Metal Reviews

I cannot wait for Devin's new album! Man, it's going to be mindblowing!

DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen has posted the following message on his official web site:

"First of all, I'll update you all on the new DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND record. I have now had the final copy of the album for the past 4-5 days. I've probably listened to the full album about 15-20 times in the time that I've had a copy. What I'm about to say is 100% MY OPINION!

"I'll try to keep it short.....

"The brand new DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND album, titled 'Synchestra', is hands down the best DEVIN TOWNSEND solo album that I think he has ever done. I would go as far as to say that this is probably one of Dev's best albums EVER! Musically, this album is way more progressive than 'Accelerated Evolution' and probably one of the most progressive album's in Dev's solo collection. Everything, including the artwork (designed by Geoffrey Rousselot), for the CD is amazing and top-notch. Hearing Steve Vai play what he played on the song 'Triumph' is stunning as well and it also shows why he is one of the best guitar players on the planet today. It was an honour to hear Mr. Vai play on this album, I'm glad that Dev asked him.

"As for my description of the album, here we go:

"This album is truly as epic as it gets for Dev's solo stuff. It has uplifting moments, dark moments, intense moments, even humourous moments. You gotta have fun too, right? The overall vibe when you listen to this album isn't just epic but it can be very overwhelming. The most important advice I can give to any of you DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND fans out there, is when you get this album, listen to it from start to finish, you have to.

"'Synchestra' is a 65-minute musical story or journey that you get sucked right into. Every time I listen to 'Synchestra' I'm in awe of the album and wonder what the hell just happened to me, it gives you such a gratifying feeling, I have a good feeling you'll all feel the same way.

"This is hands down one of my all time favourite albums EVER! It was truly an honour to be part of this album. Dev is a genius and Dave, Brian and Mike are the perfect guys for the DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND, you'll hear why soon. It's an honour to be playing with such talented musicians and awesome friends. Again, this write-up is just my opinion but I stand 150% behind every word I just wrote and I'm not going back! Early 2006, 'Synchestra' is coming.

What little I heard off it sounds very, very promising indeed.

I can't wait. Holy shit, I can't WAAAAIIIT!!!!

I'm pleading with Tracy for a sample clip soon! =) There's also a rumor that they recorded a new version of Ocean Machines, the unreleased song from the first Ass-Sordid CD, but they left it off Synchestra because it didn't sound right on the album. No word on what the song actually is, but they have said that a song "we would all know" was recorded.

I know "Notes From Africa" was actually written for Terria, but Devin never finished it. Apparently it's been reworked and this isn't the song they're referring to as we've actually never heard it. A new version of "Ocean Machines" would be awesome!

Best album of 2006?

With new Blind Guardian and Symphony X coming next year, there is no way this is gonna take my number one spot for '06.

Actually, I think it might surpass both of those bands. I'm kind of stand offish about the new Blind Guardian, seeing as how Stauch pretty much left the band b/c of it.

As much as I'm gonna miss THomen on the drums, I think Fredrick Ehmke is gonna do just fine. ANATO is a great album and if they decide to continue with that sound, thats great, and if they go with more of an Imaginations from the Other Side sound, that's great too. As for Symphony X, I love all their material, and am still on a high from seeing them on Gigantour this past August at Jones Beach, Long Island. Easily the best band of the nite. Megadeth didnt seem into it that nite, and the best part of Dream Theater for me was seeing Richard Christy share a drum kit with Mike Portnoy.

On another note, I am looking forward to hearing the new Devin Townsend album, I think its gonna be a killer. WIth me the only problem it has is that some of my favorite bands are releasing material next year including of course BLind Guardian and Symphony X, and Iron Maiden might be able to get their new material out before the end of the year aswell.

Devin has been one of the most honest musicians I've ever heard when it comes to his music. He doesn't play games. He puts everything he is capable of into the music at that time, and when he's happy with it he says so, when he's not he says so, too. He doesn't like how Physicist sounds and he's always been open about it. The man adapts to whatever headspace he's in, that's why he'll never do another Infinity-like album, unless he goes crazy again!

So, if Devin says it's epic and it's amazing, then I believe him.

Agreed 100%.


The man was put on this Earth to write and play music. He is one of the hardest working musicians.

Ryan is mean making me want the album more than I already do ><

Yeah...and knowing that the prick has a copy of the CD himself makes it worse! Hahaha! Anyone know where the bastard lives?

Vancouver! That's close to me!

I'm going iN!

NO ONE gets killed unless completely necessary!

Looks like Geoff did a killer job on the artwork, reminds me of Terria.



Tracy says, "It's awesome... I would disagree with Devin on the OM mixed with Terria comparrisson. I think it's more Infinity and Terria. I think it's more epic than AE, best heard as a whole rather than broken up. It's really hard to describe or review. It's softer than may be expected but brilliant. 'Triumph' and 'Gaia' are standouts. And 'Sunhine and Happiness' though Devin would probably prefer not (it's the hidden track)."

I CANNOT wait!!

I bet it'll be rubbish. You wait, they'll be rapping or something.

Speaking of DTB in general, I have 'Accelerated Evolution', anything to avoid or is all his back catalogue worthy of purchase?

Everything is awesome! I'll give a more detailed description of each a bit later, I'm off to work now.

You know what, bro? Just sample everything for yourself, to describe what he's done is hard. But here's a little something, I guess:


PHYSICIST
If you want heavy, go with Physicist. It's like diet Strapping Young Lad, a killer CD. MP3: NAMASTE

INFINITY
If you want crazy-weird (for the most part), go with Infinity (plus the Christeen EP with the 4 demos that are 100 times better than most bands' final products). MP3: CHRISTEEN

TERRIA
Accelerated Evolution, which you have, is similar to Terria, but more straightforward where Terria is more expansive and open, more epic. MP3: CANADA

OCEAN MACHINE
Ocean Machine is where it all began. It's just a killer metal/rock album. It's similar to Terria, but not as epic. Very emotional. MP3: LIFE

ASS-SORDID I & II
The Ass-Sordid I and II CDs are basically b-sides, unreleased shit and old school demos. Some really kick ass shit on these albums. There also some not-so-cool material, but it's still cool hearing Devin at 17 years old, which is precisely the point of including those early songs. (Website only release)

PUNKY BRUSTER
Punky Bruster is a punk CD, written and record in one week for $1500. It tells the tale of a death metal band, Cryptic Coroner, selling out and going punk. It's hilarious! And it kicks the shit out of most punk bands out there and this guy wrote everything in ONE FUCKING WEEK!! MP3: FAKE PUNK

PROJECT EKO
Project EKO came with the 2 CD version of Accelerated Evolution. It's a 3 song ambient metal CD, not much metal I guess, but that's what it's called. Musically it's like what Arjen Anthony Lucassen did with Ambeon, but only the quieter moments. Good shit.

DEVLAB
The Devlab CD is 15 untitled songs of ambient weirdness. Not much singing, a lot of whispering and humming. Great background music to study or touch your lady friend to. (Website only release)

HUMMER
Hummer is coming out before Synchestra and is supposed to be similar to Devlab, but more of an experiment in low frequencies. It'll be another website only release, just Devin doing something weird and letting the fans have a chance to hear it.

And I'm assuming you've heard SYL? Anyway, everything Devin has done is quality. He's the King Midas of the music world!

Hmmm...not a fan of his.

because you only like thrash and iron maiden.