Since I enjoyed both Beware the heavens and To hell and back I was quite looking forward to sinergy's third album and am glad to say that it didn't disappoint me in the least.
To be more precise, this one wipes the floor with the previous releases, no small thanks to Kimberly herself, who not only seems to have gained a lot of power and emotion but also manages to sound a lot more agressive than most of her male competitors. (and actually putting her in my top ten favourite metal vocalists around). Musically the album continues along the same lines of To hell and back, albeit the band sounds a lot tighter and heavier this time around, making for a very solid metal release.
Most of the songs on offer here are up-tempo bashers, except for remembrance, wich is a short piano outro, and written in stone, wich is a power ballad, and features Kimberly's most emotional vocal performance on the album. Also notable is Shadow island wich sees her in duet with Alexi Laiho and has some cool choirs added as well. (note that this is not a ballad though but a mid-tempo rocker). Further favourites are opening track I spit on your grave and the rather furious Violated. Worth a special mention too are the exceptionally well played guitar solo's, melodies and harmonies, as both of the guitarists are definitly top class and certainly amongst the best ones around these days.(okay, agreed, we already knew what Alexi was capable off by listening to Children of Bodom, but it still is worth a mention, and credit must go to Roope Latvala for managing to keep up with him).
All in all, Sinergy starts of 2002 in style with one of my personal favourite releases of the last couple of months, and something tells me that if they manage to keep putting out albums like this one we won't be rid of Kimberly & co.for years to come. Thumbs up, way up.