SCAR SYMMETRY Interview w/ Henrik Ohlsson

  SCAR SYMMETRY Date: November 30th, 2009Band Member Interviewed: Henrik Ohlsson - DrumsInterviewed By: Caroline RestiauxXM: I understand you guys are currently nearing the end of  Neckbreakers Ball Tour 2009, how has that tour been treating you so far and how did you get on the tour?Henrik: Yeah, now we’re actually back home again and the tour was a blast. More people than ever on the shows and generally a positive vibe gave us one cool experience to remember. We were offered to join the Neckbreakers Ball-tour by Rock the Nation who organizes the whole thing. XM: You have just released your 4th album “Dark Matter Dimensions” what was the recording process like?Henrik: It was the smoothest, most peaceful Scar Symmetry-recording ever. It was such a pleasure recording because the vibe in the band is so good now, we felt really inspired and hungry during the whole process. We recorded for about two months, starting in late April. The drums were recorded at the Abyss studio and the rest was recorded at the Black Lounge studio as usual. Jonas Kjellgren (guitar, Scar Symmetry) produced the album with a lot of help from Per Nilsson (guitar, Scar Symmetry). XM: I read that the title for this cd refers to the appreciation and acknowledgement of the unseen worlds and dimensions. How did this whole concept come about?Henrik: I stumbled upon the discoveries around dark matter and dark energy and the fact that we can’t see more than 90% of the universe. And despite the fact that we can’t see most of what’s around us we act like we know everything and dismiss things just because they don’t fit into our current model of the universe, we deny stuff because it doesn’t play along with our cynical and limited sense of logic. So that’s why I wanted to honor the unseen worlds and dimensions, because without those worlds and dimensions unseen forces we wouldn’t be able to exist in the first place!XM: The cd also has a pretty interesting cover, who came up with the design? Did you guys have it mind and then asked someone to make it or did someone else just use their creative juices?Henrik: Nuclear Blast hired a guy whose name I’ve forgotten...check the booklet of the album, ha ha. Anyway, he did the cover after having read our concept for the album and it came out nice as hell.XM: Do you feel that having one of your own members producing the album lengthens the process or shortens it?Henrik: It lengthens it since we don’t have the same kind of pressure as we would have of we recorded with someone else. But we’ve become better at not lengthening it too much, Jonas used to go bankrupt on the old recordings. Now we’re more efficient and we don’t put so much time on bullshit. It’s awesome to have a member of the band as a producer because he is truly passionate about the outcome and Jonas really does his best to make every album as good as possible. Not that other producers wouldn’t care about the outcome but...you know what I mean.XM: You have already released a video for the album “Nouemon and Phenomenon” in which everyone gets a pretty equal amount of time in it, lol at Robert’s facial expressions, who came up with the idea behind the video?Henrik: Ha ha, yeah...the video for "Noumenon and Phenomenon" was a bit stressed together and it’s OK for what it is. We’re actually about to release another video in the beginning of December that will kick more ass than that first video. The idea was put together by Maurice Swinkels (LowLife media) but he had a severe deadline to keep in mind and he couldn’t do everything that was planned for that video. But with that in mind, it is OK if you ask me.XM: Lots of bands are coming out with DVD’s any plans on releasing one yourselves?Henrik: No specific plans right now, we’ve been pretty busy ever since the new album came out but there will probably be a DVD some day.XM: With the departure of Christian Alvestam and the addition of two new singers/growlers, what would you say has been the biggest obstacle? Do you feel that it has changed the dynamics of the band, if so how?Henrik: There hasn’t really been any obstacles with the new lineup except for the fact that some people doubted us and counted us out when we released the news about Christian’s departure on the internet. So we were frustrated at that point and we wanted to record a new album that would convince everyone that we are still an awesome band. So that’s what we did and now the majority of the fans have been convinced. The dynamics has changed with two singers but it’s all for the better. We’ve learnt how to move on stage in order to make things more interesting to watch than ever, I think that we are better entertainers than ever and a big part of the credit for that goes to Roberth and Lars.XM: You guys will be performing for this years Dreamhack Convention, something that is very new to me, how did you guys get involved with that?Henrik: Yes, we played at Dreamhack last week actually. Four days after our European tour ended. We were offered to play at Dreamhack by the organizers, lately they’ve had bands playing at their conventions. Sonic Syndicate played there last year for example.XM: What are your opinions on the current metal scene? Do you think it’s healthy?Henrik: I think it’s very healthy, there are lots of bands and genres and they’re all doing good in their own way. Metal is such a wide genre of music now and you can find a metal band to appreciate no matter what kind of musical elements you prefer. What other style of music can offer that? XM: Is there any noticeable differences between fans at European shows and fans at North American shows?Henrik: The fans are pretty much the same; they’re passionate about the music and very supportive. I think the main differences between playing in the States and in Europe are the cultural aspects, but that has more to do with the daily adventures on the road than the actual shows.XM: I ask all bands that interview the following question: “If you could have been involved in the writing, recording or production of any album which would it be and why?”Henrik: I would have wanted to be present in the recordings of King Diamond’s albums after "The Eye" because I feel that something was lost in his work after that album. If I could, I would try to keep the original King Diamond-sound intact, he he.XM: What’s your take on music downloading? Do you have a preference among digital, cd, or maybe even vinyl? Henrik: Downloading sucks because it takes a lot of money out of the business. But everyone’s doing it, myself included, so I guess it can’t be stopped. It’s like drinking alcohol- you know it’s bad but it’s too fun to neglect... I like all formats of music. Digital because it’s handy, CD because it’s the dominating format of our age and vinyl because the artwork really comes out well on those. XM: Aside from your own cd released this year, what would you say are your top 5 picks for best albums this year?Henrik: Hmm, what albums came out this year...I’ll try. FKU- Where moshers dwell, KISS- Sonic Boom, Hypocrisy- A taste of extreme divinity, Behemoth- Evangelion, Yngwie Malmsteen- Perpetual Flame.XM: What is your favorite lyric of all time?Henrik: Probably the lyrics off Cynic’s "Focus" or Sabbaths "Dreamweaver".XM: Thanks for the interview, any last words….. Henrik: Keep an eye out for the new video and thanks to all the Scar Symmetry-fans, your support is appreciated because without you we are nothing!  Links: Official Site - www.scarsymmetry.com MySpace Page - www.myspace.com/scarsymmetry

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