Back To The Start; Devin Townsend’s 10 Greatest Albums

Synchestra (2006)

Source // bandstores.co.uk

At age sixteen, Townsend had composed elements of the song “Triumph” from 2006’s Synchestra while labouring in a metal fabrication factory. Who knew that years later Steve Vai would be putting down a guitar solo on it! Indeed, who would have guessed that Vai and Townsend’s respect for one another would have survived the holocaust of Sex and Religion?

But, evidently it did.

Recorded concurrently with Strapping Young Lad’s Alien, Synchestra is far more proggy than its predecessor – Accelerated Evolution – pushing the musical envelope on the waltz-timed “Babysong” and the split personality of “Hypergeek”. If you were still in any doubt as to the man’s supreme vocal ability, just behold the ease with which he switches from Mike Patton-esque croon, to falsetto, to flat out scream on “Vampira”. Astonishing.