DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT: EPICLOUD

Back in 1998 I was sent an album to review called 'Infinity' which was by a Canadian who I knew had previously been with The Wildhearts and a metal act called Strapping Young Lad, but I hadn't actually heard any of his music. As soon as it started blasting out of the speakers I was totally blown away, and since then have tried to get hold of everything he has been involved with (if you have never heard SYL then grab 2005's 'Alien', I can promise that you won't regret it). The mad Canuck has many talents, one of which is that whatever style of music he is playing at the time appears to be the one that he is born to play, combined with a very distinctive production style which is the closest thing you'll ever come across to a real wall of sound, whatever fans of Phil Spector may think.

After hearing "Ziltoid The Magnificent" I decided that nothing that Devin would do could surprise me anymore, but even I never expected the album to start with a short a capella number where he has again joins forces with singer Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-the Gathering). She also takes the lead into the next number, with her pure clear vocals quite at odds with the force that Ryan Van Poederooyen (drums), Mike Young (bass) and Dave Young (guitars) bring to bear on the rest of the song. Devin moves between genres from one song to the next, sometimes bringing them all to bear at once (he of course provides vocals, guitars and keyboards). There is an intensity in Devin's music that is often missing from bands who purport to be much heavier and aggressive than he, and the use of Anneke provides yet another dimension that adds light to a very dark place indeed.

This is a stunning album, and amazingly with the bonus demo songs (which don't really sound like demoes to be honest) it is nearly 100 minutes long with nary a filler in sight.