SYNOPSIS (BEST OF)

I bought this album when already having been well introduced to Saviour Machine, because it has pretty much the best songs from their first two albums (and because I got it so cheap). Synopsis is a good compilation, in a sense that it has many memorable tracks, such as classics Carnival of Souls, American Babylon, Behold a Pale Horse (which is featured as an interesting piano version) and Legend I:I/The Lamb (an absolutely stunning song, I still get goosebumps on every listen). Soundwise, Saviour Machine is an orchestral gothic rock band with many progressive elements, and they are very good and competent in what they do. The baritone singer Eric Clayton is one reason that really makes the band stand out. This album feature mainly songs from Saviour Machine I&II, where the orchestral elements were more in a sleeping stage and the emphasis was on energetic expression, only a couple of songs from the phenomenal Legend series. As for those, I highly suggest getting the actual albums (there is three of them, Legend III:II being still in the works and it's somewhat questionable if it will ever be properly released). Only downsides on this release are two tracks which I'm not really into and find boring (Ludicrous Smiles and Ascension of Heroes). I would probably have chosen Jesus Christ and Enter the Idol instead. So, four stars quite clearly, a really good way for getting into the band if you don't know them.