The Devin Townsend Band : Synchestra
Released: 2006

Metalreview.com review

'Synchestra is about as diverse a listening experience one is going to get in 2006, and that alone should make this a contender for most critics' best of year lists.'

'Townsend fans should buy this without thinking. More open metalheads who are more likely to translate the term “alternative metal” to mean metal that defies traditional categorization should seriously consider buying this album. The rest of you should give it a quick skim and decide if you fancy its liberal dose of experimentation.'

Revelationz.net review

'The warm production is top notch, there isn't really anything I can put my finger on. The drums are crystal clear in the mix, keyboards help creating the perfect sound picture, vocals are all beautifully placed in the mix, and I could go on.'

'Synchestra stands out with it's completeness, it's sound perfection and the fact that it's just so damn musical! I don't know where mr. Townsend gets his inspiration from, but the fact that this inspiration is so obvious in almost all of the songs on Synchestra makes me hold on to the claim that he really is a genius. If you are a fan of Devin Townsend, you'll love it. If you aren't, get ready for something that you don't see on new releases that often, namely inspiration!'

Progarchives.com review

'What can I say? It feels weird giving a THIRD five star rating to one artist. King Crimson only has one (possibly two in the future), Yes has one, Porcupine Tree has two, Pain of Salvation one, Dredg one, Opeth NONE...I don't like to give out five star ratings. But to give this less is a travesty. This is a complete masterpiece of progressive music.

I'm almost afraid to review this and get it more attention, lest some conceited old- school proghead comes in and reviews it poorly because they don't enjoy the heavier sounds, the wall of sound, Devy's none-too-friendly vocals or something stupid like guitar tone. But I will, and be satisfied with the fact that those too close-minded to enjoy Townsend's work are missing an amazing bit of music, stuff to change your life ...temporarily at least.'

FIVE OUT OF FIVE. PERFECT.

Rockbeast.com review

"This album is crafted with an absolute display of attentive beauty that it closely rivals most of the previous albums (if one feels compelled to compare amongst Devin’s work). A simply in-comprehensible work of artistic quality that seems inhumanly possible even if it does take a little while to get your head around it."

Music Street Journal' review

The latest DTB extravaganza is an incredibly diverse and ambitious epic that unites such disparate influences as acoustic folk, blast beat metal, New Age, surf-rock, classic rock, Floyd-style spaciness, doom metal and world beat sounds. It is very exhausting to listen to in one sitting but it is amazing how Townsend is able to weave all of it together'

Jukebo.cx review

'It takes a remarkable musician to play some of these songs, but it takes some kind of genius level songwriting ability to make these things work the way Devin has on this CD'

'This is unquestionably the best record of Devin Townsend’s career. Try and make sure you pick up the special edition, which features a 74-minute live DVD of the DTB in the studio. Fingers crossed for another like this soon, after the new SYL album'

Mrrock.net Review

"On "Sychestra", the second release under the moniker THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND, (the first being "Accelerated Evolution), the listener is treated to everything that you'd expect from a DT release - that is...the unexpected.  The album starts out with the nice acoustic ditty “Let It Roll”and the track is, and isn’t, a good indication of what the listener is in store for. Throughout all of “Synchestra”, just when you think you know what you’re in for, it changes. And the change is usually dramatic"

"Synchestra" is brilliantly produced and mixed by Devin, who also wrote, engineered and edited the disc. The sounds are crystal clear and huge, yet never sounding over-produced, which can be done quite easily.  The band is stellar, and their performances are bang-on, but make no mistake about it, this is pure DEVIN TOWNSEND.   He a musician of unsurpassed talent, creativity, and passion –  he is a true treasure."

ProgressiveWorld.net Review

"I was very impressed with Devin's innovative approach the more chances it was given, finding eccentric details entrenched throughout. The banjo that lurks in "Triumph," the polka-based passage that prowls "Vampolka," and the passing of the Pharoah's priests in "Pixillate," as bizarre as they may seem, are all seasoned, tenderized, and marinated surprisingly well. With 14 tracks that blend efficiently into the next, this music moves hastily in a timeframe that hovers approximately around an hour"

"Synchestra just like Ocean Machine is about this “Wall of sound” that is built up over time. It’s full of life and color that has to be soaked in over time and marveled at because it’s unlike anything you have ever heard unless you are in this tight little circle that is the metal scene. Many of these compositions in fact do sound like a massive car wreck that was a result of two vehicles driving head on at 100mph on the autobahn, but the result is fascinating and exhilarating"

"Like Fellow Canadian David Cronenberg, Devin Townsend really is an artist in the most literal sense of the word. He brings a set of ideals to everything he writes that shines regardless of the particular album's volume or intensity. Also like Cronenberg, there's more than an outside chance that you will hate the eccentricities Townsend brings to the table, so proceed with caution. But, regardless of anything, this is a well performed and extremely well produced album"

"Synchestra is a HUGE album. The album has the epic flow of his Terria album. The songs feature very little hooks, but rather run into one another creating one massive piece of art. When a song starts you have no idea where it is going to go. A song can start with an upbeat Irish folk guitar melody then explode into chaos. This album features tons of warm and happy melodies and Devin's best vocal performance to date. To me this is the ultimate Devin Townsend album"