Per Nilsson (born 5 March 1974) is a Swedish guitarist and record producer. He is best known as one of the founding members of the melodic death metal band Scar Symmetry and for being the touring lead guitarist for Meshuggah during Fredrik Thordendal's 2017-2021 hiatus. He is also the guitarist for Swedish progressive rock group Kaipa and since 2017 he is the lead guitarist for Swedish power metal band Nocturnal Rites.
In January 2013, Guitar Messenger released a guitar instructional DVD with Nilsson called Scar Guitar.
Until 2013, he was endorsed by Ibanez Guitars. He is now endorsed by Strandberg Guitars, who in collaboration with him has created the Strandberg Singularity, his first signature guitar. The first version of the Singularity - a seven string guitar with a red and black swirl finish - was released in 2014. In 2021, a new updated Singularity was released in both seven and eight string versions, with the swirl finish abandoned in favor of a sandblasted ash top with a red and black (seven string version) or blue and black (eight string version) color scheme.
Nilsson primarily plays extended range guitars, though he has often used an Ibanez JEM 6 string to record his solos in the past.
Nilsson is a member of the high IQ society Mensa International, his IQ being "135 or higher" on the Wechsler scale (which translates to 156 or higher on the Cattell scale).
Contents
Discography
Per Nilsson (solo project)
Blast Radius single (2024)
Always single (2025)
Scar Symmetry
Symmetric in Design (2005)
Pitch Black Progress (2006)
Holographic Universe (2008)
Dark Matter Dimensions (2009)
The Unseen Empire (2011)
The Singularity (Phase I – Neohumanity) (2014)
The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph) (2023)
Nocturnal Rites
Phoenix (2017)
Kaipa
Angling Feelings (2007)
In the Wake of Evolution (2010)
Vittjar (2012)
Sattyg (2014)
Children of the Sounds (2017)
Urskog (2022)
Sommargryningsljus (2024)
Nicklas Brännström
Circle of Silence (2020)
Zierler
ESC (2015)
Hagen
Corridors Of Time (2001)
Altered Aeon
Dispiritism (2004)
World Below
Maelstrom (2005)
The Absence
Oceans (digital single) (2013)
Guitar Messenger
Per Nilsson's SCAR GUITAR instructional DVD (2013)
As a producer and/or mixing engineer
Zonaria – "Infamy and the Breed" (2007) - as producer
Zonaria – "Arrival of the Red Sun" (2012) – guitars production
Sonic Syndicate – "Burn This City" (2009) – vocals production
Royal Jester – "Night Is Young" (2010) – as producer
Propane Headrush – "Ignite" (2011) – as producer
Propane Headrush – "Three" (2014) – as producer, mixing and mastering engineer
Christian Muenzner – "Beyond the Wall of Sleep" (2014) – as co-producer, mixing and mastering engineer
Scar Symmetry – "Dark Matter Dimensions" (2009) – as co-producer
Scar Symmetry – "The Unseen Empire" (2011) – as co-producer
Scar Symmetry – "The Singularity (Phase I – Neohumanity)" (2014) – as producer, mixing and mastering engineer
Scar Symmetry – "The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph)" (2023) – as producer, mixing and mastering engineer
Terminal Function – "Clockwork Sky" (2015) – as mixing and mastering engineer
Eternity's End – "The Fire Within" (2016) – as co-producer, mixing and mastering engineer
Danny Tunker – "Bare Trap" (2016) – as mixing and mastering engineer
As a guest musician
On lead guitar, if nothing else's stated
Tales of a Holy Quest (The Storyteller) – "Seed of Lies" (2003)
De Fluff (Bootcut) – "Soul P.D." (2006)
Warnaments (Torchbearer) – all songs (2006) – keyboards
Riders of the Plague (The Absence) – "The Murder" (2007)
By Honour (Ereb Altor) – "By Honour" (2008)
Silent Ruins (Isole) – "Dark Clouds" (2009)
Reveal No Secrets (Loch Vostok) – "Thirty Years" (2009)
Off the Face of the Earth (Fuelblooded) – "The Cult of Ego" (2009)
Timewarp (Christian Muenzner) – "Wastelands" (2011)
New World Order single (Threat Signal) – "New World Order" (2011)
State of the Art (XorigiN) - "Matters of the Heart" (2011)
Equilibrium (God Forbid) – "Awakening" (2012)
Furor Incarnatus (Feared) – "Breathing Failure" (2013)
Dark Legacy (The Storyteller) – "Uninvited Guest" (2013)
Everything Beautiful (Akeldama) – "Everything Beautiful" (2013)
Bilo 3.0 (David Maxim Micic) – "Wrinkle Maze" (2013)