Devin Townsend Project - Ziltoid 2 (2014)

Sixteen years into a recording career that began with an appearance on Steve Vai’s 1993 album Sex and Religion, the Vancouver-born, eccentric, prolific metal performer and producer Devin Townsend revealed details of The Devin Townsend Project.

Following the brief hiatus that came after his 2007 rock opera, Ziltoid the Omniscient, a newly shaven-headed and teetotaling Townsend announced an intended four-album sequence under this moniker, with the primary goal being that he wanted to make music without the assistance of drugs. Townsend’s vision also revealed an ambition to record with different musicians on each album, in order to keep things fresh. May 2009’s Ki was one of the more restrained releases in his canon, particularly in comparison to his strident Strapping Young Lad material. It touched on laid-back funk and ambient rock -- as displayed on the tranquil “Ain’t Never Gonna Win” -- and featured Duris Maxwell, who had previously drummed with Motown act Bobby Taylor and Vancouvers in the ‘60s and Jefferson Airplane in the ‘70s.

Later that year, critics found the Project’s follow-up album, Addicted, to be reassuringly heavy, and it became one of Townsend’s most revered releases. It inventively combined crushing guitars with techno beats and prominently featured the voice of ex-Gathering frontwoman Anneke van Giersbergen.

In June 2011, both the third and fourth Devin Townsend Project albums were issued on the same day. While Deconstruction continued with Townsend’s traditionally heavy approach and featured a wealth of guest vocalists, Ghost, with its soft, Tangerine Dream-aping soundscapes, was its sonic opposite. The following year brought Epicloud, an unexpected fifth release under the Devin Townsend Project name that brought Giersbergen back into the fold to repeat the crucial role that she played on Addicted.


Devin Townsend Project At MySpace





2014 Ziltoid 2 (Z²)


Tracklist:

Disc 1: The Devin Townsend Project - Sky Blue (Total Length 56:32)

1. “Rejoice” 4:16
2. “Fallout” 4:30
3. “Midnight Sun” 4:58
4. “A New Reign” 4:52
5. “Universal Flame” 4:39
6. “Warrior” 3:31
7. “Sky Blue” 3:52
8. “Silent Militia” 4:28
9. “Rain City” 7:45
10. “Forever” 3:45
11. “Before We Die” 8:24
12. “The Ones Who Love” 1:32

Disc 2: Ziltoid/Z2 – Dark Matters (Total Length 57:08)

1. “Z²” 3:59
2. “From Sleep Awake” 3:00
3. “Ziltoidian Empire” 6:25
4. “War Princess” 8:17
5. “Deathray” 4:43
6. “March of the Poozers” 4:43
7. “Wandering Eye” 3:40
8. “Earth” 7:38
9. “Ziltoid Goes Home” 6:20
10. “Through the Wormhole” 2:10
11. “Dimension Z” 6:13

Label: HevyDevy Records


Devin Townsend. A name recognized around the music world for his various outings with Steve Vai, Strapping Young Lad, The Devin Townsend Band and The Devin Townsend Project. With over 20 studio releases and countless compilations and live albums, Devin’s relentless output displays a true volition and passion towards his art. Painting from a palette of many colors, he can write anything from country music (Casualties of Cool) to Pop music (Epicloud) to some of the most extreme and crazy metal ever created (Alien and Deconstruction). One must ask: “Having done so many albums in so many different styles, surely he is going to run out of steam?”

… And then Z² descends from the depths of space.

Z², the highly anticipated sequel to 2007’s Ziltoid the Omniscient, is a double album of powerful conflicting energies. On one side, you have The Devin Townsend Projects’s Sky Blue which resonates similarly to releases such as Ocean Machine, Terria and Epicloud. The other, Ziltoid’s Dark Matters slots alongside the likes of Deconstruction, Infinity and even some of the Strapping Young Lad material.

