DEEVOLUTION

Back in my Prog Metal days ZERO HOUR were one of my favourites when it came to heavy and complex music. They released five albums from 1999 to 2008 before calling it a day. Yes, they would reform and release a comeback album in 2022 that I haven't heard. Over those first five albums we got the same core instrumental trio of the Tipton twins(guitar/bass) and Mike Guy on drums. There would be three vocalists over those five records. I mention all this ZERO HOUR background stuff because CYNTHESIS rose out of the ashes of ZERO HOUR.

Jasun Tipton started writing the music for this idea he had of a dystopian society, with the idea of making this concept a trilogy of albums. Sadly that third record never materialized. The concept is about "the powers that be" propping up this shaman they had taken as a slave and brainwashing him into spreading their message to control and deceive the suffering masses. The problem is that this shaman begins to receive light from the past, eventually realizing he is being used as a puppet. The picture of CYNTHESIS in the Bio here shows that moment as it were.

So we get the Tipton brothers and they called on ZERO HOUR's original singer Erik Rosvold who was on board, they just needed a drummer. When Jasun asked his bass playing brother who he wanted to work with in this new rhythm section, he said Mike Flanegan from ENCHANT. Mike played on ENCHANT's final three albums, including that comeback record from 2014. And while I was a little surprised at this choice, the results prove Troy knows a little more about drummers than I do(haha). "DeEvolution" was released in 2011, with the followup "ReEvolution" coming in 2013.

One of the biggest differences between the parent band ZERO HOUR and CYNTHESIS is simply that the latter have become less heavy and more melodic. Of course the focus is on the story, and we get plenty of atmosphere and mellow bits. ZERO HOUR does come to mind when Jasun decides to go all complex on us with his signature sound. Not often at all. We get a 45 minute album over eight songs. I do have a top three I will touch on.

The opening two tracks really get this album started on the right foot. Both are top three and I'm just so into that repeated guitar line throughout that opener called 'The Man Without Skin". It's mid-paced with depth and the drumming is great! My favourite song on here though is that second tune "Incision", but remember the title of the opener. This one is complex and uptempo. The best part of the album for me is 3 minutes in when that attitude comes to the fore. Some foot stomping metal right here. love the vocals, so much enthusiasm. Intense is the word and the drumming around 5 minutes in is impressive.

"The Edifice Grin" is my final top three and like "Incision" this one just kills with intensity and power. Erik shows why he has been called one of the premier vocalists in Metal. Then it turns absolutely beautiful after 1 1/2 minutes with heart-felt vocals. And no the heaviness isn't over by a long shot on this one. I really do not like the first 4 minutes of the closer. I know it's because of the concept but man piano, mellow vocals and atmosphere for too long. Too ballad-like. Yes the final couple of minutes make up for that. Heavy! How about "Twilight" where we get over 3 1/2 minutes of spacey atmosphere. The other track well worth mentioning is "Divided Day". It's the longest at under 8 minutes and it's like a miniature of the whole album.

I feel this is a step down from what ZERO HOUR brought to the table, just my opinion, but man there's so much skill on display here, with a cool story to boot.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Mellotron Storm
• Report this review (#3163495)
• Buy CYNTHESIS music online with PA partners
• Show all CYNTHESIS MP3/Stream
• Go to CYNTHESIS page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to DeEvolution page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for CYNTHESIS related discussions