[Strappado]

28

Artist: Project Synergy
Release: Kaleidoscope, 1998
Genre: Progressive Metal
Country: USA (Ayer, Massachusetts)
Bitrate: 320kbps
►Reuploaded Here
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Rip and share by utcheeow, thanks a lot!

Uploader Notes: Filling another request made by Danneq with this super-rare release.
Unfortunately there's no human drums and the whole thing sounds too "plastic" to my tastes,
but the songwriting and the guita-work is quite interesting. Enjoy!
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1. Pillars of Strength
2. Friend's Reunion
3. Kaleidoscope
4. Walpurgis Night
5. Borrowed Time
6. Passing Seconds
7. Young Lions
8. Triskaidekaphobia
9. King's Masquerade
10. It Haunts Me Still
11. Hate

[Danneq]

THANK YOU utcheeow and Strappado!

I have been looking for this one for over 1 year!

This place rocks!

Haven't heard the music, but the description seems interesting.

Apparently the band split and the guitarist/singer recorded the whole thing on his own. In 1992, when they were still a complete band, they recorded a demo called "3 to 1".

[Danneq]

Here the only review I can find:

"PROJECT SYNERGY / Kaleidoscope (Zipper Bunny/199?) (11tx/67’55”)

PROJECT SYNERGY started out in the Boston area around 1990. Tom Mitchell [guitar & vocals] & Jim Tedesco [drums] were the original members. Bassist Chris Zangari joined them in 1992, and in 1993 they recorded a 3-song demo. They planned to release a full CD in 1994. Personnel changes were however inevitable, leaving Tom as the only survivor. And instead of letting their material go to waste, Tom decided to release it all by himself, being the engineer, producer, guitarist, bassist as well as vocalist, and using Jim’s drumtracks.

I received this in early 1998, but I guess it could’ve been recorded anywhere in between 1994 & 1998. It doesn’t matter anyhow ... Over to the music, always the most important aspect of a band. PROJECT SYNERGY’s music is not extremely heavy, but it’s progressive instead. But not too progressive! Clearly influenced by the likes of DREAM THEATER & FATES WARNING, but not as longwinded as the former, nor as dull as the latter. It’s all rather original, especially when it comes to Tom’s vocals : very clear & expressive. Tom is also a schooled classical guitarist, and it shows; although the songs are rather long, ranging from 3’57” to 8’04”, they are very versatile, never a dull moment.

Like I said, not extremely heavy, but progressive to an extent, without overdoing things. Just the way I can still enjoy it. Although I have to admit that it took quite a few spins before I got the hang of it! Then again, the more you hear these songs, the more they grow on you.

Special mentions go to : Pillars Of Strength, King’s Masquerade & the WATCHTOWER influenced Triskaidekaphobia. And you get value for money too, almost 68 minutes!

I haven’t heard from Tom & PROJECT SYNERGY since & I couldn’t find a website, but do try this address : PROJECT SYNERGY / c/o Tom Mitchell / P.O. Box 544 / Lunenburg / MA 01462 / U.S.A.
(this review originally first appeared in DEN OF INIQUITY fanzine # 3, released in 06/2002) "

Source: http://users.telenet.be/denofiniquitybe/revcdp.htm


For those who speak German, here's a review of their 1992 demo.

[utcheeow]

Maybe it's because I've been a drummer for 12 years, but I really can't dig songs with drum-machines involved.
Despite that, the album got some very solid progressive moments and the songwriting is definitely worth a listening.
Strappado, u should fix the album title, which is Kaleidoscope :D

[Strappado]

Corrected :)

[Danneq]

Maybe it's because I've been a drummer for 12 years, but I really can't dig songs with drum-machines involved.
Despite that, the album got some very solid progressive moments and the songwriting is definitely worth a listening.
Strappado, u should fix the album title, which is Kaleidoscope :D

I understand where you're coming from. I have listened to it, and I like the music very much. Some of the artificial drum sounds make me cringe, though. Especially snare drum fills. And I am just a guitarist!
Since the music itself is so good, I'll have to try to avoid to focus on the drum sound...

If it had been recorded now, I am sure that the drum sound would have been a lot more natural.

[utcheeow]

Yeah, it's such a shame since the songwriting is brilliant!
I really would like a new, remastered version with a human drummer: could be an amazing album.

Glad you're enjoying it anyway, more to come =)

[Danneq]

Yeah, it's such a shame since the songwriting is brilliant!
I really would like a new, remastered version with a human drummer: could be an amazing album.

Glad you're enjoying it anyway, more to come =)

3 home runs so far, so just keep 'em coming! :-)

[Boring Oldfart]

Well, I'm not too hot about drummachines on recordings either (although they're an enormous help in songwriting), but I've heard worse than this one here. Also they really did a good job programming the drumtracks, not just basic beats but an elaborated peformance. Altogether it's really worthwhile listening to it.

[schmygel]

New link: Hidden Link

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• 8 likes this

[atomique]

The band name itself just attract me. I just wanted to test this band.