Synchestra
View on Wikipedia| Synchestra | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 31, 2006[1] | |||
| Recorded | 2005 at the Devlab, Armoury Studios, and Hipposonic | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 65:20 | |||
| Label | HevyDevy | |||
| Producer | Devin Townsend | |||
| The Devin Townsend Band chronology | ||||
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| Devin Townsend chronology | ||||
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Synchestra (/sɪŋˈkɛstrə/ sing-KES-trə)[2] is the eighth solo album by Canadian musician Devin Townsend, and the second and final album he recorded with The Devin Townsend Band. The album was released in January 2006 on Townsend's label, HevyDevy Records.
Background
[edit]After releasing four solo albums under the name Devin Townsend, each with a different recording lineup, Townsend decided in 2002 to assemble a permanent band for his solo material. He formed the Devin Townsend Band, consisting of Brian Waddell on guitar, Mike Young on bass, Ryan Van Poederooyen on drums, and Dave Young on keyboards. The newly formed group released their first album, Accelerated Evolution, in March 2003. The group recorded and toured for the album while Townsend's extreme metal project, Strapping Young Lad, were doing the same for their third release, Strapping Young Lad.[3] With Chris Valagao Mina, guitarist, backing vocal.
At the end of a whirlwind year, Townsend began working on Strapping Young Lad's fourth album, Alien, in March 2004.[4] Feeling that Strapping Young Lad did not live up to expectations, Townsend decided to take the next album to a new extreme.[5] To prepare for Alien, Townsend stopped taking the medication prescribed to treat his bipolar disorder.[6] "I think that as an artist, in order for me to get to the next plateau, I kind of feel the need to explore things and sometimes that exploration leads you to places that are a little crazy," he explained. "And Alien was no exception with that."[7]
Shortly after the release of Alien in March 2005, Townsend began putting together the next Devin Townsend Band record with the working title Human,[8] intended as the more "pleasant" counterpart to Alien. The album was ultimately entitled Synchestra, and was "basically a record about coming back down to earth after being in space with Alien for a while," according to Townsend.[7]
Synchestra was primarily recorded and mixed by Townsend at his home studio, the Devlab. Van Poederooyen's drums were recorded at Armoury Studios in Vancouver, BC. Mike Young's bass recording, and the album's final mixing, took place at Hipposonic Studios in Vancouver. The album was engineered by Shaun Thingvold, who had also worked for Strapping Young Lad and Fear Factory.[9]
Music
[edit]Townsend showcased a wide variety of musical styles in Synchestra, blending his trademark "pop metal" with influences from folk, polka, and Middle Eastern music,[10] with "a few headbanging elements" mixed in.[11] Bassist Mike Young and guitarist Brian Waddell share vocals on the bonus song "Sunshine and Happiness". Keyboardist Dave Young also plays guitar on "Sunshine and Happiness" and "Sunset". "Triumph" contains a country breakdown based on "On the Pipe" by Steve Morse from the album The Introduction,[12] and also features a solo by Steve Vai, for whom Townsend performed lead vocals on the album Sex & Religion.
Because the album is considered a single piece, several tracks recall themes played earlier in the record; in addition, "Judgement" would later be referenced in "Polyphony" from SYL's The New Black.
Release
[edit]Synchestra was released on January 31, 2006. The album was released on Townsend's label HevyDevy Records in North America, and InsideOut in Europe. A two-disc special edition was released simultaneously with the standard edition. The special edition includes an in-studio live DVD titled "Safe Zone" containing eight tracks played live in the studio and some bonus features put together by the band. The special edition was released in digipak and jewel-case formats. A music video was produced for the song "Vampira".
Reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| About.com | |
| Allmusic | |
| Blabbermouth.net | 9/10[14] |
| BraveWords | 9/10[15] |
| Chronicles of Chaos | 8/10[16] |
Synchestra received favorable reviews from critics. Greg Prato of Allmusic praised the album's diversity and originality, remarking that "Townsend seems to be getting more musically daring with each subsequent release, unlike some other veteran rockers who start to play it safe as the years roll on."[11] Scott Alisoglu of Blabbermouth.net compared the album favorably to Accelerated Evolution. He wrote that the album has "melodies that are bit more out front" yet is "still as progressive as they come."[14]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Devin Townsend.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let It Roll" | 2:52 |
| 2. | "Hypergeek" | 2:20 |
| 3. | "Triumph" | 7:08 |
| 4. | "Babysong" | 5:30 |
| 5. | "Vampolka" | 1:36 |
| 6. | "Vampira" | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Mental Tan" | 2:15 |
| 8. | "Gaia" | 6:03 |
| 9. | "Pixillate" | 8:17 |
| 10. | "Judgement" | 5:55 |
| 11. | "A Simple Lullaby" | 7:09 |
| 12. | "Sunset" | 2:31 |
| 13. | "Notes from Africa" | 7:42 |
| 14. | "Sunshine and Happiness" (hidden track) | 2:35 |
| Total length: | 65:56 | |
Special edition bonus DVD
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Truth" (from Infinity) | 6:08 |
| 2. | "Regulator" (from Ocean Machine: Biomech) | 5:07 |
| 3. | "Storm" (from Accelerated Evolution) | 4:39 |
| 4. | "Earth Day" (from Terria) | 9:27 |
| 5. | "Life" (from Ocean Machine: Biomech) | 4:25 |
| 6. | "Deadhead" (from Accelerated Evolution) | 9:28 |
| 7. | "Away/Deep Peace Medley" (from Accelerated Evolution/from Terria) | 13:47 |
| 8. | "Slow Me Down" (from Accelerated Evolution) | 4:33 |
Personnel
[edit]The Devin Townsend Band
- Devin Townsend – vocals, guitar, programming
- Ryan Van Poederooyen – drums
- Brian Waddell – guitar, additional vocals (track 14)
- Dave Young – keyboards, grand piano, Hammond, mandolin, guitar (track 14), additional vocals (track 14)
- Mike Young – bass, tuba, stand-up bass
Additional musicians
- Heather Robinson – additional vocals
- Deborah Tyzio – additional vocals (track 9)
- Steve Vai – guitar solo (track 3)
- Chris Valagao Mina – guitar, additional vocals
- Daniel Young – tambourine (track 5)
- Rocky Milino Jr. – dobro (3)
- Hansen Thingvold – additional vocals
Production
- Devin Townsend – production, engineering, recording, editing, mixing
- Shaun Thingvold – additional engineering
- Greg Reely – mastering
- Dave Young – recording assistance
- Mike Young – recording assistance
- Jay Van Poederooyen – drum editing
- Bryan Seely – drum teching
- Ash Pearson – drum teching
- Nick Tyzio – vocal recording assistance
- Tim Steinruck – vocal recording assistance
Artwork
- Omer Cordell – photography
- Geoffrey Rousselot – artwork, design
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] | 33 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[18] | 128 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[19] | 85 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Synchestra by The Devin Townsend Band". iTunes. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
- ^ Turner, Tracy (December 22, 2005). Response Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, "How does one pronounce Synchestra? Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine" Hevydevy Forums. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ Turner, Tracy. "Devin Townsend Biography". Hevydevy Records. Archived from the original on June 26, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
- ^ "Strapping Young Lad Re-Sign With Century Media, Begin Work On New Material". Blabbermouth.net. March 30, 2004. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Smit, Jackie (March 10, 2005). "Fury & passion in extremis." Chronicles of Chaos.
- ^ Powell, Brett (2005). "Interview w/ Devin Townsend of Strapping Young Lad". Los Angeles Loud. Archived from the original on October 27, 2006. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b Kolman, Tajs (January 27, 2006). "Interview with Devin Townsend". RevelationZ Magazine. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007.
