. Travelers both intergalactic and interdimensional, these ultraterrestrial beings who have been watching mankind for millennia seem to have decided to not sit idle while the technocalyptic cybergeddon is ravaging our planet.
We recently renewed our vows with Nuclear Blast and we’re very thrilled about moving on to this next phase (ahem) of our career with them by our side!
The ‘Phase II’ touring cycle starts today and fittingly, we begin with a tour supporting my former employers Meshuggah! We hope to see you all on the road soon, but until then, here’s ‘Scorched Quadrant’”!
Pre-order & pre-save “The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph)” here.
Tracklist:
1. Chrononautilus
2. Scorched Quadrant
3. Overworld
4. Altergeist
5. Reichsfall
6. Digiphrenia Dawn
7. Hyperborean Plains
8. Gridworm
9. A Voyage With Tailed Meteors
10. Soulscanner
11. Xenotaph
Today also sees Scar Symmetry kick off a run of Swedish tour dates supporting Meshuggah, alongside The Halo Effect and Orbit Culture. The band also have a number of additional dates lined up for 2023, including several festival performances. All dates can be found below.
European Tour Dates 2023:
31.03.23 SE – LUND, Sparbanken Skåne Arena*
01.04.23 SE – ÖREBRO, Conventum*
07.04.23 SE – UMEÅ, Nolia-hallen*
08.04.23 SE – STOCKHOLM, Annexet*
21.04.23 SE – LINKÖPING, Saab Arena*
22.04.23 SE – PARTILLE, Partille Arena*
06.05.23 NO – KOPERVIK, Karmøygeddon Metal Festival
10.06.23 NL – LEEUWARDEN, Into The Grave
22.07.23 FI – LAUKAA, John Smith Open Air
28.-29.07.23 DE – HEIMBURG, HMN Festival
03.-05.08.23 SE – REJMYRE, Skogsröjet
12.08.23 FIN – HELSINKI, Hellsinki Metal Festival
21.09.23 DE – HAMBURG, Logo
23.09.23 DE – HANNOVER, Bei Chez Heinz
24.09.23 DE – LEIPZIG, Hellraiser
25.09.23 DE – Hirsch, NUREMBERG
26.09.23 DE – MUNICH, Backstage
07.10.23 DK – KØGE, Køge Metal Festival
* (supporting Meshuggah)
Tickets for all shows are available here.
Formed in Sweden in 2004, Scar Symmetry were a unique proposition from the start. Although clearly owing a debt to the pioneering melodic death metal bands of the ‘90s, guitarist Per Nilsson and his comrades were walking their own evolutionary path. As showcased on 2005 debut “Symmetric in Design”, the band were driven by fervently progressive and proudly melodic instincts, infusing their often brutal riffs and arrangements with wild, futuristic atmospherics, and sublime, emotional melodies that always hit their targets with ruthless precision.
As Scar Symmetry moved forward, their music continued to evolve in tandem. They joined forces with Nuclear Blast Records for 2006’s breakthrough opus “Pitch Black Progress” (2006), and have since amassed an extraordinary catalogue of forward-thinking but irrevocably crushing modern metal. From the glossy, hyper-melodic barrage of “Holographic Universe” (2008), to the immaculate thunder of “The Unseen Empire” (2011) and the astonishing, cosmic odyssey that is “The Singularity (Phase I – Neohumanity)” (2014). the Swedes have blown minds and enhanced their reputation with every artistic step.
Line-up:
Roberth Karlsson – Vocals
Lars Palmqvist – Vocals
Per Nilsson – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
Benjamin Ellis – Guitars
Henrik Olsson – Drums
Weblinks:
www.scarsymmetryofficial.com
www.facebook.com/scarsymmetry
