THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND: SYNCHESTRA

I personally regard this as DT's best album as of 2018. The beginning is out of dream: a lush acoustic number filled with joy and motivation to create and invent. The second track is an instrumental extravaganza: keyboard solo here and there with acoustic and electric music streams taking control. "Triumph" is so far the most conventional song returning to the typical soundscape changing to a progressive instrumental intermezzo just to stretch out a bit before a calmer "Babysong" with fascinating atmospheric progression. "Vampira" reminds more of extreme metal songs with death, hardcore and thrash metal thrown in that will please all headbangers. "Gaia" mixes alternative rock/metal and progressive metal elements. Another yet unheard stylistic shift is the oriental influenced "Pixillate" - far away from anything done by Orphaned land as the influence is subtle but interesting to follow. "Judgement" and "A simple lullaby" are effective heavy slow-paced numbers equally accessible. "Sunset" features more adventureous rhythm section and serves as prelude to another extended piece "Notes from Africa" that has however more to do with hardcore than anything African in the beginning. The second part of the song is marred by ambient nature sounds just to jump into a southern two-minute rock'n'roll number.

This album shows the great natural singing and compositional talent of DT coupled by clever mixing various styles together. It may take some time to digest but it's well worth the effort.