Biography
The initial idea of assembling SINERGY originated when the then Dimmu Borgir keyboard player Kimberly Goss met with In Flames guitarist Jesper Strömblad during a joint world tour. They discussed the idea of assembling a female-fronted metal band, but due to time constraints were unable to take the idea much further.
When Kimberly quit Dimmu Borgir and moved to Sweden, she decided that it was time to turn her project with Strömblad into a reality. The first incarnation of SINERGY was composed of them, bassist Sharlee DAngelo (from Arch Enemy and Mercyful Fate), drummer Ronny Milianowicz and by then unknown guitarist Alexi Laiho (from CHILDREN OF BODOM).
The debut album Beware the Heavens was recorded in 1999 and had a basic concept: returning to the essence of woman-fronted metal bands, throwing aside the operatic elements introduced in the 90's and bringing back the style of singers such as Doro Pesch (from Warlock).
The album sold rather well and was received with excitement by European metal fans, but SINERGY was facing serious problems when it came to managing the time its members spent with their main bands. To complicate matters further, Kimberly moved to Finland by the end of the same year, making it almost impossible for them to meet regularly, being that three of the band members lived in Sweden.
Thus, the band was essentially dissolved, but Kimberly and Alexi wanted to continue with the project. In order to accomplish that, they assembled a new line-up, composed of Finnish members only. Roope Latvala (founding member of STONE, one of the bands which started the heavy metal movement in Finland) assumed the position of rhythm guitarist, Marco Hietala (from TAROT) became the bassist and Tonmi Lillman was chosen as the new drummer. This line-up recorded To Hell and Back and subsequently toured with NIGHTWISH. By that time, SINERGY was starting to receive world recognition. This tour is perhaps most notable for being included on NIGHTWISH's DVD release From Wishes To Eternity. A memorable moment is a practical joke in which a selection of support musicians made their way on stage pretending to be NIGHTWISH. Ironically, Marco Hietala filled the role of NIGHTWISH's bassist Sami, who he was to replace on their next album.
However, the band would only assume its true identity with the recording of the album Suicide By My Side. Kimberly dropped the use of lighter - more typically feminine - vocals and switched to a rougher and more impacting style. Alexi and Roope composed memorable solos for that album, such as that of I Spit On Your Grave.
Soon after the release of the third album, Lillman quit the band and was replaced by Swede Mats Karlsson. SINERGY currently plans the release of their fourth album sometime in 2007.
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