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Devin Townsend: Epicloud
04/04/13 || The Duff
Devin’s new album “Epicloud” comes three years after The Devin Townsend Project quad-release of 2009. While just one year since “Deconstruction” and “Ghost” hit us, all four records were written around the same time and due to thematic likenesses were all supposed to be released in 2009. Maybe the time apart did the records justice, I do know it’s taken me some time to adapt to where Devin’s mind is at the moment. In truth sobriety, as far as from where I’m sitting now (on your Mother’s face), has done sweet fuck all to the quality of the man’s output to his solo works when records like “The New Black” and “Ziltoid” still settle uncomfortably.
All four records collectively are one exceptional piece of work with incredible breadth and everything else we’ve grown accustomed from the man while being new terrain for someone who is so exceptionally prolific (“Epicloud” being his 15th solo record, on top of all of his Strapping Young Lad work) and who has probably lost his hair through all the ways he has reinvented himself. “Epicloud” is what was written when the material for the follow-up to “Ziltoid” wasn’t coming as easily as expected. It’s a pop-metal record that speaks of ‘heart-on-the-sleeve’ and that one emotion everyone appears so fucking petrified of embracing these dark times of ours where German pornography is the only way to masturbate. It’s one epic love soundtrack, feel-good emotions and ties in with the bombast of “Addicted” with an even more pompous zeal.
The tracks are incredibly diverse, but some of you might sigh a breath of erections when I tell you there is the most “Infinity”-esque material on “Epicloud”, from the choirs to the “Bad Devil”-tinged “Lucky Animals” (the record’s single). Merged with this are tracks that mirror the four records that preceded in 2009, with a title like “More!” suggesting it being lifted from the “Addicted” cutting-room floor, and “Liberation” sounding like a cross between said album, “Infinity” bombast and “Accelerated Evolution” rousing poprock, and “Lessons” like a “Ghost” interlude. Tracks like “Where We Belong” and “Divine” are zen voyages into Dev’s feel-good nature, but given the feel of the record, some might criticise this as empty calories – Dev’s vocals are not quite soaring but rather have taken on a nasal tone that might aggravate, his vocals otherwise the screeching/shouting style of something like “Physicist” or latter-day SYL.
The exception comes with the rerecording of “Kingdom” and “Hold On”, where the notes hit are high and with that infamous vibrato that makes Dev an unparalleled vocalist in my eyes (and a man I want to cuddle with at nights). In hearing what a good mix does to the former and you can understand why Devin had been dissatisfied with that era of his career even when in the middle of it. Otherwise, the vocal majesty of “Epicloud” comes once more with Anneke Van Jizzburger, who storms through with an almost effortless clarity and power (most striking of all on “Angel”), the notes hit purely glorious.
New additions to the Dev sound are regular djent chugs (the rhythm of “Grace” apparently devised by drummer Van de PooPooHead), “Save Our Now”, which sounds like Vengaboys but thankfully given the cheese of the rest of “Epicloud” fits well – while Devin has proffered a love for such around his “Addicted” period, this is the first time where the influence is not only apparent, but projected full blast to the face.
All in all, this is a formidable and warm record replete with the variety of a traditional Devin release, a new step for Devin and generally a feel-good album from a man whose solo works are usually nothing but – this is taking it a step further with the usual run-of-the-mill music and layer everything else the fuck on top of it, astounding, dense production values.
What is left to say is I would recommend getting the double-disc with the additional “Epiclouder”, a flawed record but of just as high production values, and with some corker zen, lush tunes such as “Believe”, “Happy Birthday”, “Heatwave” and “Little Pig”, a nod to The Melvins with “Quietus”, and a B-side of “Deconstruction” (“Socialization”) that sounds just as much a part of Strapping Young Lad as anything.
Even the remaining, deadweight cuts will offer something to the ardent fan, with the exception of “Love Tonight”, which is pretty bad but may still put a smile on your face for its unashamedly cheesy drawl. I’m surprised “Woah No!” didn’t make “Epicloud” because it would have fit snugly – that said, despite all of its sugar-coated-ness, “Epicloud” is stylistically a perfect record, replete with the optimistic variety of all the man’s past records.
- Information
- Released: 2012
- Label: InsideOut Music
- Website: www.hevydevy.com
- Band
- Devin Townsend: vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Brian Waddell: bass
- Ryan van Poederooyen: drums
- Dave Young: guitars, keyboards
- Anneke van Giersbergen: vocals
- Tracklist
- 01. Effervescent!
- 02. True North
- 03. Lucky Animals
- 04. Liberation
- 05. Where We Belong
- 06. Save Our Now
- 07. Kingdom
- 08. Divine
- 09. Grace
- 10. More!
- 11. Lessons
- 12. Hold On
- 13. Angel
- Epiclouder Tracklist
- 01. Believe
- 02. Happy Birthday
- 03. Quietus
- 04. Heatwave
- 05. Love Tonight
- 06. The Mind Wasp
- 07. Woah No!
- 08. Love and Marriage
- 09. Socialization
- 10. Little Pig
