"If you say it's up to me to make the call, well I would say SUNSHINE AND HAPPINESS FOR ALL!", laulaa Devin levyn piiloraidalla.
I don´t understand a word, but i like the finnish language.
I don´t understand a word, but i like the finnish language.
5 out of 5 stars at Sonosmetallicos. It's in Finnish but I thought I'd mention it .
http://www.sonosmetallicos.net/arvostel ... ow&id=1562
.
http://www.sonosmetallicos.net/arvostel ... ow&id=1562
Atari wrote:And now my favourite mag....the mighty Terrorizer
http://clarepreece.co.uk/assets/terrsync.jpg
Also...edited down version of Vampira on the cd and a half page ad for Synchestra on the inside front cover.
....and the review for the AE/SYL show I shot
Terrorizer rules man.
Great review.
Lolliklauer wrote:"If you say it's up to me to make the call, well I would say SUNSHINE AND HAPPINESS FOR ALL!", laulaa Devin levyn piiloraidalla.
I don´t understand a word, but i like the finnish language.
Finnish is one goddanm good language to curse with
I've seen three finnish review:
10/10
5/5
4/5
Every critics favourite album for some reason
Play from your fucking heart.
Well this is my favorite devin townsend cd since terria no doubt, it's right there between ocean machine and terria. It's everything i was hoping it was going to be and more. Freaking amazing, i don't really now how to put it into words yet, simply amazing is what i got for now.
"So just shut your face and take a seat
Because after all, you're just talking meat...and music?
Well, it's just entertainment folks."
-Devin Townsend
Because after all, you're just talking meat...and music?
Well, it's just entertainment folks."
-Devin Townsend
Did this get posted before?
http://www.metalexpressradio.com/menu.p ... ws&id=1452
THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND - Synchestra
InSideOut/SPV
Release Date: 2006-01-30
by: FRODE LEIRVIK a.k.a. frodeo
Email: fl@metalexpressradio.com
write/read comments
When not making music, Devin Townsend is supposedly sleeping. This self-proclaimed "average shmoe" out of Vancouver, Canada, has been a significant contributor to the (true) Progressive music scene, ever since his 1995 debut with Strapping Young Lad's Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing. Numerous releases later, under numerous names he decided in 2002 to form The Devin Townsend Band. The ambition was to create a more defined forum for his music, allowing and ensuring more stability and commitment. The outcome was Accelerated Evolution, released the following year. This year's Synchestra is therefore the band's second effort ... and what an effort!
The Music
With the risk of jumping to conclusions: Synchestra is likely to move anyone coming in its way! The album offers such musical diversity, it's hard to grasp. At the same time, the musical expression is made up of all familiar elements and most importantly: joy!
The album kind of sneaks up on you, in a good way, as opener "Let It Roll" breaks the silence with its open-tuned guitar strumming and Townsend's most soothing voice. The song resembles some of the Flower Power-era's most poetic moments and it never tries to push itself onto you. It just sets an inevitable mood of peace. However, when a wall of distorted guitars breaks in, you'll know they have got more up their sleeves than Flower Power.
The following track, "Hypergeek," takes a brutal turn after a while and dives into the darkest abyss of Metal, still with a smile on its face. "Triumph" sustains the Metal, only with a more Ambient touch to it. And, after a most surprising intermezzo, it opens up for a simply wonderful solo by Townsend's mentor Steve Vai.
The next 3 songs offer a range from a Naïve Waltz in "Babysong" via breathtaking, authentic Polka in "Vampolka," to Polka meets Metal in "Vampira." All of the songs are nearly seemlessly joined, and boast a rare touch of originality, without falling into the Avantgarde domain. If this doesn't get you stomping or smiling, you're either dead or you ought to sell your hi-fi and start knitting a parachute, preparing to dive off the highest cliff or building in you neighborhood.
"Mental Tan" is a tiny big song (or actually instrumental). Its introductory soft strings, guitar, and chimes/harp melody initiates remarkable evolution and harmony. It naturally leads onto the quite massive and uptempo "Gaia." Somewhere along the way in the latter is a guitar solo, with the final tone being sustained until album highlight "Pixillate" takes over.
