‘Transcendence’, the seventh full length by the Devin Townsend Project, opens with a glossy, reworked version of Truth, a song that initially made itself at home on 1998’s ‘Infinity’. It’s a pretty bang-on indicator of what this record stands for. This is an example of undiluted, completely liberating artistic expression at work and the culmination of 20-plus years of touring, recording, touring, recording and puppets.
Its precursors, ‘Epicloud’ and ‘Z²’, are both referenced at points on ‘Transcendence’. The poppy, instantaneous new-age hooks of the former splatter the choruses of Failure and Transdermal Celebration, while the latter’s proggy ‘Terria’ worship is displayed throughout the album’s hour-plus running time. Plus, Offer Your Light is a valiant partner to ‘Z²’ track Silent Militia and sure to induce David Brent moves across the venues covered by the band in the next six months.
Townsend stayed on the road well travelled for his past two records. But he’s not walking anymore. He’s bouncing up and down on it, oblivious to any rules that might be broken in the process.
The orchestration on Failure, Higher and the title track is truly dense and sounds like it was recorded in Prague during an alien invasion; even Septicflesh can’t compete with its sheer, unprecedented heaviness.
The gargantuan, titanic noise reaches its zenith halfway through the record, though, as Higher begins with luscious, serene acoustics and dramatically builds to that classic wall of sound. Then BANG: a masterclass of screaming, low-end savagery that is heavier than most of Strapping Young Lad’s discography. And then we’re back to Devin telling us not to let the bastards grind us down. Then the heavy bit again. Then glorious, melodic redemption.
The title track, meanwhile, boasts what might be his most commanding vocal melody. No, really. Starting right now, it should be the soundtrack to every blockbuster film about oily warriors and CGI dragons. His guitar hero worship of Steve Vai also reveals itself on this track, Failure and Stormbending and, as Townsend has never been one to be showy, every nuance, every bend of a string and every foray onto the fretboard serves a purpose.
Elsewhere, there are subtleties amid the bombast. Drummer Ryan van Poederooyen moves from double bass beast to ambidextrous jazz master in a heartbeat, with his innumerable fills and rolls an album highlight, while Anneke van Giersbergen adds gorgeous vocal layers to Secret Sciences. Everyone here is on their A-game. No, scrap that. A*-game, if that’s a thing.
‘Transcendence’ will blow your fucking mind. It is the the best record Townsend has been involved in since 'Terria' and represents everything rock music should be: catchy, intelligent and not to be taken at face value. There are plenty of fledgling progressive metal bands out there with promise, but ‘Transcendence’ runs rings around them.
Devin Townsend Project Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun March 12 2017 - BRISTOL Colston Hall
Mon March 13 2017 - MANCHESTER Academy
Tue March 14 2017 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Thu March 16 2017 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Fri March 17 2017 - LONDON Eventim Apollo
Sat March 18 2017 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
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