On disc: Devin Townsend

 
 Terria
 
- Hitomi Iwai -
 
 


 
 Devin Townsend presents:
Ziltoid The Omniscient
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Epicloud
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Epicloud

(Inside Out Music - 2012)



 
 

 

Devin Townsend is a workaholic and so he just has a new album out - Epicloud. I admit that I haven't followed his career closely and the 4 album concept was a bit too much for me, but now it's time to listen to Epicloud. Once again he invited Dutch singer Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering) to join him.



The album kicks off with Effervescent!, an intro which just offers vocals... a huge choir. Then they head into True North, an uplifting tune with heavy drums, lots of keys, a choir and the vocals of Devin Townsend himself and Anneke van Giersbergen. It's an epic, loud track which melts together different elements... genres. Lucky Animals? shows the dramatic side of DTP, it's like it's taken from a rockical... Somehow it feels like Mr. Townsend picks up inspiration from his back catalogue and develop something new from it... Liberation might shows the pop appeal best, the song structure is very commercial and with Epicloud the Canadian might get attention not just from metal fans... Where We Belong reminds me a bit of some Neal Morse stuff at certain parts, it's a sonic roller coaster ride. It's always a pleasure to hear Anneke van Giersbergen and so Save Our Now? is one of the highlights of Epicloud as she ennobles the tune with her great voice. Kingdom (of Physicist album) fans of Hevy Devy will know, but this is a new version and will please his following. The following Divine is a kind of singer / songwriter tune, but a bit more bombastic than the usual singer / songwriter stuff. At Grace? Anneke's vocals are more up-front, but again it's a roller coaster ride with soft passages and heavy parts. More heavy stuff you get with More!, but again he gives it this rockical edge... The guitar-based track Lessons is more an interlude than a song, it gives the listener a break before Hold On kicks off. Hold On starts slowly, but then speeds up and becomes heavier. And they continue this journey with the closer Angel.



It's no easy listening stuff! Metal fans who never listen to anything else will be disappointed, but fans of Devin Townsend (Project) will know his experimental side and if you are familiar with his work than Epicloud won't surprise you!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Devin Townsend presents:
Ziltoid The Omniscient

(InsideOut Music - 2007)



 
 

 

Canadian Devin Townsend going solo - without a band or even engineer / producer! Mr. Townsend also announced that he don't want to tour anymore and so it seems to me that we get more weird, innovative stuff from Hevy Devy. Actually he wanted to slow down a bit, but he's a workoholic and so we can expect more from the Canadian in future.



The story about Ziltoid is quite funny, a bit like a musical version of some old B-movie... A short round up of the story I found on Wikipedia [and much better then I could have done! ;) ]: The story begins with Ziltoid arriving at Planet Earth and demanding their ultimate cup of coffee (ZTO). When he is disappointed by the cup they give him, he attacks Earth with his army and his secret weapon the Planet Smasher in an attempt to wipe out humanity (By Your Command and Ziltoidia Attaxx!!!). Captain Spectacular of the humans devises a plan to escape by exposing Ziltoid as a nerd and then jumping into hyperdrive towards N9 (Solar Winds and Hyperdrive). Ziltoid follows and summons the 6th dimensional Planet Smasher in an attempt for victory once and for all (N9 and Planet Smasher). The 6th dimensional Planet Smasher rejects Ziltoid so he visits the Omni­dimensional Creator to find out the true nature of his reality (Omni­dimensional Creator), and he sees his whole life before him. Finally he is told that he is only a mere puppet in a show (Color Your World and The Greys). The album ends on the bombshell that this is all a daydream being had by someone working in a coffee shop who is awoken by his boss and given the customers' orders including a Tall Latte (Tall Latte).



What you can expect musically? Well, there are parts which fit Strapping Young Lad's sound... other parts are closer to Terria... and to all this add some musical-like passages. Opening up with Zto you hear spheric sounds, heavy bass and guitars and a choir... Then Ziltoid talks to you! The music has heavy, but melodic parts, as well as more brutal and mean parts Devin's vocals switch from sweet, almost cheesy parts to mean, nasty shouts... growls. Hevy Devy is using a drum computer on this one, and it's okay, coz in this weird soundscapes it doesn't matter. A good way to get an idea is Ziltoidia Attaxx!!! Totally different starts Solar Winds which is starting slow and melodic... A bit melancholy. When the choir joins in Captain Spectacular seems to become more confident and it gets a bit heavier. A long track, but only shows one side of the sounds you find on this CD! What makes this album special is the combination of sounds... the contrast between heavy riffs, spheric sounds and vocals - like on Hyperdrive which has vocally a bit of Pink Floyd and the Beach Boys. Sounds weird? It is and it's fascinating!



A few video clips with Ziltoid are planned... What about a movie? In the style of the 50's B-movies? Or like the animated film Heavy Metal? It would be perfect fun! Can someone convince Devin to do it?!



I confess, I'm a caffeine junkie and so I can absolutely understand the search for a perfect coffee! This album is fun! Get yourself some coffee, sit down and listen!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Terria

(HevyDevy - 2001)



 
 

 

Nobody doubts Canadian Devin Townsend is counted as one of the super-busy metal artists. He has never stopped his creativity, and he has keep working, working and working. His today's chaotic music was created by not only what he has glow in his head through his previous career in a few of various music style bands but also his non-stop working attitude. So far, he has released 3 solo albums besides his bands Strapping Young Lad and Punky Brüster. And he has exposed us his colorful music styles from aggressive metal, progressive metal to his own interpretation on melodic hardcore whenever he released albums. And finally, on his new solo CD Terria, he was back again and shows us his new talented work.



As comparing to his previous solo CD's, Biomech (released under the name of Ocean Machine in '97.) maybe be the closest CD to Terria; in point of mostly based in the slow-tempo and digging nature issues. And both albums have progressive rock approach as well. So, I personally think Terria is Biomech's follow-up. But of course this genius doesn't remain completely the same way in songwriting. Terria is heavier than Biomech, and it is painted by much more colors in songwriting. From intro Olives to the second track Mountain, these tracks are just like Devin-meets-gothic metal. Track #3 Earth Day keeps the excellent balance of sharpness/aggression and atmospheric slow-parts. In the middle part of Deep Peace, classical-music-inspired beautiful and melancholic guitar solo flows into your heart. Canada reminds me of the grunge music such as Pearl Jam (blame me, if you want), but his trademark on production - lots of dubbed background music/vocals express Devin's own world indeed. In the track The Fluke coming after the instrumental one Down And Under, Rock'n'Roll style guitar-riffs and patterns are in the vein of The Wildhearts (Devin has played in this rock group as the tour guitarist for a short term.). This song is the powerful one. On the other hand Nobody's Here and Tiny Tears stand on the opposite field - they go towards progressive rock approach for instance what Pink Floyd play. I guess non-metal listeners will even dig Stagnant, if it is aired on the radio without mentioning it was written by one metal artist... In other words, this song sounds quite catchy. Please take a note that I used a word 'catchy' in the positive meaning. To me, it's rather a hard rock-oriented power ballad to the metal one. There's a secret track recorded as the last song... Ah? My comment on this? At least I could say, it's Devin. ;)!!!

 
 










Hitomi Iwai


  
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