Review Summary: One step forward, two steps back.
Syncatto is the side project of Charlie Robbins, the guitarist from Artificial Language. Lately, his knack for melody has really stood out to me, and he’s definitely one of the most creative guitarists in the instrumental progressive scene right now. His music blends a smooth flamenco vibe with modern djent elements, plus a sprinkle of Polyphia influence. His latest work, "Fiction," is a fantastic listen. Charlie has really honed his skills since his earlier EPs, and his songwriting has been improving quite a bit. His previous album, "A Place to Breathe," was my top pick of that year, and "Fiction" takes a different direction from that one.
The songwriting on "Fiction" is impressive throughout; "Nightfall" has some super smooth guitar licks that are hard to resist, and the chorus riff is top-notch for a modern progressive track. It has a percussive feel that reminds me of the "thump" technique used by Animals as Leaders. It’s awesome that Charlie is making these techniques more accessible while keeping the song structure coherent. Most tracks have catchy chorus riffs, and one of my favorites, "Just Breathe," features a simple, bouncy riff that brings to mind a lovely day at the beach. "Afterglow" has another catchy Latin-style riff that’s just infectious, and the piano in the background adds a playful touch.
However, I have to say that "Fiction" lacks the ambition found in Charlie's previous album, which had more adventurous song structures. In "Fiction," it feels like he’s simplified things a bit, which can make the formula feel a bit repetitive by the end. Many songs in "Fiction" seem to revolve around one main riff, with everything else built around it. It almost feels like a mock up collection of riff ideas. It does feel like a bit of a regression from his last album. His previous had a lot more different instruments coming in which really added a lot to the experience. Some would feature violin, cello, and more, it's just a bit more barebones this time around, which is a bit disappointing. While "Fiction" does include a total of three guest features, non of them are able to match the utterly brilliant inclusions in his previous, they're just too brief to make any significant impression.
Still, "Fiction" isn't a bad album, and definitely one of the best instrumental prog albums to come out this year. The craftsmanship here is a lot more coherently written than his previous, and it's an easier album to just jump in and enjoy. He's definitely able to go toe to toe with the juggernauts of the genre, incorporating a style that's extremely unique, a wonderful approach to melody, along with a flawless mixing job that really elevates the experience.