Now here's a song impossible to ignore: "Pixillate" has so much to offer it can't be justified by mere words in a review. Just take notice of the punchy guitar opening the show and see how The Devin Townsend Band wraps this epic all up ...
"Judgement" is an obscure, dark, and heavily churning epic. It's a challenge, but also a reward for the patient. It joins with "A Simple Lullaby," which is a liquid, ambient experience, colored by sounds of a live audience and a heavier-than-hell movement (with the guitar tuned down way below common sense). A brilliant piece, but hardly a lullaby ...
The lively "Sunset" becomes a relieving intermezzo before the hypnotizing "Notes From Africa," which offers the most Ambient mood on the album: when the birds start chirping at the end, you'd almost think it's all over. Then, though, the Pop-ish, uplifting "Sunshine & Happiness" breaks in and wraps it all up.
The Band
Although a band, Synchestra is a lot of Devin Townsend himself. He has had total control, no doubt, still his bandmates all make considerable contributions, resulting in a most convincing expression. There is really nothing more to say about that.
The Verdict
Some go for extreme, nearly Avantgarde expressions and absurd diversity for the sake of standing out from the over-commercialised crowd of more or less talented performers. With Synchestra The Devin Townsend Band leaves a completely different impression, as its diversity reflects joy and love for music and sheer enthusiasm to a level of contagiousness.
The David Townsend Band has made an album that could be played on 11 or on softer-than-soft and either way would have a lot to offer. It's as heavy as it gets and as dreamy and airy as it could possibly get. If not a masterpiece, then at least unbelievably close ...
NP: Van Halen - s/t
http://www.metalexpressradio.com/menu.p ... ws&id=1452
THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND - Synchestra
InSideOut/SPV
Release Date: 2006-01-30
by: FRODE LEIRVIK a.k.a. frodeo
Email: fl@metalexpressradio.com
write/read comments
When not making music, Devin Townsend is supposedly sleeping. This self-proclaimed "average shmoe" out of Vancouver, Canada, has been a significant contributor to the (true) Progressive music scene, ever since his 1995 debut with Strapping Young Lad's Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing. Numerous releases later, under numerous names he decided in 2002 to form The Devin Townsend Band. The ambition was to create a more defined forum for his music, allowing and ensuring more stability and commitment. The outcome was Accelerated Evolution, released the following year. This year's Synchestra is therefore the band's second effort ... and what an effort!
The Music
With the risk of jumping to conclusions: Synchestra is likely to move anyone coming in its way! The album offers such musical diversity, it's hard to grasp. At the same time, the musical expression is made up of all familiar elements and most importantly: joy!
The album kind of sneaks up on you, in a good way, as opener "Let It Roll" breaks the silence with its open-tuned guitar strumming and Townsend's most soothing voice. The song resembles some of the Flower Power-era's most poetic moments and it never tries to push itself onto you. It just sets an inevitable mood of peace. However, when a wall of distorted guitars breaks in, you'll know they have got more up their sleeves than Flower Power.
The following track, "Hypergeek," takes a brutal turn after a while and dives into the darkest abyss of Metal, still with a smile on its face. "Triumph" sustains the Metal, only with a more Ambient touch to it. And, after a most surprising intermezzo, it opens up for a simply wonderful solo by Townsend's mentor Steve Vai.
The next 3 songs offer a range from a Naïve Waltz in "Babysong" via breathtaking, authentic Polka in "Vampolka," to Polka meets Metal in "Vampira." All of the songs are nearly seemlessly joined, and boast a rare touch of originality, without falling into the Avantgarde domain. If this doesn't get you stomping or smiling, you're either dead or you ought to sell your hi-fi and start knitting a parachute, preparing to dive off the highest cliff or building in you neighborhood.
"Mental Tan" is a tiny big song (or actually instrumental). Its introductory soft strings, guitar, and chimes/harp melody initiates remarkable evolution and harmony. It naturally leads onto the quite massive and uptempo "Gaia." Somewhere along the way in the latter is a guitar solo, with the final tone being sustained until album highlight "Pixillate" takes over.
Now here's a song impossible to ignore: "Pixillate" has so much to offer it can't be justified by mere words in a review. Just take notice of the punchy guitar opening the show and see how The Devin Townsend Band wraps this epic all up ...