The album’s history goes as far back as 2009 when Townsend started working on it. Fans have longed for this album ever since the first Ziltoid record and, I can say with absolute confidence, they will not be disappointed in the slightest!

Anneke van Giersbergen, once again, lends her beautiful voice to this double album and she is absolutely flawless: providing a perfect match to Townsend in both melody and power.

The first disk of the album, Sky Blue, showcases a very sensitive and almost vulnerable side to Townsend’s music. While at points it may feel like Epicloud, it has a much more melancholy energy about it. Songs like Fallout, Universal Flame and Warrior carry some of the structure and resonance of Epicloud: massive choruses, pop-laced melodies and danceable beats. Almost contradictory however, songs like Rain City, Forever, A New Reign and The Ones who Love show a yearning and ambience that is sparing in Townsend’s catalogue. Rain City, to me, has the same feeling as The Death of Music on Ocean Machine. The melodies aren’t as obvious but that’s what makes them so beautiful: you have to find them and discover them yourself.

Interestingly, the latter half of the album seems to shift its focus from massive melodies and statements to quieter subtleties (The only exception being Before We Die which features the incredible Universal Choir!)

I had the opportunity to appear in the Universal Choir alongside my sister and her boyfriend. I’m not hamming this up, but my sister is surprisingly audible in the massive wall of voices! Expertly mixed, you can really hear the depth and power of the choir. It was an absolute joy to be a part of it!

Something about Sky Blue really resonated with me, as a listener. The melancholy melodies seemed really raw and honest. Townsend has stated that the album is based around the loss of friends and family since it has, sadly, been a theme in his life whilst making the records. Not delving too much into my personal life, but songs like Rain City, Before We Die and Forever have brought me hope at a time where, in my family, there is so much hurt and hopelessness.

Thank you so much for Sky Blue, Devin.

Enough of my emotional blubbering … We still have to talk about the epic, interstellar, poop-tastic and poozer ridden wonder that is Dark Matters!

I loved the original Ziltoid record: so many original concepts, epic compositions and hilarious commentary! Dark Matters delivers this and so much more!

Presented in a radio show fashion, Dark Matters follows the story of Ziltoid as he tries to save the earth from The War Princess and her vicious army of Poozers! Featuring the vocal talents of Chris Jericho and Dominique Lenore Persi, the dialogue can catch you off guard initially but you quickly lose yourself in the story and the music.

The composition of the album is second to none: The Universal Choir makes an appearance on the first and last track of the album, there are strings everywhere, word-painted passages of music in true musical-esque fashion and farts and burps! What more could you ask in a metal album?!

In all seriousness, Dark Matters is a true testament of Townsend’s vision and talent: a heavy metal musical full of ridiculously hilarious dialogue and it features some of the most intricate, well-composed music he has ever written. To the psychotic chants in War Princess to the thundering pace of The March of the Poozers to the head-banging riffs of Deathray to the high speed force of Ziltoid Goes Home, Townsend has shown himself to be a true composer and a master of his craft!

Written very much like a musical, the album’s themes and motifs evolve throughout the record and reach a euphoric celebration in Dimension Z. This album rivals the very best concept albums in music: the album flows effortlessly; the dialogue doesn’t get in the way of the music and, quite frankly, is the most powerful record Townsend has produced.

With the performance of the whole Z² record at the Royal Albert Hall next year, we shall get to see the whole vision that Townsend has planned for this project!

In his 20 year career, Townsend has constantly changed the boundaries of metal music: removing the superficial masculinity and replacing it with honest, heartfelt and comedic music. In a recent interview with the Independent, Townsend stated that Z² will define his work … I cannot help but agree. Both albums explore every music palette Townsend has drawn from over the years and then taken them to the next level. In my opinion, Sky Blue is the most emotional, heartfelt and raw record Townsend has ever made and Dark Matters? The daftest musical you will ever listen to!





Genre: Progressive
Subgenre: Progressive Metal / Rock / Ambient
Bitrate: 320 k
Size: 268.08 MB
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