Scar Symmetry
with Henrick Ohlsson on Jan 19, 2005
What’s going on in the world of death metal? Brand new things – Scar Symmetry has come into the picture! For those who are into this genre, such ‘words’ as Carnal Forge, Centinex, World Below, Theory In Practice, Mutant, Altered Aeon, Unmoored, Incapacity, and Torchbearer mean a lot. As well as the names of musicians Jonas Kjellgren, Henrik Ohlsson Per Nilsson, Christian Älvestam and Kenneth Seil, who formed Scar Symmetry in spring 2004. Is this ‘just another side project’ or something more? Henrik Ohlsson, the drummer, shared with us his thoughts about this brand new constellation and mysterious ‘X-factor’…
  Greetings and Happy Holidays!
Greetings! Holidays are over for me; I think I had two days off or something. But happy holidays nonetheless, just for the hell of it! [laughs]

  To start with, is Scar Symmetry kind of a side project or full time band?
When you play with several bands as everyone in Scar Symmetry does, you sort of put focus on one at a time. So when one band has recorded and toured, or whatever, you move on to the next band. Scar Symmetry is a full time band when the band is doing an album or shows and stuff like that, but all the members of this band have other bands as well.

  Has this new album any impacts or influences from your previous bands?
I guess so, I think it’s pretty natural since we’re the same people as we are and were in any other bands we play or played. We, as individuals, bring our style of playing into Scar Symmetry even though the musical approach may be a little different from what we’ve done before.

  Was it difficult to record an album and collaborate with 5 different musicians with their own stories and habits?
Not really, we agreed on what this band was all about before we even had any songs to play. So we stuck with that vision throughout the whole process of creating Symmetric In Design. We approach Scar Symmetry with the attitude that music is supposed to be fun and that works really well because that means everyone can feel at ease and we all support each other 100%. We know and respect each other’s past, I think that actually helps to keep the band in a cheerful mood so to speak [laughs].


So, do you believe in ‘X-factor’ or ‘chemistry’ in a band?
Sure, if the chemistry between individuals is good then it’ll be easy to work together. But it doesn’t mean that the greatest music of all time will be created, many great bands don’t get along at all. I think bands, which have a great chemistry can create great albums but I also think that people, who don’t get along can create great albums too. But naturally you want everyone to at least get along because things are way easier when there’s harmony between the members.

What was your main reason to become a musician?
The main reason… I gotta try to remember how it all started. I think I made a decision to play music when I was 8 years old and heard KISS for the first time. I wanted to be a superhuman like they seemed to be and just as cool. I think that the main reason was that I wanted to sound as raw as they did in my ears back then! I guess my definition of ‘raw’ has changed a bit since I was 8 years old. [laughs]

Whom could you name as your influences? Do they still influence your music?
I personally have lots of influences, basically any good musician is an influence to me because when I hear good instrumentalists I get the inspiration to play. Every time I hear some new style I haven’t heard before I get really excited. I remember hearing Confessor for the first time. That drummer inspired me to do cymbal chokes and stuff like that. Sean Reinert brought a new dimension into extreme music when Cynic was still around, he inspired me a lot. There are a lot of great drummers out there; I could make an endless list. And for the rest of the guys, they are influenced by a lot of different music. We have our old influences, which have become a part of our style of playing but we still keep our ears open to new stuff and that influences us as well.

  About influences…how would your top 5 of favorite albums look?
This question is always so hard to answer; I put different albums on every list. [laughs] I mean, five albums? Five? I need a top 20 or something at least. [laughs] But OK, I’ll give you five in no particular order: King Diamond - Abigail, Notre Dame - Le Theatre Du Vampire, Nile - In Their Darkened Shrines, Cynic - Focus and let’s say Kiss – Alive 2!

  What is the latest album you’ve bought?
In Battle - Welcome to the Battlefield, I actually traded it for an Altered Aeon album but anyway. Close enough!

  Would you change music style to experiment or to get more radio or TV rotation?
Nope, not unless we felt in our hearts that we wanted to do an album like that. In that case, it’s just an honest thing to do, but otherwise – never.

  The question about new digital technologies. How do you use them? What is your position on the question of downloads from Internet?
I think that it’s understandable that people download stuff because humans generally do that kind of stuff if they get the chance. Of course it would be better if musicians didn’t get ripped off but you can’t stop the Internet, you have to solve it in some creative way. I think downloading is OK to check out bands, if it’s really good music you should buy the album though.

  For what would you hate a person? Is there any such a person or a person, whom you don’t like, maybe the most annoying person in music scene these days? Why?
There are persons that you consider assholes of course but you have to look a little deeper than that. When people act in certain ways it mostly has a reason, they’re probably unhappy if they make life a bitch for others you know. So the ones who suffer most I think are the assholes themselves. Therefore I try not to waste energy hating people. I try to spend my energy on other things. I don’t always succeed but it’s my aim.

  Great! And what is worth spending energy? Or what was the most impressive event in your life?
To see the birth of my son! That was so weird even though it’s the most natural thing in the world. But in many ways we’re so separated from the natural things in life, I realized that when I witnessed the birth.

  Other question about energy. Do you believe in ghosts?
I am open to the possibility of ghosts’ existence, yes. Different entities that may exist on another level doesn’t seem that strange, we see different levels of existence in many things on earth where we need certain instruments to see or hear them.

  Ok, what’s your favorite joke about musicians?
[Laughs] Musicians do not make jokes – they ARE jokes. That’s my favorite one, and it’s true too! [laughs]

  And in the end what would you like to add for REZ readers?
Ehm, buy the album and keep checking the Cold records site and the Metal Blade site for info on Scar Symmetry. We will have an official site for Scar Symmetry online soon! Regards to all your readers who took the time to read this!

  Thank you for the interview!
Thank YOU!

  Good Luck!
Right back at you.

(Julie Michael)

© Rockezine.com Jan 19, 2005, viewed 575 times since 666
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