Metal Reviews

You need to start with Ocean Machine or Infinity. Keep in mind, Devin Townsend is like no other music artist. Don't listen to him thinking he is going to sound like your favorite band, b/c he won't. He is one of a kind.

Yea, you guys definitely talked this album up way too much. Not that this album isn't good, but it's definitely not the album I've heard it described as. A lot of the songs are good, but a few sound like they're there 'cause they're different, not 'cause they're necessarily any good.

Cookoo. Cookoo.

What is your favorite album he has done?

I have been indifferent towards each album he has released. At some parts I'm lost in the brilliance, and as for the rest, I couldn't be bothered with.

Example on Synchestra:

Brilliant - Gaia

Has no place on any album - Vampolka

I think "Vampolka" is excellent. It's something you wouldn't expect at all, just like the hoe down country jam in the middle of "Triumph." THAT is what makes something great. The unexpected. I would expect Finntroll to do something like "Vampolka" not Devin Townsend, thus I'm very pleased with it.

I'm not sure I like that part of Triumph... It'll probably grow on me though =p

I've heard far better instances of "unexpected" than Vampolka. To me, it simply sounds like it was thrown in for the sake of being thrown in. Doesn't even sound like it took that long to come up with either.

The idea of something unexpected is great and all, but I think that it wasn't done well, and therefore ruins the flow of an otherwise powerfully solid album.

Different strokes for different folks, as I do not intend to insult your opinion of the album.

Devin said:

Vampolka - a polka prelude to Vampira to essentially lighten the mood after the baby song and set the stage for the transition song on the record, Vampira.

I think it works, I like it. It's far too short to mess with the flow of the album.