When first looking at Sinergy's Suicide by My Side, one would probably expect a bleak and gloomy exercise in minimalist hardcore metal.

But no, Sinergy isn't going to suddenly change its sound, and this slab of power metal could be a potential shocker to depressed teenagers unfamiliar with the band.

The album is most definitely aimed at potential suicide victims, a tactic that may be the first of its kind.

Tracks like "I Spit on Your Grave" and "Violated" are actually inspirational anthems that emphasize self-reliance and rail against oppressors.

However, there is still a bit of the old fantasy nonsense in the band, and this comes out at odd moments.

For example, "The Sin Trade" is literally about traveling into the afterlife to bring a former lover back to life.

How this fits into the suicide theme is up for debate, but the fact that it is even here is more than a little weird.

And, after awhile, the album begins to take a pro-suicide bent, leading to "Suicide by My Side," a song that blatantly celebrates suicide and how it will benefit the lead character of the song.

This could be viewed as irresponsible, but the arguments of "Suicide by My Side" might be balanced out by "Shadow Island," the immediately preceding song.

This goofy, ridiculous track blends death metal, power metal, and opera, explaining that evil spirits are the reason why the lead character must commit suicide.

How any of this makes any sense will be a mystery to most listeners; just understand that this song is a huge change of pace from the self-deprecating anthems that come before it.

After the lead character's "death," listeners are treated to "Remembrance," a haunting piano track that is dedicated to the victims of the September 11th tragedy.

It is a beautiful, sad song that finally steps over the line of good taste that Sinergy tries so hard to stay behind.

How a tribute to the thousands of victims of that incident could be placed at the end of a pro-suicide concept album is mind-blowing.

With all the goofy afterlife talk and yearning for death that come before the song, it seems more than a little hypocritical to tack on a piano instrumental as a tribute to all of those people who died.

It may all be for show and they might not really mean all the suicide mumbo jumbo, but dragging in a very real incident like that is the last nail in the coffin of this album.

The music is typical power metal pomposity, the lyrics are bleak and unhealthy, and the concept is absolutely ludicrous.

Genre fans should stick to Helloween or Queensrÿche; this album is egotistical junk passed off as social commentary.