A method includes conducting a laser-based anneal treatment on a metal layer positioned above and in direct contact with a first diamond shaped epitaxial layer surrounding a first fin and a second diamond shaped epitaxial layer surrounding a second fin, the metal layer extends from the first diamond shaped epitaxial layer to the second diamond shaped epitaxial layer, the laser-based anneal treatment forms a silicide layer, a portion of the silicide layer between the first and the second diamond shaped epitaxial layers is substantially thicker than a portion of the silicide layer in contact with the first and the second diamond shaped epitaxial layers, and the silicide layer takes on a crystal orientation of the first and the second epitaxial layers.