Sinergy
Encyclopedia
Sinergy was a Finnish power metal
band started in 1998 by American musician, Kimberly Goss
. Aside from Sinergy, the most notable bands Goss has been involved with are Dimmu Borgir
; as keyboardist, and Children of Bodom
; where she filled in live for Janne Wirman
(keyboards) and also contributed lyrics. The idea for a "balls-out female-fronted metal band" was first formed when Goss met Jesper Strömblad
of In Flames
whilst on tour with Dimmu Borgir in 1997.
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 were unable to achieve this due to time constraints.
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 D'Angelo
(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 Doro and 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, with three of the band members residing in Sweden.
Thus, the band was essentially dissolved, but Kimberly and Alexi wanted to continue with the project. 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 of 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.
On the following album, Suicide By My Side
, Kimberly dropped the use of lighter, feminine vocals and switched to a rougher style.
Soon after the recording of the third album Lillman left the band. He was soon replaced by Barathrum
drummer Janne Parviainen
. Bassist Marco left the band shortly after, presumably due to his Nightwish commitments. He was temporarily replaced by Melanie Sisneros from The Iron Maidens. The position was eventually given to Lauri Porra
from power metal band Stratovarius
.
Sinergy recorded their last album, titled Sins Of The Past. The album was supposed to be released in 2005, but the material has been shelved without a release date.
According to Alexi, Sinergy has disbanded, and is no longer an active music project.
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band started in 1998 by American musician, Kimberly Goss
Kimberly Goss
Kimberly Goss is the vocalist and founding member of the Finnish band Sinergy.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles to a Korean father and a German-American mother, who was a jazz singer...
. Aside from Sinergy, the most notable bands Goss has been involved with are Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
; as keyboardist, and Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
; where she filled in live for Janne Wirman
Janne Wirman
Janne Viljami "Warman" Wirman is a Finnish musician; he is the keyboardist for the bands Children of Bodom and Warmen.-Biography:Born in the town of Espoo, Finland, Janne Wirman began playing the piano at the age of five...
(keyboards) and also contributed lyrics. The idea for a "balls-out female-fronted metal band" was first formed when Goss met Jesper Strömblad
Jesper Strömblad
Clas Håkan Jesper Strömblad is a Swedish musician who is currently the guitarist for the bands Dimension Zero & The Resistance...
of In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
whilst on tour with Dimmu Borgir in 1997.
History
Sinergy formed when the then Dimmu BorgirDimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
keyboard player Kimberly Goss
Kimberly Goss
Kimberly Goss is the vocalist and founding member of the Finnish band Sinergy.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles to a Korean father and a German-American mother, who was a jazz singer...
met with In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
guitarist Jesper Strömblad
Jesper Strömblad
Clas Håkan Jesper Strömblad is a Swedish musician who is currently the guitarist for the bands Dimension Zero & The Resistance...
during a joint world tour. They discussed the idea of assembling a female-fronted metal band, but were unable to achieve this due to time constraints.
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 D'Angelo
Sharlee D'Angelo
Sharlee D'Angelo is the bassist for Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, as well as the Swedish hard rock band Spiritual Beggars.Sharlee has also been in various bands in the past, either as a studio session player or full member. Some of these include IllWill and Mercyful Fate as well as...
(from Arch Enemy and Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Initially active from 1981 to 1985, they reunited in 1992. The band went on hiatus again in 2000, when frontman King Diamond decided to continue his solo career...
), drummer Ronny Milianowicz and by then unknown guitarist Alexi Laiho
Alexi Laiho
Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho is a Finnish singer, composer, and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead guitarist as well as lead vocalist for melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, and he is also the guitarist for Sinergy and Kylähullut...
(from Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
).
The debut album Beware the Heavens
Beware the Heavens
Beware the Heavens is the first album by the power metal band Sinergy, released in 1999. The album features two instrumental tracks "Born Unto Fire and Passion" and "Pulsation", and a track inspired by the series Xena: The Warrior Princess, entitled "The Warrior Princess"...
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 Doro and 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, with three of the band members residing in Sweden.
Thus, the band was essentially dissolved, but Kimberly and Alexi wanted to continue with the project. They assembled a new line-up, composed of Finnish members only. Roope Latvala
Roope Latvala
Roope Latvala is a Finnish guitarist who currently plays with the bands Children of Bodom and Sinergy. He was one of the founding members of Stone, which was one of the first notable bands in the history of Finnish heavy metal.-Biography:...
(founding member of Stone
Stone (band)
Stone was a thrash metal band formed in Kerava, Finland in the mid-1980s. They released four albums and one live album during the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disbanding in 1991 to pursue different musical directions. Stone reunited to play a final set of concerts in 2000, but parted ways...
, one of the bands which started the heavy metal movement in Finland) assumed the position of rhythm guitarist, Marco Hietala
Marco Hietala
Marko Tapani "Marco" Hietala is a heavy metal vocalist and bassist. Internationally, he is most known as the current bassist, male vocalist and composer, of the symphonic metal band Nightwish...
(from Tarot) became the bassist and Tonmi Lillman
Tonmi Lillman
Tonmi Kristian Lillman is a musician who officially changed his first name from Tommi to Tonmi in 2004.-Career:Lillman’s father was a musician, and as a result he grew up surrounded by a large assortment of instruments. Tonmi received his first drum kit at age nine and started performing live at...
was chosen as the new drummer. This line-up recorded To Hell and Back
To Hell and Back (album)
To Hell and Back is the second album by the power metal band Sinergy, it was released in the year of 2000. It featured a cover-version of "Hanging on the Telephone", originally by Blondie. The song Last Escape is probably inspired by the game Resident Evil 3. Also, the song "Gallowmere" is inspired...
and subsequently toured with Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
. By that time, Sinergy was starting to receive world recognition. This tour is perhaps most notable for being included on Nightwish’s DVD release of 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.