- ^ Townsend, Devin (January 7, 2005). "New news! Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine" Hevydevy Forums. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
- ^ "Devin Townsend Band Drummer: New Album Is 'Absolutely Incredible'". Blabbermouth.net. August 21, 2005. Archived from the original on December 31, 2005. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ Lay, David (February 8, 2006). "The Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved December 12, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ a b c Prato, Greg. "Synchestra: Review". Allmusic.
- ^ Townsend, Devin (June 5, 2009). Status (Twitter). Retrieved June 5, 2009.
- ^ Bowar, Chad. "Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra". About.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2008.
- ^ a b Alisoglu, Scott (December 19, 2005). "The Devin Townsend Band – Synchestra Archived 2008-03-08 at the Wayback Machine." Blabbermouth.net.
- ^ Begai, Carl (December 12, 2005). "DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND - Synchestra". BraveWords. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ Smit, Jackie (January 29, 2006). "Devin Townsend Band – Synchestra." Chronicles of Chaos.
- ^ "The Devin Townsend Band: Synchestra" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – The Devin Townsend Band – Synchestra". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Devin Townsend Band – Synchestra" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Synchestra[permanent dead link] (HevyDevy)
- Synchestra (InsideOut)
Synchestra
View on GrokipediaBackground and development
Album conception
Following the release of Strapping Young Lad's intense album Alien in March 2005, Devin Townsend sought to create a counterpoint that emphasized humanity, unity, and emotional balance rather than aggression. Synchestra was conceived as this antidote, written alongside Alien during 2005 to provide a "sunny" and soothing alternative to the former's hostility. Townsend described the album's core idea as viewing the world as a single, interconnected entity, with all elements—including humanity—forming a harmonious whole. The title "Synchestra" itself originated from an old meditation tape Townsend used to listen to, inspiring the notion of synchronized orchestration in both music and life.[2][3] Townsend envisioned Synchestra as a cohesive, flowing composition treated as one extended piece, despite its eclectic blend of styles, to evoke a symphonic structure that unified diverse sonic landscapes. This approach marked a deliberate shift toward more progressive and experimental elements, building on the melodic rock foundation of the Devin Townsend Band's debut Accelerated Evolution (2003) while diverging sharply from Alien's extreme metal catharsis. In early writing sessions, Townsend introduced influences such as pop metal—his signature style—alongside folk, polka, and Middle Eastern sounds, aiming to craft an album that felt like a singular, immersive journey rather than isolated tracks. Songwriting progressed piecemeal through demos completed by March 2005, reflecting Townsend's intent to balance heavy edges with lullaby-like tenderness and orchestral expansiveness.[2][3][4] This conception aligned with the Devin Townsend Band's formation in 2002 as a platform for Townsend's broader melodic and exploratory projects, allowing him to explore thematic depth without the constraints of his heavier Strapping Young Lad persona. By prioritizing conceptual unity over fragmentation, Synchestra represented Townsend's evolving songwriting philosophy, where personal introspection drove the integration of contrasting musical worlds into a deliberate, holistic narrative.[2]Band lineup and recording process
The Devin Townsend Band, responsible for Synchestra, consisted of Devin Townsend on vocals and guitars, Brian Waddell on guitars, Mike Young on bass and tuba, Ryan Van Poederooyen on drums, and Dave Young on keyboards, grand piano, Hammond organ, and mandolin.[1] Additional contributors included Steve Vai on guitar solo for the track "Triumph," as well as guest vocalists and musicians such as Heather Robinson, Deborah Tyzio, Chris Valagao, Daniel Young on tambourine, Rocky Milino Jr. on dobro, and Hansen Thingvold on additional vocals.