THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND: ACCELERATED EVOLUTION

Strange, it seems only like last issue that I was reviewing the new album by Devin Townsend. Ah, but that was Strapping Young Lad, and now we have here The Devin Townsend Band which contains different musicians and is a totally different outfit and album, but it has to be said that there are striking similarities. The main one of these is the Wall Of Sound approach to production which gives all of Devin's albums a distinctive and similar style, but while 'Accelerated Evolution' is obviously a Devin album, it is quite different to SYL. The latter is very much a heavy rock band, while TDTB although never far from the rock feel contains much more space in the music and manage to lose some of the intensity.

"Deadhead" is almost dreamy in it's style, with long held-down keyboard chords and the music and vocals swirling in the mix. But there are times on the album, where the production is deliberately clear and Devin's vocals are warm and untreated. That the man is a genius there is no doubt, and there seems to be no end to his abilities to take music and reinvent the style and format so that while appealing to many still sounds nothing like anyone else. He has announced a tour where both SYL and TDTB will be playing and that should be some show.

Yet again Devin has come up with a winner and for those who can't yet quite face the intensity of Strapping Young Lad or some of Devin's earlier albums then reach for this which probably has more immediacy of any of his so far. Of course, it still has to be played loud?.

Originally appeared in Feedback #73, Jun 03