Devin Townsend

New album cover:



The guy is insane. Between 2009 and 2011, he released four studio albums, an 8-disc box set full of demos and unreleased tracks, plus a 9-disc live box set. And he's already completed a new album! Craziness.

Here is the intro track to Epicloud, called "Effervescent!"

I really like the cover. One thing you can say about Devin is that he's proficient.

Eyesore wrote:

The guy is insane. Between 2009 and 2011, he released four studio albums, an 8-disc box set full of demos and unreleased tracks, plus a 9-disc live box set. And he's already completed a new album! Craziness.

what's even crazier is there isn't a dud among any of them. everything he puts out is just amazing.

mc666 wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

The guy is insane. Between 2009 and 2011, he released four studio albums, an 8-disc box set full of demos and unreleased tracks, plus a 9-disc live box set. And he's already completed a new album! Craziness.

what's even crazier is there isn't a dud among any of them. everything he puts out is just amazing.

Exactly. Even his experimental stuff, like Devlab and Hummer, are really good. Not something you can toss on for a summer drive, but I listen to both Hummer and Devlab while writing all the time, and they're perfect for that sort of thing.

And his little one-off Project EKO thing was really cool, too. The guy is brilliant.

mc666 wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

The guy is insane. Between 2009 and 2011, he released four studio albums, an 8-disc box set full of demos and unreleased tracks, plus a 9-disc live box set. And he's already completed a new album! Craziness.

what's even crazier is there isn't a dud among any of them. everything he puts out is just amazing.

Yup, I don't even have to hear the music to his upcoming albums, I just purchase them knowing he'll deliver.

I have some holes in his full catalog, but I have enjoyed everything I've heard. Of course I will be picking this up at some point.

Eyesore wrote:

mc666 wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

The guy is insane. Between 2009 and 2011, he released four studio albums, an 8-disc box set full of demos and unreleased tracks, plus a 9-disc live box set. And he's already completed a new album! Craziness.

what's even crazier is there isn't a dud among any of them. everything he puts out is just amazing.

Exactly. Even his experimental stuff, like Devlab and Hummer, are really good. Not something you can toss on for a summer drive, but I listen to both Hummer and Devlab while writing all the time, and they're perfect for that sort of thing.

And his little one-off Project EKO thing was really cool, too. The guy is brilliant.

I've got to admit, I never quite got Hummer and Devlab. Just not quite my thing, to be honest. However, I always loved that Project EKO release - wish he'd done a bit more of that.

As for Epicloud, the teaser sounds like great fun. From everything I've read about the album, it just sounds like a direct follow up to Addicted, which can only be a good thing.

Smindas wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

mc666 wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

The guy is insane. Between 2009 and 2011, he released four studio albums, an 8-disc box set full of demos and unreleased tracks, plus a 9-disc live box set. And he's already completed a new album! Craziness.

what's even crazier is there isn't a dud among any of them. everything he puts out is just amazing.

Exactly. Even his experimental stuff, like Devlab and Hummer, are really good. Not something you can toss on for a summer drive, but I listen to both Hummer and Devlab while writing all the time, and they're perfect for that sort of thing.

And his little one-off Project EKO thing was really cool, too. The guy is brilliant.

I've got to admit, I never quite got Hummer and Devlab. Just not quite my thing, to be honest. However, I always loved that Project EKO release - wish he'd done a bit more of that.

As for Epicloud, the teaser sounds like great fun. From everything I've read about the album, it just sounds like a direct follow up to Addicted, which can only be a good thing.

Hummer and Devlab are distinctly mood albums. I will never listen to either album unless I'm writing or reading.

Good lord.



This is going to be amazing. Lots of chorus samples here—and they definitely are going for that "epic loud" vibe—so they tend to bleed into each a bit, but it still sounds amazing.

I can definitely hear a Ginger/Wildhearts influence, which I know Devin stated the album would have. Simple, catchy tunes. Of course, simple in Devin's world isn't really that at all, but for him, I guess it is.

Either way, this thing is going to rule my face!

Yep, really sounds like a spiritual successor to Addicted. Count me in!

What an absolute nutball. Haha.



For some background on why he did this, watch the first few minutes of this video, especially if you're interested in being in the official video—which I'm assuming is going to be way low-rent. Haha.

Anyway, this really reminds of the Infinity album. So cool. Serious Wildhearts influence, too.

Eyesore wrote:

What an absolute nutball. Haha.



For some background on why he did this, watch the first few minutes of this video, especially if you're interested in being in the official video—which I'm assuming is going to be way low-rent. Haha.

Anyway, this really reminds of the Infinity album. So cool. Serious Wildhearts influence, too.

It would be fun to get inside his head, totally off-the-wall and great.

Anyone else picked it up other than me? I think its great, its even catchier than Addicted. Possibly the best DTP album in my opinion.

