THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND: SYNCHESTRA

This CD was my first real look into Devin Townsend. I had heard him on Sex & Religion many years before this and also on Ayreon but never really got around to getting into his original material. I'm pissed at myself for not listening sooner because Mr. Townsend is a great innovator in metal and is evident in this release. His material is complex on it's own terms creating these giant walls of sound that completely envelope the listener into this wonderful sonic atmosphere. Synchestra does have it's lower points when it comes to vampolka, vampira and the bonus tracks. But they are only low points in that they're not consistent with the rest of the album and can come off as out of place. I enjoy those three songs when listening to them on their own (vampolka and vampira together obviously) but when I listen to the album Synchestra I tend to skip these songs. The tracks Mental Tan to Notes From Africa are the real intense part of the album. Pixilate being the most experimental. Judgement being the core. Townsend's vocal work is impeccable as always and is among the top when it comes to talent.