CYNTHESIS

When the Tipton twins, Jasun and Troy, of Zero Hour fame, joined forces with said band's pre-Chris Salinas vocalist, Erik Rosvold, in 2011 for a brand new project, Cynthesis, the album they unleashed that year, 'DeEvolution', was promised to be the first in a conceptual trilogy. Two years on and we have the second, 'ReEvolution', which also sees Enchant sticksman Sean Flanegan back behind the kit. On the surface, it's more of the same - atmospherically-driven prog-rock soundscapes interposed with sporadic bursts of tech-metal idioms that showcase the Tiptons' virtuosic prowess. However, while 'DeEvolution' was ever so slightly fragmented in its stilted contraposition of virtuoso widdling and the more predominant mellow passages, they seem to have struck a much better balance and seamless blend this time around where nothing feels misplaced. Just about everything seems pertinent within the song structures and their overall arrangements. As such, as good as 'DeEvolution' was, 'ReEvolution' makes for a more lucid listening experience as there's less attention drawn towards the widdle; rather, the moments of technical playing are part of the songs' natural flow and the album's overall affect. And that affect is one full of emotional profundity through some finely crafted and executed compositions with sonically dreamy moments throughout on a record where, on each listen, I find myself succumbing to its captivating charms. This is aided by another winning vocal performance from Rosvold. The emotional depth in that man's voice is staggering and, when paired with the music, there's a genuine feeling that a story's being told as each track progresses. This is refined prog-metal drama at its best, and without resorting to melodramatic histrionics. Once again, the members of Cynthesis give songs' motifs the time and space to breathe and develop naturally so there's a generally laid-back vibe to proceedings albeit, as I've already said, an emotionally-charged one. Overall, stunning stuff, and I can't wait for the third instalment!

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Sensory

Album

REEVOLUTION

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

43:12

RELEASE DATE:

24th June 2013

TRACK LISTING

1) Divine Night
2) Convergence
3) The Grand Facade
4) A Most Trivial Pursuit
5) Persistance of Visions
6) The Noble Lie
7) Release the Deity

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

"...prog-metal drama at its best, and without resorting to melodramatic histrionics."