[1][5] Recording took place throughout 2005 across multiple Vancouver-area studios to capture the album's expansive sound. The core tracking occurred at Townsend's home studio, The Devlab, with drums recorded at Armoury Studios for a sense of scale, bass at Hipposonic Studios, and grand piano and tuba at the informal "Dave and Mike's Mom's House Studio."[2][5] Certain guest vocals, such as Deborah Tyzio's, were captured at Tyz Studios, while mixing was handled initially at The Devlab and finalized at Hipposonic A Studios.[5] The production adopted a piecemeal approach, reflecting the album's conception as a unified yet fragmented symphonic work, with elements tracked separately to accommodate its ambitious structure and genre shifts.[2] Townsend personally engineered much of the album, with additional engineering provided by Shaun Thingvold, emphasizing self-reliance in the process, though this led to challenges in balancing the project's vast scope, including trial-and-error adjustments in compression and EQ during a rushed 24-hour mixing session that resulted in some frequency imbalances.[2][5]Musical content
Style and influences
Synchestra is characterized by its progressive metal foundation, infused with eclectic fusions of pop, folk, polka, Middle Eastern motifs, and ambient elements, spanning a total runtime of 65:30.[6] This genre-blending creates a sunny, experimental vibe that contrasts the aggression of Devin Townsend's prior album Alien, emphasizing melodic accessibility alongside avant-garde twists.[2] Tracks like "Vampolka" exemplify the polka integration through upbeat rhythms, unison organ and guitar lines, and lively percussion, while "Pixillate" incorporates Arabic-style vocals over dirge-like structures, and "Mental Tan" evokes ambient textures akin to Tangerine Dream's electronic soundscapes.[7] The album's instrumentation highlights heavy guitars driving riffs and solos, complemented by keyboards that generate orchestral and symphonic layers, alongside prominent fretless bass and polyrhythmic drums.[7] These elements facilitate dynamic shifts from intense, blast-beat metal sections to soaring melodic choruses and acoustic folk interludes, incorporating world-beat percussion, tuba, and synths for a broad textural palette.[8] This setup underscores the record's progressive ethos, blending heavy metal aggression with lighter, New Age-inspired atmospheres and surf-rock nods.[9] Townsend's affinity for symphonic structures shines through, particularly in the classical orchestration of "Triumph," a piece he wrote as a teenager.[2] The piecemeal recording approach further enabled this experimentation, allowing seamless integration of diverse styles into a cohesive whole.[2] A standout fusion moment is Steve Vai's guest guitar solo on "Triumph," which bridges virtuoso rock traditions with the album's orchestral and progressive metal framework, amplifying its eclectic energy.[2]Track listing
The standard edition of Synchestra comprises 14 tracks, all written by Devin Townsend. The album is conceived as a continuous musical journey, with most tracks segueing directly into the next to create a seamless flow, punctuated by the short interlude "Mental Tan" that bridges the initial energetic section to the more introspective latter half.[2]| No. | Title | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Let It Roll" | 2:52 | Opening track that sets the album's dynamic momentum. |
| 2 | "Hypergeek" | 2:20 | Follow-up that maintains high energy into the core sequence. |
| 3 | "Triumph" | 7:08 | Extended centerpiece featuring a guest solo by Steve Vai, elevating the mid-album intensity.[5] |
| 4 | "Babysong" | 5:30 | Transitional piece easing from the peak into rhythmic exploration. |
| 5 | "Vampolka" | 1:36 | Polka-infused segment contributing to the album's eclectic transitions. |
| 6 | "Vampira" | 3:27 | Builds on the prior rhythm, advancing the narrative arc. |
| 7 | "Mental Tan" | 2:15 | Short interlude serving as a pivotal bridge between album halves. |
| 8 | "Gaia" | 6:03 | Reinitiates the flow post-interlude with thematic renewal. |
| 9 | "Pixillate" | 8:17 | Features Arabic-style vocals and gothic progressive elements. |
| 10 | "Judgement" | 5:55 | Continues the introspective progression. |
| 11 | "A Simple Lullaby" | 7:09 | Provides a soothing, extended melodic interlude. |
| 12 | "Sunset" | 2:31 | Acoustic piece adding warmth and contrast. |
| 13 | "Notes from Africa" | 7:42 | Incorporates world music influences toward the close. |
| 14 | "Sunshine and Happiness" | 2:35 | Hidden closing track providing an unexpected, uplifting coda. |