"Judgement" is an obscure, dark, and heavily churning epic. It's a challenge, but also a reward for the patient. It joins with "A Simple Lullaby," which is a liquid, ambient experience, colored by sounds of a live audience and a heavier-than-hell movement (with the guitar tuned down way below common sense). A brilliant piece, but hardly a lullaby ...
The lively "Sunset" becomes a relieving intermezzo before the hypnotizing "Notes From Africa," which offers the most Ambient mood on the album: when the birds start chirping at the end, you'd almost think it's all over. Then, though, the Pop-ish, uplifting "Sunshine & Happiness" breaks in and wraps it all up.
The Band
Although a band, Synchestra is a lot of Devin Townsend himself. He has had total control, no doubt, still his bandmates all make considerable contributions, resulting in a most convincing expression. There is really nothing more to say about that.
The Verdict
Some go for extreme, nearly Avantgarde expressions and absurd diversity for the sake of standing out from the over-commercialised crowd of more or less talented performers. With Synchestra The Devin Townsend Band leaves a completely different impression, as its diversity reflects joy and love for music and sheer enthusiasm to a level of contagiousness.
The David Townsend Band has made an album that could be played on 11 or on softer-than-soft and either way would have a lot to offer. It's as heavy as it gets and as dreamy and airy as it could possibly get. If not a masterpiece, then at least unbelievably close ...
NP: Van Halen - s/t
David Townsend, eh? 
That reminds me of the "Devin Townshead" bit on the DVD.
Good review.
That reminds me of the "Devin Townshead" bit on the DVD.
Good review.
There's a very DUMB review on Amazon, posted today Feb 9, 2006:
Hate to burst the Townsend bubble....but THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!, February 8, 2006
Reviewer: M. Davison "saintmichael" (Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
It's obvious from the other reviews here that there is definately major townsend bias in these reviews. So let me put it to you straight.........I don't want to hear happy metal or whatever you call this, I love alot of Devins work but come on people, happy songs in this genre is like listening to Robert Smith sing Christmas carols. The songs have no melody, no hooks, no anything except some guy who had WAY TOO MUCH time on his hands exploring his inner child and never came back. I sure hope the next strapping is not going to suck like this...........
Devin, go back to being miserable and write good songs!!!
I suggest everyone go and vote Unhelpful to this idiot's review. After 6 5-star reviews, this dick comes and drops in a 1-star review, just out of spite.
Here is the link.
Hate to burst the Townsend bubble....but THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!, February 8, 2006
Reviewer: M. Davison "saintmichael" (Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
It's obvious from the other reviews here that there is definately major townsend bias in these reviews. So let me put it to you straight.........I don't want to hear happy metal or whatever you call this, I love alot of Devins work but come on people, happy songs in this genre is like listening to Robert Smith sing Christmas carols. The songs have no melody, no hooks, no anything except some guy who had WAY TOO MUCH time on his hands exploring his inner child and never came back. I sure hope the next strapping is not going to suck like this...........
Devin, go back to being miserable and write good songs!!!
I suggest everyone go and vote Unhelpful to this idiot's review. After 6 5-star reviews, this dick comes and drops in a 1-star review, just out of spite.
Here is the link.
From the Belgian Rock Tribune magazine (translated by me and my dictionary, sorry about that):
After the madness, comes the consiousness? Literally, in Devin Townsends case. No-one will be surprised that Devin had to cool down after the metal-mayhem of Strapping Young Lads "Alien". "Synchestra" was meant to be the antidote to "Alien", as a reaction to the nuclear violence of SYL. Although drawn from an altogether different source, don't expect to fall asleep to this record. "Let it roll" starts it off in a calm and acoustic manner, but hints to what's about to come towards the end. "Hypergeek" has the same structure, but one step ahead and halfway through literally bursts open like a festering yet wonderful tumour. It seems to be contradicting and that is exactly the feeling that dominates this record. Wonderful, yet deterrent. The following "Triumph" is long and varied. Master Steve Vai delivers a typical solo and adds another dimension to a beautiful song. There is no doubt about the strong side of The Devin Townsend Band being to unlimited possibilities built into the concept. From ultra calm acoustic guitars to over the top screams and frantic instrumentation seems to be no hassle for Devin. Shifting from thousand-layered pure metal to a polka is no problem at all. To come short, there is nothing one can think of and Devin hasn't tried it. Even better, he gets away with it every single time. "Synchestra contains oven an hour of devised and sublime sounds, taking you on a exciting and staggering trip through Devin Townsend carnival. View "Synchestra" as a whole and get carried away on the inspiring soundwaves that will introduce you to just about every emotion. Again, a successfull project by a still underestimated hard worker. The limited edition of this album will come with an extra 74 minute DVD featuring live recordings.
