Devin Townsend - Synchestra

www.hevydevy.com

Yeah, I am really really shit at writing reviews, but Devin Townsend's new album just came out, and I thought I'd do my bit to spread the word.

I've never written a music review before, but having read a few in the past, it's my understanding that I have to put really pretentious phrases in, such as "blisteringly fast guitar riffs", "the drummer delivers a crushing snare assault.", or "weaving a meshing cityscape of sound" so I will try to do that ok.

I'm constantly surprised that The Devin Townsend Band aren't more popular than they are. Unlike Devin's metal project Strapping Young Lad, which has blisteringly fast guitar riffs, backed up by Gene Hoglans crushing snare assault, The Devin Townsend band represents the more mellow, accessable side of his music. I imagine it's because most people who hear about Devin Townsend, are those in the metal community, that discover him through Strapping Young Lad.

Devin's sound is hard to categorise if you're a music mong like me, so I won't bother to try. For those that have heard Devin's other work, one can definitely hear elements of other Devin albums in this one. It sounds most like Terria with the odd part of Ocean machine here and there, but with brief nods to Infinity and Physicist in places. Devin's technique of layering many parts over each other is much evident here, or something like that, I dunno. WEAVING A BLISTERING CRUSHING SNARE ATTACK CITYSCAPE OF SOUND

The album opens with a nice mellow acoustic number, which builds up nicely towards the end, moving into the second track Hypergeek, which starts off nicely with layered acoustic guitars, vocals and piano, moving into a more Physicist/Strapping Young Lad like heavy guitar part. The heavy parts are really few and far between on this album, so those that can't stomach metal needn't be put off by this.

Catchy but powerful melodic choruses, layered vocals, wonderfully chilled out, that's the way I'd summarise this album.

Overall it's an A+++++++++++++ album would buy again.

The track listing is:

1. Let it roll
2. Hypergeek
3. Triumph
4. Babysong
5. Vampolka
6. Vampira
7. Mental tan
8. Gaia
9. Pixellate
10. Judgement
11. A simple lullaby
12. Sunset
13. Notes from africa
14. (Bonus track) Sunshine and happiness

Unfortunately, there aren't any mp3 samples of this album on the Devin Townsend website, but there's a Devin Townsend myspace here http://www.myspace.com/devintownsenddtb which has tracks from four of his albums, including the new one.

Unfortunately, the song from Synchestra that they've put on myspace isn't even nearly the best on the album, but Canada and Life, from the Terria and Ocean Machine albums are top songs.

Bryan

P.S.

weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound
weaving a meshing cityscape of sound