At the end of a whirlwind year, Townsend began working on Strapping Young Lad's fourth album, Alien, in March 2004.

The album was ultimately entitled Synchestra, and was "basically a record about coming back down to earth after being in space with Alien for a while," according to Townsend.

Mike Young's bass recording, and the album's final mixing, took place at Hipposonic Studios in Vancouver.

[11] Bassist Mike Young and guitarist Brian Waddell share vocals on the bonus song "Sunshine and Happiness".

Because the album is considered a single piece, several tracks recall themes played earlier in the record; in addition, "Judgement" would later be referenced in "Polyphony" from SYL's The New Black.

Greg Prato of Allmusic praised the album's diversity and originality, remarking that "Townsend seems to be getting more musically daring with each subsequent release, unlike some other veteran rockers who start to play it safe as the years roll on.