Synchestra

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.{{cite web|title=Devin Townsend Biography |publisher=Hevydevy Records |author=Turner, Tracy |url=http://www.hevydevy.com/hdr_biography.html |access-date=November 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626183214/http://www.hevydevy.com/hdr_biography.html |archive-date=June 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |df= }} 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.{{cite news|title=Strapping Young Lad Re-Sign With Century Media, Begin Work On New Material|work=Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=20897|access-date=January 31, 2008|date=March 30, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202060857/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=20897|archive-date=2008-12-02}} Feeling that Strapping Young Lad did not live up to expectations, Townsend decided to take the next album to a new extreme.Smit, Jackie (March 10, 2005). "[http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles/chats/1-722_devin_townsend.aspx Fury & passion in extremis]." Chronicles of Chaos. To prepare for Alien, Townsend stopped taking the medication prescribed to treat his bipolar disorder.{{cite web|title=Interview w/ Devin Townsend of Strapping Young Lad |publisher=Los Angeles Loud |author=Powell, Brett |url=http://www.laloud.com/iv_strappingyounglad.htm |access-date=January 31, 2008 |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027014025/http://www.laloud.com/iv_strappingyounglad.htm |archive-date=October 27, 2006 }} "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."

Shortly after the release of Alien in March 2005, Townsend began putting together the next Devin Townsend Band record with the working title Human,Townsend, Devin (January 7, 2005). "[http://www.hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3039#p64865 New news!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711164334/http://www.hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3039 |date=July 11, 2011}}" Hevydevy Forums. Retrieved December 5, 2008. 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.revelationz.net/index.asp?ID=1760 |title=Interview with Devin Townsend |author=Kolman, Tajs |date=January 27, 2006 |publisher=RevelationZ Magazine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814043536/http://www.revelationz.net/index.asp?ID=1760 |archive-date=August 14, 2007 |df= }}

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.{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=40706 |title=Devin Townsend Band Drummer: New Album Is 'Absolutely Incredible' |date=August 21, 2005 |work=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=December 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051231080825/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=40706 |archive-date=December 31, 2005 }}

Townsend showcased a wide variety of musical styles in Synchestra, blending his trademark "pop metal" with influences from folk, polka, and Middle Eastern music,{{cite news|title=The Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra|newspaper=Cleveland Scene|author=Lay, David|url=http://www.bigcity.com/2006-02-08/music/the-devin-townsend-band/|accessdate=December 12, 2008|date=February 8, 2006}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} with "a few headbanging elements" mixed in.{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r817835|pure_url=yes}} |title=Synchestra: Review |author=Prato, Greg |website=Allmusic}} 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,Townsend, Devin (June 5, 2009). [https://www.twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/2051587105 Status] (Twitter). Retrieved June 5, 2009. 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.

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".

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = About.com

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|title=Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra|publisher=About.com|first=Chad|last= Bowar|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/reviews/gr/devintownsend.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112211911/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/reviews/gr/devintownsend.htm|archive-date=January 12, 2008|url-status=dead}}

|rev2= Allmusic

|rev2score={{Rating|3.5|5}}

|rev3=Blabbermouth.net

|rev3score=9/10Alisoglu, Scott (December 19, 2005). "[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=541 The Devin Townsend Band – Synchestra] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308171523/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=541 |date=2008-03-08 }}." Blabbermouth.net.

|rev4=BraveWords

|rev4score=9/10{{cite web|last=Begai|first=Carl|url=https://bravewords.com/reviews/devin-townsend-band-synchestra|title=DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND - Synchestra|website=BraveWords|date=December 12, 2005|access-date= September 12, 2022}}

|rev5=Chronicles of Chaos

|rev5score=8/10Smit, Jackie (January 29, 2006). "[http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-4069_devin_townsend_synchestra.aspx Devin Townsend Band – Synchestra]." Chronicles of Chaos.

}}

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." 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."

{{track listing

| all_writing = Devin Townsend

| title1 = Let It Roll

| length1 = 2:52

| title2 = Hypergeek

| length2 = 2:20

| title3 = Triumph

| length3 = 7:08

| title4 = Babysong

| length4 = 5:30

| title5 = Vampolka

| length5 = 1:36

| title6 = Vampira

| length6 = 3:27

| title7 = Mental Tan

| length7 = 2:15

| title8 = Gaia

| length8 = 6:03

| title9 = Pixillate

|length9 = 8:17

| title10 = Judgement

| length10 = 5:55

| title11 = A Simple Lullaby

| length11 = 7:09

| title12 = Sunset

| length12 = 2:31

| title13 = Notes from Africa

| length13 = 7:42

| title14 = Sunshine and Happiness

| note14 = hidden track

| length14 = 2:35

| total_length = 65:56

}}

Special edition bonus DVD

{{track listing

| headline = Safe Zone

| all_writing =

| all_lyrics =

| all_music =

| music_credits =

| title1 = Truth

| length1 = 6:08

| note1 = from Infinity

| title2 = Regulator

| length2 = 5:07

| note2 = from Ocean Machine: Biomech

| title3 = Storm

| length3 = 4:39

| note3 = from Accelerated Evolution

| title4 = Earth Day

| length4 = 9:27

| note4 = from Terria

| title5 = Life

| length5 = 4:25

| note5 = from Ocean Machine: Biomech

| title6 = Deadhead

| length6 = 9:28

| note6 = from Accelerated Evolution

| title7 = Away/Deep Peace Medley

| length7 = 13:47

| note7 = from Accelerated Evolution/from Terria

| title8 = Slow Me Down

| length8 = 4:33

| note8 = from Accelerated Evolution

}}

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

{{Reflist}}

• [http://devintownsend.com/hdr_info_synch.html Synchestra]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (HevyDevy)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090103234339/http://www.insideout.de/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=443 Synchestra] (InsideOut)

{{Devin Townsend}}

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Category:2006 albums

Category:Devin Townsend albums

Category:Inside Out Music albums

Category:Albums produced by Devin Townsend

Category:Albums recorded at Armoury Studios

Category:Albums recorded at Hipposonic Studios