92/100
Interview might follow later, if I manage to translate that one as well.
After the madness, comes the consiousness? Literally, in Devin Townsends case. No-one will be surprised that Devin had to cool down after the metal-mayhem of Strapping Young Lads "Alien". "Synchestra" was meant to be the antidote to "Alien", as a reaction to the nuclear violence of SYL. Although drawn from an altogether different source, don't expect to fall asleep to this record. "Let it roll" starts it off in a calm and acoustic manner, but hints to what's about to come towards the end. "Hypergeek" has the same structure, but one step ahead and halfway through literally bursts open like a festering yet wonderful tumour. It seems to be contradicting and that is exactly the feeling that dominates this record. Wonderful, yet deterrent. The following "Triumph" is long and varied. Master Steve Vai delivers a typical solo and adds another dimension to a beautiful song. There is no doubt about the strong side of The Devin Townsend Band being to unlimited possibilities built into the concept. From ultra calm acoustic guitars to over the top screams and frantic instrumentation seems to be no hassle for Devin. Shifting from thousand-layered pure metal to a polka is no problem at all. To come short, there is nothing one can think of and Devin hasn't tried it. Even better, he gets away with it every single time. "Synchestra contains oven an hour of devised and sublime sounds, taking you on a exciting and staggering trip through Devin Townsend carnival. View "Synchestra" as a whole and get carried away on the inspiring soundwaves that will introduce you to just about every emotion. Again, a successfull project by a still underestimated hard worker. The limited edition of this album will come with an extra 74 minute DVD featuring live recordings.
92/100
Interview might follow later, if I manage to translate that one as well.
I have recently posted a very Detailed review of the amazing Synchestra, giving it 9 out of 10..on the website I write for..here's the link..check it out..
http://www.livingformetal.com/reviews/r ... eviewid=49
check out the Metal database as well on the website, very informative.
Thanks Devin..
Feel free to leave your comments on the website/review I did..Thanks[http://www.livingformetal.com/reviews/review.aspx?reviewid=49]
http://www.livingformetal.com/reviews/r ... eviewid=49
check out the Metal database as well on the website, very informative.
Thanks Devin..
Feel free to leave your comments on the website/review I did..Thanks
[http://www.livingformetal.com/reviews/review.aspx?reviewid=49]German Review on Metal.de here: http://www.metal.de/cdreviews.php4?was=review&id=6203
9/10
Style unknown
9/10
Style unknown
AMG http://www.allmusic.com has reviewed Synchestra. Only 3.5/5 stars 
batmura wrote:There's a very DUMB review on Amazon, posted today Feb 9, 2006:
Hate to burst the Townsend bubble....but THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!, February 8, 2006
Reviewer: M. Davison "saintmichael" (Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
It's obvious from the other reviews here that there is definately major townsend bias in these reviews. So let me put it to you straight.........I don't want to hear happy metal or whatever you call this, I love alot of Devins work but come on people, happy songs in this genre is like listening to Robert Smith sing Christmas carols. The songs have no melody, no hooks, no anything except some guy who had WAY TOO MUCH time on his hands exploring his inner child and never came back. I sure hope the next strapping is not going to suck like this...........
Devin, go back to being miserable and write good songs!!!
I suggest everyone go and vote Unhelpful to this idiot's review. After 6 5-star reviews, this dick comes and drops in a 1-star review, just out of spite.
Here is the link.
What an ass : look at his handle " saintmichael666" what a knob. Probably a 15 yr old pissed off kid. What he needs is some singing lessions with a car battery and some jumper cables.
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