Devin Townsend Albums (9)
What The Critics Say
Devin Townsend's maniacal/wacky tendencies duel with his instinct for skull-crushing heaviness on Addicted, the second in a planned trilogy of albums he's put together since retiring his ultimate metal band, Strapping Young Lad, a few years back. Anneke van Giersbergen, formerly of the Gathering, is Townsend's vocal partner throughout much of the album, creating a Lacuna Coil-esque effect as he roars and she croons and the guitar riffs ride almost disco/techno rhythms. "Bend It Like Bender" is a particularly weird blend of metal and Hi-NRG, something Rammstein might come up with after a weekend of carousing in Berlin's most flamboyant discos. Other tracks, like "Supercrush" and the mostly acoustic "Ih-Ah," offer a kind of anthemic pop crunch that could rocket up the charts in an alternate universe. When he's not screaming his lungs out, Townsend is a hell of a singer, and his voice intertwines with van Giersbergen's in a very European way -- many of Addicted's songs have the feel of a metallic Ace of Base, and that's not actually a bad thing. But then there's a song like "Numbered" or the nearly ten-minute album closer, "Awake," to smash the listener's skull to powder all over again. ~ Phil Freeman, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Devin Townsend is one nutty gentleman -- as it's almost impossible to predict what his next stylistic move will be throughout his long and winding career. But no one -- not even his most hardcore worshippers -- could have predicted the approach he has taken on his first release of 2009, Ki. Equal parts restrained, melodic, and tranquil, this release is a sharp contrast to the wackoid metal of his Strapping Young Lad days -- as evidenced by such tracks as "Coast," "Heaven Send," and "Winter." Supposedly, Ki is the first of a four-part series of recordings that Townsend plans on issuing in 2009, with the next one returning to his metal roots -- with Ki serving as a "palate cleanser" of sorts for what's upcoming. While it's not the most gripping or groundbreaking album he has ever been a part of, Ki proves once and for all that Townsend is willing to take on any musical detour that feels right at the time. And with most rock acts wallowing in the quagmire of predictability (probably now more than ever), a fearless chap like Townsend is sorely needed. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
'Ziltoid the Omniscient'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 11
Label Inside Out
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Ziltoid the Omniscient is a rock opera about Ziltoid, an alien who approaches Earth and asks for the planet's "ultimate cup of coffee." Finding it "fetid," he attacks. However, the narrative isn't highly evolved. The humans escape his clutches, Ziltoid suffers a number of setbacks (and resulting existential crises), and the end implies that it was all just a dream. But while Devin Townsend won't win any screenwriting awards, his production and songwriting are peerless. Like his other projects, including metal band Strapping Young Lad, this record carries Townsend's signatures -- bright melodies, heavy guitars, complex composition, clear production, and tongue-in-cheek grandeur. Townsend's work is consistently excellent, but here he fully taps his mad genius for an incredibly compelling experience. On this solo effort, he's responsible for all instruments, a fearsome array of singing voices, and programming "the Drumkit from Hell," a software drum set used on Meshuggah's Catch Thirty-Three. "By Your Command" recasts Pink Floyd as technical death metal; it's an eight-minute behemoth that morphs from pulverizing metal to rich vocal harmonies and luscious arpeggios, interspersed with cinematic dialogue. With its sonorous singing and poppy chords, "Hyperdrive" could be a radio hit on Mars. "Solar Winds" grows from a heavy crawl into a thermonuclear storm of thundering riffs and cascading melodies. The nearly ten-minute "Color Your World" features Townsend's most endearing trademark -- setting up a bed of punishing metal, then pulling the rug out to reveal beautiful, classically influenced arpeggios. This is music as Technicolor, vividly exploding from the mind of modern metal's Frank Zappa. ~ Cosmo Lee, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Although the two aren't musically alike, Neil Young and Devin Townsend follow a similar approach to making music. Young uses his hard-rocking band Crazy Horse to recharge his batteries, so that he can go off and pursue other musical areas of interest as a solo artist. And Townsend has the same setup -- returning time and time again back to "the band thing" (heavy metallists Strapping Young Lad) before tackling other styles as a solo artist. While Townsend's 2006 solo outing Synchestra does let quite a few headbanging elements slip through the metal detectors, Townsend's quirkiness continues to bubble to the surface throughout. Since Townsend first broke on the scene as a member of Steve Vai's band (1993's Sex & Religion), it's understandable that a few obviously Vai-ish bits should be detected, such as the track "Babysong." But Townsend is certainly not a one-trick pony, as evidenced by the Faith No More-ish instrumental "Vampolka" and a quartet of prog metal epics stacked side by side: "Gaia," "Pixillate," "Judgement," and "A Simple Lullaby." As evidenced by Synchestra, 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. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
'Accelerated Evolution'
Release Date 4/1/2003
Tracks 9
Label Inside Out Music
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
When Nirvana and Pearl Jam exploded commercially in the early '90s, there was a real "out with the old, in with the new" attitude in the rock world -- out with pop-metal, hair metal, fantasy metal and '80s-style arena rock -- and in with all things alternative. Some '80s favorites were still considered modern and cutting-edge after that Nirvana/Pearl Jam upheaval -- Metallica, for example -- although many '80s bands suddenly found themselves being described as dated or old-school. Nonetheless, some alt rock albums have longed for that hooky, shiny, big-sounding '80s pop-metal/arena rock gloss; Hole's Celebrity Skin (1999) and Veruca Salt's Eight Arms to Hold You (1997) were alt rock treasures that, in their own way, seemed to be saying, "Hey, let's not forget everything the '70s and '80s stood for." And similarly, singer/guitarist Devin Townsend's Accelerated Evolution is an alt rock disc that successfully draws on different eras. This album isn't flat-out retro; the Canadian rocker provides enough downtuned guitars to put this CD in the alt rock category. And yet Accelerated Evolution has a big sound that suggests the pop-metal, arena rock and hard rock of the '70s and '80s -- big melodies, big harmonies, big guitars, big vocals, big production. Yes, Townsend provides downtuned guitar and chugging guitar, but he also provides a lot of gloss and brightness -- the sort of gloss and brightness that '70s and '80s arena rockers brought to the studio. Another thing about Townsend that recalls those decades is his sense of pop/rock craftsmanship; Accelerated Evolution is extremely listenable. The fact that Townsend's credits includes Steve Vai and Front Line Assembly tells you how far-reaching and eclectic he is, and it also explains how he manages to make a blend of '70s/'80s arena rock/pop-metal and '90s/2000s alt rock sound so logical and coherent on this excellent CD. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
