Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Extol - Synergy (2003)
My first experience with technical progressive metallers Extol was when I checked out The Blueprint Dives two and a half years before this review. That album is an alt-ish prog-metal masterpiece. But somehow it wasn't until a year later when I finally embraced the greatness of their discography. Many of their albums are so f***ing perfect! And I'm not kidding about that; Burial and Undeceived are a one-two punch of atmospheric technical/progressive death metal, the latter expanding on that sound with complex ideas. Their catalog has truly made this band an unstoppable force!
Now here we are at their 2003 album Synergy. It is the band's first move to a different style from their earlier deathly sound, taking on more melodic thrash. This change of sound has turned away some earlier fans while winning some new fans who wanted to hear the continuation of progressive/tech-thrash after bands who have attempted that style in the early/mid-90s have faded out. It's safe to say that Extol took a lot of inspiration from fellow Christian progressive thrashers Believer. If Extol kept going with the violins from their deathly first two albums, they could've easily made "Dies Irae 2.0". At least they had first shown their Believer influences in songs like "And I Watch" and their cover of "Shadow of Death". Extol have executed their tech-thrash sound very well in Synergy, with only a fairly short amount of death remaining.
From "Grace for Succession" on, stunning guitars leap around, with ideas extracted from the 1990/1991 albums of Believer and Coroner. The harsh vocals continue their blackened death range, while the cleans have sweet flavor as they shine in the Opeth-like mellow sections. Tech-thrash reaches its height in "Paradigms" which also has lovely female singing by Maria Solheim. "Psychopath" has psychotic shredding and rhythms, while continuing the amazing blend of technical heaviness and more of that Opeth atmosphere. "Blood Red Cover" has more melodic progressiveness ala Fates Warning, hinting at Extol's direction in The Blueprint Dives.
"26 Miles from Marathon" is a fast riff marathon as different speeds collide. You can definitely hear some early 90s Atheist there, especially in the technical labyrinth that then leads to searing shredding. "Confession of Inadequacy" continues the progressive thrash, though they switch from rhythmic aggression to serene balladry for one section. Then we have a full-on thrash attack in "Scraping the Surface". They get closer to their early deathly drama while having some of the operatic drama of Arcturus.
The thrashy diversity sounds so excellent in the somewhat title track "Thrash Synergy". The technical guitarwork definitely has Believer all over, though the speed slows down when they have more psychedelia. "Aperture" is a nice acoustic break from all that madness. Then "Emancipation" snaps you back to riffing aggression while having slight balladry, followed by more of that Atheist-like guitar versatility. "Nihilism 2002" combines the best of both of Extol's worlds with a tech-death/thrash blizzard, then this progressive offering ends with the last bit of psychedelic soloing fading out.
As of this review, I had already reviewed The Blueprint Dives a long time ago and will take on their self-titled comeback album next. But for now, Synergy has really shown the band dialing back the deathly brutality for some dynamic progressive tech-thrash with some Rush-like psychedelics. It also shows an early hint of the accessibility of The Blueprint Dives. There's barely anything awkward about Synergy, and Extol shall continue to delight their audience from time to time!
Favorites: "Grace for Succession", "Psychopath", "26 Miles from Marathon", "Scraping the Surface", "Thrash Synergy", "Nihilism 2002"