Got in the post today, but haven't had a chance to spin it. Will be accompanying me on the way in to work tomorrow. Very excited to hear it.

Just picked it up from the post office today. I was bummed that I had to wait to hear it. I so wanted to buy it in Vegas, but I had already pre-ordered it.

I did listen to a number of the tracks on the bonus CD while running errands, and they were all great. Many were in a key of Ghost and Deconstruction, so I guess I understand why they weren't on the main album. But yeah, great stuff. "Quietus" was amazing.

And I also checked out the new version of "Kingdom." I've always loved Physicist and don't understand why Devin has an issue with that album, but this re-recording is bad-ass. Devin's vocals are insane! We all know he can sing, but that operatic voice he's using in the verses is the first time I think I've ever heard him really belt it out that way. Epic is a good word for it.

So yeah, looking forward to devouring this one soon. =)

Eyesore wrote:

Devin's vocals are insane! We all know he can sing, but that operatic voice he's using in the verses is the first time I think I've ever heard him really belt it out that way. Epic is a good word for it.

You took the words out of my mouth.

Yeah, that new version of 'Kingdom' is insane. He's been doing it like that live for the last few years, but those vocals are just brilliant. Glad he re-did it, as the vocals on the original (and really, most of Physicist) are awful.

Span Epicloud a couple of times today and, unsurprisingly, I think it's pretty great. Really nice mix of lots of different elements and yet, still sounding super cohesive. Also really glad Anneke's on it again - her voice at the beginning of 'True North' is beautiful.

The last released song from this album.



Pretty cool, relaxing tune. This was exclusive to the vinyl edition, and also apparently the Korean 2CD edition. Might have to see about getting that Korean version, if it can be had cheap.

Love this record! I'm pretty new to DTP so this and Addicted are the instant fall in love records (particularly Addicted which is an apt title in my case) Just getting into Deconstruction, Ghost and Ki now and they are really good, I just find myself wishing that Anneke was on them.

Boris2008 wrote:

Love this record! I'm pretty new to DTP so this and Addicted are the instant fall in love records (particularly Addicted which is an apt title in my case) Just getting into Deconstruction, Ghost and Ki now and they are really good, I just find myself wishing that Anneke was on them.

Don't ignore the Devin Townsend Band albums, nor his "solo" albums under just the Devin Townsend banner. Really, they're all solo albums as he's always written 99.9% of the music and such. And don't forget Strapping Young Lad!

Either way, you've got a lot of great music to discover, my friend!

Eyesore wrote:

mc666 wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

The guy is insane. Between 2009 and 2011, he released four studio albums, an 8-disc box set full of demos and unreleased tracks, plus a 9-disc live box set. And he's already completed a new album! Craziness.

what's even crazier is there isn't a dud among any of them. everything he puts out is just amazing.

Exactly. Even his experimental stuff, like Devlab and Hummer, are really good. Not something you can toss on for a summer drive, but I listen to both Hummer and Devlab while writing all the time, and they're perfect for that sort of thing.

And his little one-off Project EKO thing was really cool, too. The guy is brilliant.

Is the Devlab album similar to Hummer?

Eyesore wrote:

Don't ignore the Devin Townsend Band albums, nor his "solo" albums under just the Devin Townsend banner. Really, they're all solo albums as he's always written 99.9% of the music and such. And don't forget Strapping Young Lad!

Either way, you've got a lot of great music to discover, my friend!

I intend to check it all out (I'm pretty hooked)

nevermore wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

mc666 wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

The guy is insane. Between 2009 and 2011, he released four studio albums, an 8-disc box set full of demos and unreleased tracks, plus a 9-disc live box set. And he's already completed a new album! Craziness.

what's even crazier is there isn't a dud among any of them. everything he puts out is just amazing.

Exactly. Even his experimental stuff, like Devlab and Hummer, are really good. Not something you can toss on for a summer drive, but I listen to both Hummer and Devlab while writing all the time, and they're perfect for that sort of thing.

And his little one-off Project EKO thing was really cool, too. The guy is brilliant.

Is the Devlab album similar to Hummer?

Yes. Sort of. Both are obviously ambient/atmospheric kind of albums, but The Hummer works on lower frequencies. Devlab has a lot more going on, with samples and odd recordings and stuff.

If you dig The Hummer, though, you'll dig Devlab.

For noobs, those are the two albums to be wary of. They're NOTHING like his normal output. These are albums you listen to with headphones, while reading or writing or just zoning out.

Eyesore wrote:

For noobs, those are the two albums to be wary of. They're NOTHING like his normal output. These are albums you listen to with headphones, while reading or writing or just zoning out.

perfect for sparking up a fatty.

mc666 wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

For noobs, those are the two albums to be wary of. They're NOTHING like his normal output. These are albums you listen to with headphones, while reading or writing or just zoning out.

perfect for sparking up a fatty.

Or that.