SCAR SYMMETRY · Pitch Black Progress | GOLD 2LP

Gold double-vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

Background information about 'Pitch Black Progress'

Let's be real for a second: Swedish melodic death metal in the mid-2000s was a crowded field. Bands were popping up left and right, each trying to carve their niche between brutality and melody. Then Scar Symmetry dropped Pitch Black Progress in 2006, and suddenly the bar was raised — way the hell up.

This album is a beast of contrasts. On one hand, you've got Christian Älvestam delivering what might be the most versatile vocal performance in modern metal: guttural growls that could strip paint one second, crystal-clear clean vocals the next. On the other, the guitar duo of Per Nilsson and Jonas Kjellgren weave technical riffing with hooks so sticky you'll find yourself humming them at work. Tracks like "The Illusionist" and "Slaves to the Subliminal" are masterclasses in blending aggression with accessibility, while "Mind Machine" and "Dreamer 2025" push into almost progressive territory. The production is crisp, modern, and punchy — every blast beat and solo hits exactly where it should. It's melodic death metal that doesn't sacrifice brains for brawn, or vice versa.

For fans of:
Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, Solution .45

Track listing

LP 1
A1 The Illusionist
A2 Slaves To The Subliminal
A3 Mind Machine
B1 Pitch Black Progress
B2 Calculate The Apocalypse
B3 Dreaming 24/7
B4 Abstracted

LP 2
C1 The Kaleidoscopic God
C2 Retaliator
C3 Oscillation Point
D1 The Path Of Least Resistance
D2 Carved In Stone (Bonus Track)
D3 Deviate From The Form (Bonus Track)

Manufacturer: Warner Music Group Germany Holding GmbH, Alter Wandrahm 14, 20457 Hamburg, Germany, Contact: www.nuclearblast.com