If you haven't heard about SINERGY, shame on you, let's clear some things up. Somewhere in August 1997 Kimberly Goss (at that time playing keyboard with Dimmu Borgier) and Jester Strömblad (guitarist In Flames) talked about a project besides their current band, but actually never got together. Instead Kimberly got her hands on Alexi Laiho, the wild child from Children Of Bodom. In the years many members came and left the band, but it seems they've now found their crew.

Kicking off with this album, you sure know who's playing the guitar in that band, instant Children Of Bodom style. Musically it's very well, but Kimberly's voice makes it less aggressive. I can't deny she has a good voice, but not that much variation in the vocals...until the track Written In Stone. I've always noticed that she does a great job on ballads, and she sure does on this one! She really puts a lot of feeling in her voice, making it very catchy. Also nice that this isn't such a mellow ballad, a powerful chorus and great solo really turns this song into one of SINERGY's best work. But that's also where the variation stops. Afterwards it goes downhill and nothing really refreshing appears. Sure we get a nice keyboard outro with Remembrance, just don't know why the track lasts 2 min as we get 30 seconds of silence at the end.

Being a fan of Alexi, I own all SINERGY albums (and the Children Of Bodom ones of course!), but none have turned out to be pleasing in the end. While Beware The Heavens was new and refreshing, Suicide By My Side is quite predictable. If you haven't heard a SINERGY album yet, you might as well start with this one, but after 3 albums I'd prefer the band to grow a bit. I do want to catch up with this band at a concert though, because maybe they're more a live band. Meanwhile they've also hired a new (female!) bass player, Melanie Sisneros. She also plays in a female tribute band to IRON MAIDEN, named THE IRON MAIDENS. This girl promises to rock the stage, so I hope we get some more action with next album!

SINERGY now on European tour with DARK TRANQUILLITY + 2 more bands to be confirmed.

Sinergy