Dark Matter Dimensions

Dark Matter Dimensions
Studio album by Scar Symmetry
Released	October 2, 2009 (2009-10-02) (see release history)
Genre	Melodic death metal, progressive metal, power metal
Length	53:21
Label	Nuclear Blast
Producer	Jonas Kjellgren
Scar Symmetry chronology
Holographic Universe (2008) Dark Matter Dimensions (2009) The Unseen Empire (2011)
Singles from Dark Matter Dimensions
"The Consciousness Eaters" Released: August 16, 2009 "Noumenon and Phenomenon" Released: September 19, 2009 "Ascension Chamber" Released: December 1, 2009 "The Iconoclast" Released: May 6, 2010

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Sputnikmusic	[2]

Dark Matter Dimensions is the fourth full-length studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Scar Symmetry. It is the first album to feature new vocalists Roberth Karlsson and Lars Palmqvist after Christian Älvestam's departure. It was released on October 2, 2009^[3] in Europe, and on October 20, 2009 in North America. According to drummer and lyricist Henrik Ohlsson, the title Dark Matter Dimensions refers to the "appreciation and acknowledgement of the unseen worlds and dimensions, because without the existence of these unseen forces our physical universe would never be able to exist".^[4]

Critics noted that while newcomers Karlsson and Palmqvist's vocals could not quite match the ability of Älvestam's, they did not detract from the album's quality; with BBC Music commenting that they had the "ability to overlap", adding "further depth to the complex, aggressive melodies that Scar Symmetry fans have come to expect".^[5] Music videos were created for "Noumenon and Phenomenon", "Ascension Chamber" and "The Iconoclast".

Track listing

All music written by Jonas Kjellgren & Per Nilsson and arranged by Scar Symmetry
All lyrics written by Henrik Ohlsson

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Iconoclast"	5:07
2.	"The Consciousness Eaters"	4:42
3.	"Noumenon and Phenomenon"	4:13
4.	"Ascension Chamber"	3:48
5.	"Mechanical Soul Cybernetics"	3:27
6.	"Nonhuman Era"	4:45
7.	"Dark Matter Dimensions"	4:12
8.	"Sculptor Void"	5:23
9.	"A Parenthesis in Eternity"	4:43
10.	"Frequencyshifter"	3:15
11.	"Radiant Strain"	4:15
12.	"Pariah" (limited-edition digipak bonus track [6])	5:22
13.	"The Consciousness Eaters (Edit Version)" (Japanese bonus track)	3:58

Music videos

In early September 2009, a video was filmed for the song "Noumenon & Phenomenon" with director Maurice Swinkels (of the Dutch metal band Legion of the Damned). Swinkels had previously produced the bands music video for "The Illusionist". Drummer Henrik Ohlsson stated that the video for "Noumenon & Phenomenon" was shot in Sweden; both in a photo studio and also an abandoned mental hospital.^[7]

In December 2009, a music video was released for "Ascension Chamber". Regarding the song, guitarist Per Nilsson states "a spiritual entity that originates from the sun travels through the solar system, destination: the earth. That's the basic concept of the song 'Ascension Chamber'. So when we decided to do a video for it, we knew we had to set it in space!". The video was shot on 25 October 2009, with director Ronny Hemlin, before the band went on the Neckbreakers Ball tour, where the song was played on all nights of the tour.^[8]

On 5 May 2010, Scar Symmetry released a music video for "The Iconoclast". The video, which was directed by French photographer Denis Goria, includes appearances by Peter Tägtgren (of Hypocrisy, and the Pain musical project) and Martin Stahl (of Silent Lane). Goria had previously performed work on Hypocrisy's music video for "Weed Out The Weak", and Pain's "Monkey Business".^[9]

Personnel

Scar Symmetry

• Roberth Karlsson – growls ^[10]
• Lars Palmqvist – clean vocals^[10]
• Jonas Kjellgren – rhythm guitar & lead guitar, keyboards
• Per Nilsson – lead guitar & rhythm guitar, keyboards
• Kenneth Seil – bass guitar
• Henrik Ohlsson – drums

Release history

Country	Release Date
Europe	October 2, 2009 (2009-10-02)
North America	October 20, 2009 (2009-10-20)

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Sputnikmusic review
3. ^ "Scar Symmetry: Dark Matter Dimensions at Nuclear Blast OnlineShop". http://www.nuclearblast.de/showShopProductDetail.php?artikelnummer=161124&kat=. 
4. ^ "SCAR SYMMETRY Comments On New Album Title, Artwork". Blabbermouth. Aug. 10, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=124985. 
5. ^ Raziq Rauf (2009-10-01). "BBC Review". http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/r4cz. Retrieved 2 November 2009. 
6. ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - SCAR SYMMETRY: New Album Track Listing Revealed". http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=124198. 
7. ^ "SCAR SYMMETRY Films 'Noumenon & Phenomenon' Video". Blabbermouth.net. Sep. 29, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=127825. Retrieved 5 October 2009. 
8. ^ "SCAR SYMMETRY: 'Ascension Chamber' Video Released". December 1, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=131227. Retrieved 2 December 2009. 
9. ^ "SCAR SYMMETRY: 'The Iconoclast' Video Released". Blabbermouth.com. 5 May 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=139613. Retrieved 22 January 2011. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "SCAR SYMMETRY: Entire GRASPOP METAL MEETING Performance Posted Online". Aug. 7, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=124867.