The Singularity, Phase 1: Neohumanity

The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity)
Studio album by Scar Symmetry
Released	October 3, 2014[1] (see release history)
Recorded	December 2013 - August 2014 at Studio Overlook and Studio Kabyss
Length	43:22
Label	Nuclear Blast
Producer	Per Nilsson
Scar Symmetry chronology
The Unseen Empire (2011) The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity) (2014)

The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity) is the sixth full-length studio album by Swedish metal band Scar Symmetry, released by Nuclear Blast on 3 October 2014 (EU).^[2] This is the first album of the Singularity trilogy, and the first Scar Symmetry album to be composed, produced, mixed and mastered entirely by guitarist Per Nilsson, and is the last album with Kenneth Seil on bass.

Album information

The first phase of the trilogy is centered on the rise of "artilects (artificial intellects) with mental capacities far above the human level of thought" and that "by the year 2030, one of the world's biggest industries will be 'artificial brains,' used to control artilects that will be genuinely intelligent and useful." The lyrical content focuses on the divide between "those who embrace the new technology and those who oppose it" due to the social issues caused by the rise of artificial intelligence and the emergence of transhumanists who add artilect technology to their own bodies.^[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
All About The Rock	[4]

Writing for All About The Rock Anthony Biello scored the album 8.5 out of 10 and said "I wasn’t expecting such a well written record from a band I discarded years ago. If you are a fan of Power, Progressive or Death Metal, then check this out. Scar Symmetry blends all of those genres together unlike any other band I’ve ever heard before. Supposedly this is the first concept album of a trilogy, and if the next 2 are even close to The Singularity (Phase I – Neohumanity), I would consider it a success."^[4]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Henrik Ohlsson, all music composed by Per Nilsson.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Shape of Things to Come"	0:52
2.	"Neohuman"	8:43
3.	"Limits to Infinity"	4:57
4.	"Cryonic Harvest"	6:12
5.	"The Spiral Timeshift"	4:50
6.	"Children of the Integrated Circuit (instrumental)"	2:25
7.	"Neuromancers"	5:11
8.	"Technocalyptic Cybergeddon"	10:12
Total length:		43:22

Personnel

• Lars Palmqvist – clean vocals, backing vocals
• Roberth Karlsson – growl vocals, backing vocals (tracks 2 & 3)
• Per Nilsson – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboards, clean vocals (tracks 1, 2, 5 & 8), backing vocals (tracks 1-8)
• Kenneth Seil – bass
• Henrik Ohlsson – drums

Release history

Region	Release date
Europe[1]	October 3, 2014
United Kingdom/France	October 13, 2014
North America	October 14, 2014

References

1. "SCAR SYMMETRY - Limits To Infinity (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)". YouTube. 22 August 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
2. "SCAR SYMMETRY - THE SINGULARITY - AVAILABLE AT NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS!". nuclearblast.de. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
3. "Scar Symmetry Announces Concept Album Trilogy 'The Singularity' - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. January 20, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
4. Biello, Anthony. "Scar Symmetry – The Singularity (Phase I – Neohumanity)". Retrieved 2014-10-16.