Synergy (Extol album)

Synergy is the third studio album by Norwegian Christian extreme metal band Extol. It was released in 2003 on Century Media, but was licensed to Solid State Records.

Synergy
Studio album by Extol
Released	August 12, 2003
Recorded	2003
Genre	Progressive death metal, thrash metal
Length	42:44
Label	Century Media (International) Solid State (USA)
Producer	Borge Finstand Extol
Extol chronology
Paralysis (2001) Synergy (2003) The Blueprint Dives (2005)

With this album, the band shifted more towards a progressive death/thrash sound. The Norwegian singer-songwriter Maria Solheim performs guest vocals on "Paradigms". The session guitarist Tore Moren plays guitar solo on "Nihilism 2002" and the first solo on "Psychopath". Samuel Durling of the death industrial band Mental Destruction performs distorted vocals on "Emancipation".

The album was recorded at Top Room Studios. It was produced by Børge Finstad and was mixed at Fagerborg Studios and Top Room Studios. Morten Lund mastered the album at Masterhuset AS. The album cover was painted by Hugh Syme, who has done work for such groups as Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Rush and Fates Warning. The band says that the cover picture "illustrates the synergy effect of elements working together (monk and Death) and thus gaining strength beyond what the effect would be if all the elements would be working separately."[1]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Blabbermouth.net	8/10[2]
Exclaim!	Highly favorable[3]
Lords of Metal	90/100[4]
Matt Morrow	[5]
Metal Hammer Germany	5/7[6]
Powermetal.de	Highly favorable[7]

Stephanie Sollow of Progressive World gave the album a very positive review, writing: "Extol are very good at what they do, playing a very tight and intricately arranged form of progressive thrash metal, if you will. They transition easily between different meters, all while creating a heavy wall of sound though which a guitar lead or some dynamic cymbal work will poke through for its lead spot."[8]

Track listing

1. "Grace for Succession" – 4:12
2. "Paradigms" – 3:40
3. "Psychopath" – 3:47
4. "Blood Red Cover" – 3:37
5. "26 Miles from Marathon" – 4:12
6. "Confession of Inadequacy" – 3:47
7. "Scrape the Surface" – 3:20
8. "Thrash Synergy" – 5:20
9. "Aperture" – 3:11
10. "Emancipation" – 3:20
11. "Nihilism 2002" – 4:09

Credits

• Peter Espevoll – vocals, acoustic guitar
• Ole Børud – guitars, clean vocals
• Christer Espevoll – guitars
• John Robert Mjåland – bass
• David Husvik – drums, backing vocals

References

1. "Metal Glory Interview". Metal Glory. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
2. Daley, Tony. "CD Reviews - Sinergy Extol". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved September 30, 2009.
3. Prato, Greg (September 2003). "Extol - Sinergy • Metal Reviews". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
4. Brinkman, Peter (June 2003). "Extol - Synergy". Lords of Metal. Horst Vonberg (27). Retrieved June 4, 2015.
5. Morrow, Matt. "Extol - Sinergy". The Whipping Post. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
6. "Review zu: Extol - Synergy". Metal Hammer Germany. Axel Springer AG. June 1, 2003. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
7. Lang, Stephan (May 19, 2003). "Review | Extol - Sinergy". Powermetal.de (in German). Retrieved May 17, 2012.
8. Sollow, Stephanie (July 27, 2003). "Extol - Synergy". Progressive World. Retrieved May 28, 2008. Archived at the Wayback Machine.