Search - Extol :: Synergy

New sound, Same incredible band!

Richard Terry | Denver, CO United States | 09/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I wasn't sure about the new sound of Synergy when I first bought the album shortly after it came out, but now I love it! I was used to the black metal brutality of Undeceived and Burial. It took me a few times to get used to the new sound of Extol. Well, these metal masters from Norway have successfully changed their style a little bit and they have amazed their fans with a brilliant album. I was really glad that Ole decided to return to the band for the recording of Synergy. His background vocals on Undeceived were breathtaking and he continues to give us all chills down our spine here on Synergy. Fans of old Extol beware; their new sound is different, and I am focusing mostly on the vocals of Peter Espevoll. Give it a chance. This album is phenomenal. Fans new to Extol please check into this band. Not only are they talented musicians, but all of them are outspoken Christians and they are not ones to cover up their faith in Jesus Christ!"

Intense musical evolution

shmitty01 | ? | 09/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not shocked by the great change of style/sound of extol with this album, probably due to the fact that I got ahold of the Paralysis ep(swedish only release...find a good import store like blastbeats). It showed a huge shift of direction, and Synergy is mostly a continuation of it. Everybody else who has reviewed this cd has already said it: the cd is entirely different than what you are used to. Burial was some of the best harmonic death metal ever. Undeceived was just a brutal death metal kick in the face with tons of beautiful, complex melodic strings/vocals underlying it. This time around, Extol was listening to the long extinct and out of print band Believer in order to do an accurate cover for the Paralysis ep. It seems that they realized what a great band they had found and decided to incorporate the Believer thrash sound into their own chaotic mix of melodic death/hardcore. This album is a nonstop technical metal masterpiece. Imagine the insane leads that Rocky Gray pulls off on Living Sacrifice cds being done the entire time the whole cd. The rhythm guitar is more insane than most lead parts, so just imagine the complexity of the leads! This cd is quite possibly some of the most technical, brutal, intense music I have ever heard. Evolution of the fittest usually favors bands who need to grow in their style. Extol could've easily become one of the greatest death metal bands of all time, with sufficient promotion, using their Undeceived sound. However, the sign of a truly great band is the ability to change and evolve in their careers into a bigger, better sound. Extol proves their greatness with Synergy. My only complaint with this album is that total play time comes in much shorter than any of their previous full lengths. But due to the style shift, this is understandable. If you like metal at all, or just appreciate a great show of talent, then buy this cd."

Get used to the Vocals and you have 1st Rate Extol

Matthew L. Shaffer | Denver, Pa United States | 06/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Musically, this is the tightest Extol has ever been... The record goes for a thrash sound which is fine with the exception of the vocals... The singer goes for more of a weak shout than an all out growl as in Undecieved. This distressed me greatly at first but after a few listens you get used to it. Not as good as Undecieved but still a great album."