ALBUM REVIEW: Devin Townsend

'Forget About the Genre': Devin Townsend Explains Why You Shouldn't Put Yourself in a 'Box' & How He Approaches Music Theory

PowerNerd is set to be released October 25th through InsideOut Music

Prog visionary Devin Townsend has gone through countless iterations of different projects to express and deliver his creative, complex and wall-of-sound style production. From his start with Steve Vai, his industrial death metal juggernaut Strapping Young Lad, the progressive legacy of both The Devin Townsend Band and Devin Townsend Project. Even dabbling in the ambient and experimental waters with his DevLab work, punk rock with Punky Brüster, and country with Casualties of Cool. Along with his ongoing solo career, Townsend has been consistent and active in making music for over fifty years. From concept albums (Ziltoid The Omniscient and Z2), to albums coping with the COVID-19 pandemic (The Puzzle and Snuggles), to his homeland of Canada (Terria), Townsend has delved into anything and everything in his music.

With Townsend's new record, PowerNerd, he would dive into the reality of the things we face in life. Facing and showcasing how we deal with our psychological makeup. How the world dealt with things like the COVID-19 pandemic, social media and isolation and turning it into a superpower. Taking the weaknesses we all face and build that into a positive and confidence that makes you invincible. Embracing the flaws that make you who you are, and turning them into a strength. So does this record create a relatable narrative that we all share in this thing we call life? How we can take his message and build the world up from the trials and tribulations we face day to day?

The album's title track kicks off the album. With an opening scream of the song's title by Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed as he guests on the track. The riff leads with a bounce and groove to it. Driving drums, ethereal and spacious vocals, mixed with synths and punk-like, jangly bass. Leaning into a more traditional heavy metal sound at the chorus. Especially with the palm-muted, catchy guitars and vocal cadences throughout. A nice guitar solo cascades over driving drums and underlying bass at the halfway mark. A commanding and aggressive opening track, delivering with that layer upon layer "wall of sound" production style that Townsend delivers so well on his albums.

"Falling Apart" opens with cannon-like drum strikes and atmospheric, spacious guitars. Townsend's somber and quiet vocals, over acoustic guitars and uplifting drums, creates a beautiful arch as the song segues into the chorus. With vibes similar to his Addicted album with Devin Townsend Project, the reverb-heavy chorus and thudding return to the main opening, just hits like a ton of bricks when it lands. The juxtaposition of clean, quiet and comforting acoustic guitars, into booming and bombastic drums on the chorus, truly showcases his musical ear to create a large and sonic landscape to fit the aesthetic of the music. Even a nice, heavy, audio tripping effect during the breakdown right before the three-quarters mark comes in hot and heavy. Returning to the chorus at its grandest scale as the song concludes.

Plinking, video game sounding synths opens "Knuckledragger". Townsend channels his 80's hair-metal with a parody-esque voice on the opening verses section. A chugging, meathead metal riff transforms into a progressive out of body trip as the pacing and energy of the song turns up to eleven. Before crash-landing into the chorus with unique instrumentation of percussion and I believe saxophone. A groove-led bridge section instantly had me grooving along before the bouncy synths and heart-pumping drums kick up the intensity. Townsend's voice is so unique and diverse on the track. From 80's hair-metal, to his trademark screams, to a deep bass talking voice. It fits the loud and booming energy of the track.

Rising synths and plucking acoustic guitar & booming drums opens "Gratitude". Townsend continues the bombastic and high-impact sound on the song. Adding spacious keyboards and SO MUCH reverb on his acoustic guitars that pierce through the bass of the kick drum. The song reminds me of "Spirits Will Collide" off Empath, with the next-level layering in the production and switch-ups in pacing and grandiosity in the instrumentation and structure.

"Dreams of Light" provides a nice little interlude piece of atmospheric and reverbed vocals with nice, peaceful and tranquil guitars. Creating a nice swaying effect in my headphones. Then, guitars reminiscent of U2 kickstart the track "Ubelia". Very post-rock/metal in its minimalism, along with the simplicity. Then BOOM, the chorus comes in kicking and screaming. Huge presence, and with Townsend's clean and comforting vocals on the chorus comforts the listener before going into the second verse. Very movie score-esque in the instrumentation and song structure. Making me wish that Townsend would score a film or TV series. Since his music lends so well to huge, impactful moments, while also delivering compassionate and emotional passages intertwined within itself.

"Jainism" opens with a driving, call-to-arms modern metal sounding riff. A simple, drum groove over a speed up/slow down pacing during the verses. The clean atmospheric, reverbed vocals with accenting keys creates a much fuller sound. The song's chorus matches the intensity of Townsend's vocal intensification. Right as the main riff and verses section come back in. The gurgling bass on the second verses section, segueing into the clean choir-like pads, builds up the song even more. The djent-like breakdown section, accompanied by acoustic & clean guitars is a nice touch. Adding depth as the synths coming roaring in with distorted guitars into the chorus. Into one final sprint of screams and chugging palm-muted riffage into the closing moments.

Beautiful sounding acoustic guitar, into otherworldly and thundering electric guitars opens up "Younger Lover". The song has a sort-of spin on the power ballad in the musical delivery and production. With a catchy chorus and a verses section that comes right off the album Ghost, it is a beautiful marriage of heavy and soft in the arrangement through the entire four minute runtime. The pace change after the halfway mark adds such an intense and heart-pounding build up, as it heads into the chorus again but more amplified and passionate in the music.

"Glacier" features ringing, heavily reverbed guitars and synth pads. Accompanied with next-level ambience hanging in the ether of the track. The sudden drop to just Devin and an acoustic guitar shows the creativity and uniqueness he delivers in his music. That he can still make an impact, even with reigned in production and simplicity. Before a thundering growl and chugging guitars bring that proggy goodness he is known for into the chorus. He really belts to the rafters on the chorus as well, showcasing his impressive range again on the song.

"Goodbye" has another 80's sounding opening riff, before drums come commanding in. Suddenly dropping out, the vocals are accompanied by synths and subtle guitars as Townsend delivers a somber vocal performance. The grandeur of the chorus is so anthemic and I can picture a crowd waving their arms around during that section. Reminding me of Steve Vai's work. Beautiful and emotional guitar playing, over complex arrangement of the rhythm section and peaks and valleys throughout. Especially in the closing three quarters mark. Where it transforms into an ambient, almost cinematic closing piece. One of the standout tracks on the album for me.

Album closer "Ruby Quaker" has a nice ascending/descending bass, joined by acoustic guitar that mimics a country song with the playing. I can picture Townsend playing the song around a campfire with his bandmates. Then, the song goes electric, with Townsend delivering a nice country twang in his voice in the vein of Orville Peck. The honky-tonk like piano truly adds that country swagger to the song as Townsend sings about his true love, coffee. I wish it would be used a jingle for some coffee company, since it is so damn catchy. Then another switch-up, going full black metal into chugging death metal with soaring synths, piano and brass before hitting the bridge. Before the band brings it back to the catchy chorus for one last go around as the album comes to a heavy, comedic and empowering close.

Devin Townsend on the guitar being "a means to an end”

PowerNerd is a great, complex, hysterical and dynamic record that shows Townsend can do no wrong. Throwing every instrument and genre into the mix and making it work is a joy to listen to. Playing around with genres and timeframes, along with even dabbling in jingles and country/folk, Townsend is a mad scientist that can turn anything into a beautiful work of art. Another great addition to Townsend's lengthy discography and cementing how much of a talented musical genius he is with every record. From Infinity to PowerNerd, Townsend has struck gold again with this album.

SCORE: 10 / 10