Review: Dan Maynard
Our favourite friendly Canadian Devin Townsend is back and boy has he returned with something monstrous. After the release of Lightwork, the world saw Devy take to the road and tour across the globe, at the same time announcing that he will be taking an unknown period of time away from the road. Though this is devastating news to some, it’s not been all bad news and tears. Quite clearly time away from touring doesn’t mean no new music, not even a year after the end of his world tour we see Hevy Devy back in full form. PowerNerd is his latest release and it is everything and all that you want in a Devin album.
If you’re a fan, you are well aware that Devy doesn’t half ass anything, nor does he stick to a sound or form that is current at the time. Devin does whatever the fuck he wants and the fans love it. PowerNerd sees the powerhouse Canadian take to his earlier roots, with the likes of Ocean Machine, Physicist through to later works such as Empath and Epicloud and everything in between. This truly is Devy at his best.
Opening track and the first single of the album PowerNerds opening four bars tell you everything you need to know about the album. The epitome of Devin Townsend, big large chords, massive choruses and a power behind a voice that goes unmatched. This song sums up the album in the best way possible. Followed by Falling Apart, this gives you your first taste of an old school era Devy in new times. That opening riff took me back to Ocean Machine in about two and a half seconds and had a smile across my face unlike any other.
Dreams of Light take us down a more delightful and pleasant side of Devin we all know so well with albums like Ki, Ghost and of course the more recent Lightwork. 54 seconds of gentle calming Devin, notes and tones that spread across the speakers like clouds. Only to lead into big notes once again with Ubelia, with its big chorus and gentle chorus, this is a track that simply covers Devins solo career perfectly.
I won’t go into detail about every song as I do believe this album needs to be consumed freely without knowledge, without the will or influence of another person. No doubt you will love it regardless, but as any Devin album goes, you need to go in with an open mind, an open heart and take in the music and message as personally as possible. There is no doubt this is one of his best works to date, personal preference at least. But that is a big call given his back catalogue of endless albums across all genres, I ain’t picking a singular album to choose as his best. But this, PowerNerd, stands high in the ranks, I can promise you that. This is a magical album that will take you on a journey, the way Devy chooses to do with each release.
PowerNerd, out through Century Records October 25.
PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE: HTTPS://DEVIN.LNK.TO/POWERNERDMR
