Devin Townsend proves once again that there are no limits to his creativity, and on this release, he creates an enthusiastic work of operatic beauty.
There are many artists who seem to inhabit their own ecosystem, capable of creating music so unique and ambitious that many times it’s complicated and time-consuming to grasp. But when you are able to comprehend the work, it reveals all of its rewards. Many bands, such as Laibach, Magma, Type O Negative, and White Zombie, have created unique albums. In the case of the first two mentioned, they continue to create pieces of music so unique, so quirky, and so ambitious that they abide only by their own set of rules. They’re unconcerned with the status quo or any kind of fashion or trend, and simply release whatever they feel like. Devin Townsend has proven time and again to be in the same bracket. He has been the same sound explorer and musical maverick since the beginning. Either with Strapping Young Lad (SYL) or the projects he concocted under the Devin Townsend Band moniker, his boundless creativity is always in full flight. There are no genres he won’t tackle, from breezy pop explorations to extreme metal juggernauts. Of one thing we can be sure: every record is expertly composed, played, and produced.
Obviously, being such an unshackled genius can prove to be a double-edged sword. It can create the most fervent fans and, at the same time, the most bellicose detractors.
This ambitious creation has been brewing inside his mind for over a decade. His music has been expansive, majestic, and classically inspired throughout his career. But this is the first time an orchestra is incorporated so seamlessly into the arrangements. Haunting, ethereal, unsettling, and enthusiastic are words that can be applied to describe this record. At times, we feel like we are listening to a Disney movie soundtrack. In this case, the music is not composed by Alan Menken but by a mad, devilish prodigy. The music is subtly subdued in one instance, unabashedly intense in the next. Orchestral arrangements and angelic choirs clash with traditional rock instrumentation. All augmented by electronic sampling and even a chicken (there’s a sample of a chicken clucking).
The compositions are as sweeping, powerful, and operatic as anything he has recorded before. Still, the orchestral backing infuses these 24 tracks with a sense of purpose, focus, and restraint. Even if Devin shows a more subdued persona on these records, that by no means hampers the proceedings; it boosts this ambitious work to a whole different level.
The Moth is set for release on May 29th.
PHOTO BY: Tom Hawkins
