***** Today marks the second guest post on Single of the Day. I’ve known Chris for a good number of years. We’ve played together and he often helps me out in my studio. He’s a great guy and very much into much heavier music than most people I know. Enjoy! *****
A couple of years ago, a very good friend of mine was working as a guitar tech on a package tour of Swedish metal bands. When the tour hit Los Angeles, CA (where I reside), I was invited to the show, to see my friend, have a couple of drinks and hopefully enjoy the music. I knew very little of the bands at the time, so enjoying them was not a given.
In true, jaded L.A. fashion, I arrive late enough the completely miss the opening band, but managed to catch most of the second band on the bill. I’m enjoying myself, but I’m more excited to see and catch up with my buddy than anything else.
When the headliners have finished their set, I get backstage, meet my friend and I get introduced to the coolest, nicest, down to earth guys you’d ever meet. These guys are the members of the band I completely missed: Scar Symmetry.
These guys were so cool and funny that a jaded jerk like me needed to check their stuff out and I’m very glad I did. This is one of those bands that made it enjoyable for me to play guitar again. Now, I don’t sound anything like these guys do, but that’s not the point of me wanting to share this band with you. Since that night, my eyes and ears have opened up to an entire genre of metal bands that this metal head knew nothing of before.
When my good friend Jody asked me to write a guest spot for Single of the Day, I knew immediately what I wanted to select. This song is the lead single from their 4th and latest release “Dark Matter Dimensionsâ€. I know this is a lot more ‘esoteric’, shall we say, than what usually gets posted here, but give it a chance. The musicianship is top notch, great production, great melodies (yes, melodies!) and enough balls to make Rob Halford blush.
The moral of my story: Show up early enough to catch all bands on the bill next time you go to a show, you never know what you might experience. And, if you’re a musician like me, don’t be a jerk. You may just inspire somebody to check your stuff out.
Me, I never did get to see these guys live, but apparently they were tearing it up wherever they were playing.
When they come to L.A. next time, I’ll be there, free ticket or not! If you like the song, you should be too! Swedish metal rules!
Chris Hellstrom