Although DGM may be in competition for the worst band name ever, their rise to one of Europe’s best progressive metal bands has taken time. Synthesis looks at DGM’s 15 year journey taking songs from the whole of the bands discography as well as two never heard before stellar power metal anthems. Not only giving the fan a ten track best of album, Synthesis also comes with DGM’s Live in Rome DVD, which depicts DGM’s awesome live show. This is the ultimate gift to all fans of epic metal, and a great entry point to those who have never heard the awesomeness of DGM (Who the hell are you?).

CD 1 [8/10] is the best part of this progressive metal bundle. Comprising of eight tracks from DGM’s back catalogue, Synthesis is full of the fast, the slow, the heavy, the melodic and shows just how diverse a band can be. With hits like ‘Just like Before’, ‘A Day without the Sun’ and ‘Dreamland’, the classic sound of DGM has just been revived with a fresh lick of paint, but never the less compromised with these re-mastered songs. The two new songs on the other hand are a bit mediocre compared to previous releases, and although the guitar lines on ‘Through my Tears’ and ‘Is Hell without Love’ will blow your mind, the rest of the song doesn’t make an impact at all.

DVD 1 [6/10] has one main problem with it. In between the live in Rome set, you have snippets of video and pictures from the tour diary, which although would have been good as a separate feature, somewhat disrupt the flow of the show. The person wants to watch and enjoy a full DGM set crammed full of hits like ‘Heartache’, ‘No Looking Back’ and ‘Some Day, One Day’ not how to set up the stage.

Ten songs is not a lot for a ‘best of’ CD, and you do kind of this you are being deprived with Synthesis as there are so many more songs you could jam in their to make it a best of DGM album. It’s over so quickly and after the air guitar playing has stopped and the after the attempt at high pitched vocals wears thin, you will be begging for more and when songs like ‘I’ll Dream of You’ and ‘Hidden Place’ don’t come on, you will be left on a bit of a down after the ten amazing tracks beforehand.

If you have the chance to see DGM with Symphony X this fall, definitely check them out because, the musicianship and emotion they put into all their songs is magical to behold, and Synthesis is the perfect way to show DGM’s love for the music!