Devin Townsend - Synchestra

[OdinsCourt]

From Devin's Official Website:

HDR NEWS
October 26 2005

Synchestra was a very enjoyable experience for Devin. He worked on this project stress-free and he did practically everything from song writing to mastering and engineering. There are 13 songs on this record, with five or six "big" songs. Synchestra is a very refreshing change from the rest of the DT catalogue, the style will remind you some previous works like "Terria" or "Ocean Machine". Steve Vai will play a guitar solo on the song "Triumph" and It's an honour for Devin to have Steve involved on a project like Synchestra.

I can't wait for the new album!

And lately, I can't get enough of "Funeral" - Especially in headphones! It's just brilliant. I've been listening every night to this before bed. Devin is just the man.

 

[Biggers]

Happy days. Pre-ordered the dvd version last week due out the 31st January here in the uk. cant wait for it!

 

[OdinsCourt]

Very cool! I'll have to look into preordering in North America - though we're usually several weeks behind Europe.

 

[OdinsCourt]

This disc is great. A lot of folks I know (who for some reason beyond me don't like Devin ) really like this disc. Everyone should check it out!

Here is a video from it (talk about funny!):Vampira

 

[Snowy Owl]

I am familiar with his work in SYL and I have a Steve Vai album with him doing vox, but I am not familiar with Devin solo...can anyone give me some background on his work?

Thanks!

 

[OdinsCourt]

That Vai album is great.

Solo, he is a mixture of heavy stuff like SYL and Fear Factory mixed with more ambient or groove oriented rock like Pink Floyd. His vocals are always very powerful and lush, and he goes from beautiful multi-part vocals to these brutal, emotional screams.

My two favorite albums by him are Ocean Machine and Terria. Both of those are pure genius, and worth the time to listen to and get familiar with.

 

[Snowy Owl]

Devin was also great on the Ayreon album The Human Equation...how he records 20-30 vocal tracks sometimes for his parts is insane

 

[OdinsCourt]

Yeah, that one song he is on made me buy the album. Didn't care for the rest of the album that much (Into the Electric Castle is just so much cooler)...

 

[Snowy Owl]

The Human Equation was a record that many Ayreon fans either loved or hated. Personally, I loved it. It could have been the theme that made people not like it, I mean, most of his fans wanted another Electric Castle or something like that.

Anyway, Devin's work with SYL is really cool. I only have City, but the album is full of humor and crazy singing, kind of like Faith No More or Mr. Bungle on steroids. I think "Room 429" is a cover. That song would be perfect for a horror flick.

 

[Snowy Owl]

What SYL albums do you recommend, because I have City and want to get more. They are so damn heavy

 

[Death Metal Cookie Monster]

Snowy, just buy all the SYL albums. The only one I dont' have is Alien.

 

[Death Metal Cookie Monster]

The Humane Equation is my favorite Ayreon album!! I hope the next big thing Arjen Lucassen does is another Star One album.

 

[Rick Pierpont]

The Humane Equation is my favorite Ayreon album!! I hope the next big thing Arjen Lucassen does is another Star One album.

The Star One DVD is pretty cool! Check it out if you haven't already.

 

[OdinsCourt]

City is a great album. I still prefer Devin solo though.

 

[Death Metal Cookie Monster]

The Star One DVD is pretty cool! Check it out if you haven't already.

Yeah, I have that one. It is good. Also have the live album from it. I basically consider myself a huge Arjen Lucassen geek.