We really should take a moment to appreciate Devin Townsend's sheer relentlessness. Since reactivating in 2009 from the ashes of Strapping Young Lad, this unsung musical hero has released 10 discs of studio material, three elaborate box-sets and a boatload of random goodies, including flip-flops and foldable frisbees. Basically, Hevy Devy has been ploughing forward full speed for five years now, resulting in the culmination of the journey: 'Z²'.
Townsend's latest effort is a double disc behemoth, clocking in at just shy of two hours, and 'Z²' showcases many sides to the finest Canadian export since Terrance and Phillip.
'Sky Blue', the first album, accepts the torch from 'Epicloud', albeit in a more subtle, melancholy manner. The operatic drive of Fallout and Universal Flame's gritty screamed section could stand toe-to-toe with Kingdom or Save Our Now, but most of the songs presented here are more morose in nature.
Rain City's morbid tranquillity possesses an ambience similar to Townsend's 'Terria' album while The Ones Who Love closes 'Sky Blue' with funereal minimalism, relying mainly on the Universal Choir – 2000 Townsend fans packed into one soundbite – to carry it home.
'Sky Blue' is a multi-faceted, textured experience, whether you're listening to the gorgeous, almost radio-friendly synth layers of the title track or the industrial-tinged Silent Militia (Dev-step?). It requires multiple listens to fully soak up its eccentricities and nuances.
That is less true of side two, 'Dark Matters'. A sequel to 2007's 'Ziltoid The Omniscient', here we find our favourite booby-loving, coffee-seeking extraterrestrial inhabiting Earth as a celebrity. It's a tale of insane proportions, nicking every sci-fi trope in existence and throwing it into a giant cafetiere. There are also many, many farts.
Despite being billed as a solo mission, 'Dark Matters' benefits greatly from the talents of its band. Ryan Van Poederooyen's savage skin-smashing skills lend a touch of 'The New Black' to Townsend’s gristly howls on the verses of Ziltoid Goes Home, while Anneke van Giersbergen's luscious croon peppers From Sleep Awake.
'Dark Matters' is, without question, completely mental. The militaristic March Of The Poozers is the most epic piece Townsend has ever penned, the hammy narration is second-to-none and there's no end of quotable lines. While packing less depth than 'Sky Blue', it delivers fun and an unbridled lack of self-consciousness, making 'Z²' one of Townsend's most accomplished, deliriously juxtaposed works to date. Prepare yourself, human.
Devin Townsend Project Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun March 29 2015 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Mon March 30 2015 - GLASGOW O2 ABC
Tue March 31 2015 - MANCHESTER Academy
Mon April 13 2015 - LONDON Royal Albert Hall
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