Devin Townsend Project - "Deconstruction"
June 21, 2011
Producer: Devin Townsend
January 1st of every year is a significant day to countless people of all walks of life. For the newly-wed couple it marks the beginning of their new life together, with the new calender year a wide open canvas for optimism and adventure all theirs for the taking. For the soldiers risking their lives over sea, the glass remains half full as they patrol their routes pondering the thoughts of the war's end and returning home safely to their families. For the Metalhead January 1st at dawn is known as national hangover day. However, as the cobwebs begin to crumble of the previous night's endeavors, our minds wonder towards the question of what will the album of the year be? Well, with 2011 now in the rear-view mirror to me the answer to this question came fairly easy. For what my thoughts are worth "Deconstruction" the thirteenth studio album from Devin Townsend (also the third record in the Devin Townsend Project series) is my pick for album of 2011.
For anyone who has followed Devin's career most of you (myself included) would say this is the album that Devin has been building to create his entire career.
Devin's playing and song-writing has gone through a metamorphosis over the last few years, as all his musical influences are really starting to show up in all of his works nowadays (With each album in The Devin Townsend Project series being the ruby on a mood ring. They each explore a different area of Devin's musical interests that you can quite easily relate to your current emotional state.) With Deconstruction being easily the most aggressive, angry and destructive album in the series it's no surprise that it is the full out "Metal" record in the series. However, that doesn't stop Devin from pushing the envelope thus creating one of the most jaw-dropping records in the last 15 years.
The first thing to really grab my attention on this record is the army of guest vocalists who share the spotlight (some very briefly) with Devin. There are too many to name but the three most of you will recognize are: Mikael Akerfedlt (Opeth/Bloodbath), Tommy Giles Rogers (Between The Buried And Me) and Paul Masvidal (ex-Death, Cynic). The cool thing is however, among these three and the others who contributed to this record, Devin - the keen musician that he is, uses all their voices in a very constructive matter. As each different voice gives the 9 tracks on this album their own sense of purpose, always keeping it fresh and unpredictable. Each vocalist's distinctive approach and range blends perfectly with the songs they are featured in. They are all tediously placed and hit their marks on the bulls-eye. Rather than sounding like a mundane pop song and having to guess who is the vocalist because they change every second line. Each vocalist that has a part in this record you truly notice their contributions.
With Devin handling most of the instrumentation on "Deconstruction", playing all guitars (except a guest solo by Meshuggah guitarist Fredrik Thordendal in the title track), bass, keyboards and programming. That leaves us with the drumming that is taking place on this record.
The drumming on this record was accomplished with two different sticks-men: Ryan Van Poederooyen (who gained recognition playing with Devin on past albums) and Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork & Scarve).
The cool thing with working with two drummers is that it gave Devin more space to venture out and write music that not only appeals to him but caters to the two drummers strengths and specialties. In the songs that featured more dominate Industrial structures and elements like: "Praise The Lowered", "Stand" and my personal favorite track "Planet of The Apes" Ryan handled the time-keeping. While on the more Metal and technical side of things on tunes like: "Pandemic", "Poltergeist" and "Sumeria" Dirk was sitting at the throne for those tunes.
Perhaps the most impressive part about this record is that despite all the insane proficiency of Devin and company on their respected instruments, it's the fact that Devin sat and composed an entire score with the help of Pro-Tools and presented the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra with an entire score of "Deconstruction". While this element adds a whole new other dimension to the record, turn to the tracks "Stand", "Juular" and "The Mighty Masturbator" for they are in my opinion the tracks where the Orchestra shines it's brightest light.
"Deconstruction" is an album full of surprises at every turn and in the album's centerpiece, the 16-minute epic "The Mighty Masturbator", it couldn't be anymore clearer. This track has it all: Metal, Industrial Rock, antediluvian instrumentation and during the climax of the tune I kid you not: Carnival-themed music with an accompanying speech that the inner-man in all of us would pound our chests to like a Viking being promised entrance to Valhalla.
Amongst all the aggression and chaos that is unleashed during "Deconstruction" their is a message involved. "Deconstruction is a concept album about a man who is obsessed with finding the true nature of reality." Townsend went on further to say that "Deconstruction is a musical representation of facing your fears and overcoming them." In short Devin wanted this record to have a positive direction, despite the maniacal nature of the music presented.
As I am writing this the date is January 27, 2012. I purchased this album in July of 2011. It has taken many many listens between now and then for me to be writing this paragraph you are reading right now. This album has not only challenged me as a musician to push myself further to become a more proficient drummer, this record has also pushed me to the brink of my writing abilities. Upon completion of this review I feel as if I have improved my craft significantly and look forward to finding my next writing endeavor.
In closing if you don't own "Deconstruction" you are seriously cheating yourself out of an amazing 70 minutes of music, that will be stuck in you Cd player for many months to come.
My Killer Kutz: "Planet of The Apes", "Stand" and "The Mighty Masturbator"