On the following album, Suicide By My Side
Suicide by My Side
Suicide By My Side is the third album by the power metal band Sinergy, released in 2002. It shows a substantial progress in their musical style; singer Kimberly Goss performs in a sharper, more aggressive vocal style, and guitarists Alexi Laiho and Roope Latvala perform more technical solos...
, Kimberly dropped the use of lighter, feminine vocals and switched to a rougher style.
Soon after the recording of the third album Lillman left the band. He was soon replaced by Barathrum
Barathrum
Barathrum is a Finnish black doom band. They originate from Kuopio but have since re-located to Helsinki. The first letters of their full-length albums spell "HEIL SOVA" , which completes their original eight-album plan. However, there have been rumours about a new record ever since the Anno Aspera...
drummer Janne Parviainen
Janne Parviainen
Janne Parviainen, born 1973 in Finland, is a heavy metal drummer, who plays in the bands Sinergy, Barathrum and Ensiferum. He is a former member of Waltari and Zwanziger.Janne joined Barathrum in 2000, and Sinergy and Ensiferum more recently...
. Bassist Marco left the band shortly after, presumably due to his Nightwish commitments. He was temporarily replaced by Melanie Sisneros from The Iron Maidens. The position was eventually given to Lauri Porra
Lauri Porra
Lauri Porra is a Finnish bassist and composer. Best known for his work in Stratovarius and Sinergy. Lauri Porra is a fourth generation musician, He is the great grandson of the famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. He started to study music at age 6 when he started to play cello in a local music...
from power metal band Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius are a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation they have released 13 studio albums and one live album. Along with Helloween, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire and Gamma Ray, Stratovarius are considered one of the leading groups of the power metal and symphonic...
.
Sinergy recorded their last album, titled Sins Of The Past. The album was supposed to be released in 2005, but the material has been shelved without a release date.
According to Alexi, Sinergy has disbanded, and is no longer an active music project.
Final members
- Kimberly "Kim" GossKimberly GossKimberly Goss is the vocalist and founding member of the Finnish band Sinergy.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles to a Korean father and a German-American mother, who was a jazz singer...
- lead vocals, keyboards (1997-2004) - Alexi LaihoAlexi LaihoAlexi "Wildchild" Laiho is a Finnish singer, composer, and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead guitarist as well as lead vocalist for melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, and he is also the guitarist for Sinergy and Kylähullut...
- lead guitar, backing vocals (1999-2004) - Roope LatvalaRoope LatvalaRoope Latvala is a Finnish guitarist who currently plays with the bands Children of Bodom and Sinergy. He was one of the founding members of Stone, which was one of the first notable bands in the history of Finnish heavy metal.-Biography:...
- rhythm guitar (1999-2004) - Lauri PorraLauri PorraLauri Porra is a Finnish bassist and composer. Best known for his work in Stratovarius and Sinergy. Lauri Porra is a fourth generation musician, He is the great grandson of the famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. He started to study music at age 6 when he started to play cello in a local music...
- bass (2002-2004) - Janne ParviainenJanne ParviainenJanne Parviainen, born 1973 in Finland, is a heavy metal drummer, who plays in the bands Sinergy, Barathrum and Ensiferum. He is a former member of Waltari and Zwanziger.Janne joined Barathrum in 2000, and Sinergy and Ensiferum more recently...
- drums (2002-2004)
Former members
- Jesper StrömbladJesper StrömbladClas Håkan Jesper Strömblad is a Swedish musician who is currently the guitarist for the bands Dimension Zero & The Resistance...
- lead guitar (1997–1999) - Sharlee D'AngeloSharlee D'AngeloSharlee D'Angelo is the bassist for Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, as well as the Swedish hard rock band Spiritual Beggars.Sharlee has also been in various bands in the past, either as a studio session player or full member. Some of these include IllWill and Mercyful Fate as well as...
- bass (1997–1999) - Marco HietalaMarco HietalaMarko Tapani "Marco" Hietala is a heavy metal vocalist and bassist. Internationally, he is most known as the current bassist, male vocalist and composer, of the symphonic metal band Nightwish...
- bass, backing vocals (1999–2002) - Ronny Milianowicz - drums (1997–1999)
- Tonmi LillmanTonmi LillmanTonmi Kristian Lillman is a musician who officially changed his first name from Tommi to Tonmi in 2004.-Career:Lillman’s father was a musician, and as a result he grew up surrounded by a large assortment of instruments. Tonmi received his first drum kit at age nine and started performing live at...
- drums (1999–2002)
Albums
- Beware the HeavensBeware the HeavensBeware the Heavens is the first album by the power metal band Sinergy, released in 1999. The album features two instrumental tracks "Born Unto Fire and Passion" and "Pulsation", and a track inspired by the series Xena: The Warrior Princess, entitled "The Warrior Princess"...
(1999) - To Hell and BackTo Hell and Back (album)To Hell and Back is the second album by the power metal band Sinergy, it was released in the year of 2000. It featured a cover-version of "Hanging on the Telephone", originally by Blondie. The song Last Escape is probably inspired by the game Resident Evil 3. Also, the song "Gallowmere" is inspired...
(2000) - Suicide By My SideSuicide by My SideSuicide By My Side is the third album by the power metal band Sinergy, released in 2002. It shows a substantial progress in their musical style; singer Kimberly Goss performs in a sharper, more aggressive vocal style, and guitarists Alexi Laiho and Roope Latvala perform more technical solos...
(2002) - Sins of the Past (Unreleased)