ALBUM REVIEW: PowerNerd – Devin Townsend
Progressive metal mastery, acoustic bliss, electronic pop hooks, frenetic chaos involving cheeseburgers, these are only a small glimpse into the wonderous mind of DEVIN TOWNSEND. He has spent multiple decades writing what he wants, when he wants and has nurtured an adoring fanbase on his extensive journey. Devin himself has admitted he doesn’t expect everyone to like everything but there is almost certainly something in his catalogue to tickle your fancy.
His next venture PowerNerd was at first due to be a bit of a speedrun, challenging himself with a finite amount of time to put an album together, which by his own classification would be “a big dumb rock record” and “a piss take” to be served up as an appetiser to the much grander project known as The Moth which is already underway.
During this period Devin found himself experiencing a wealth of overwhelming emotion due to specific circumstances changing in his life and hitting him all at once. This caused the dam to break and a lot of repressed sadness, grief, and anxiety to come to the forefront, dramatically changing the intended course of this release. On the surface it may seem like a silly little side project but if you dig deeper it is full of sentiment, struggle and vulnerability.
PowerNerd kicks off proceedings with a punchy, energetic tempo and a mixed bag of lyrics ranging from the encouraging “No giving up, no giving in” to the comedic “I love petting the cat”, all tied together with the uplifting sentiment of the realisation that being different doesn’t make you weak. Falling Apart possesses a hefty groove combined with a particularly heavy narrative that pulls on the heart strings. The transitions between light and dark amplify the moods on display. Knuckledragger is quite tongue-in-cheek in its construction, the host of radio-friendly rock sensibilities mixed with slick experimentation scattered throughout prove to be very endearing.
Gratitude is what it says on the tin. DEVIN TOWNSEND takes all the positives from his life instead of letting the melancholic mindset and his recent battles get the best of him. The powerful chorus segment possesses a distinct euphoric sensation. Dreams Of Light is a brief but contemplative interlude that leads into the enchanting tones of Ubelia. The word is of Greek origin, translating as “help”, which appropriately links together with the lyrical direction. The lyrics “And of course you want to save her all the time, ’cause that’s the nature of our love” gracefully glides through the soundscape. Jainism utilises a mesmeric range of melody that is delightfully alluring. Crunchy riffs trade places with alluring mood shifts that provide one of the highlights of this release.
Younger Lover is reflecting on long term relationships and how over time curveballs can be thrown your way. Inspired by recent changes in circumstances that DEVIN TOWNSEND is still trying to navigate this track will be sure to resonate with many listeners. Glacier covers the subject of not being afraid to feel pain, loss and grief. Rather than suffering and bottling things up, surrender to your emotions and allow yourself to be vulnerable. The dramatic delivery, especially in the impactful drum beats helps drive home the intended plot. Goodbye follows a similar thought process but is executed in a more buoyant, vibrant manner. This piece implores you to not be afraid of life, falling in love, or feeling deeply for fear of death or anguish. Initially this track was due to be the closing chapter but DEVIN TOWNSEND opted to cleanse the listeners palate after a considerably heavy journey. Ruby Quaker is a tease of sorts. Full of little hints at his future creative endeavours cleverly meshed together with humorous coffee-related subject matter, country inspired shenanigans and wild surges of heaviness to wrap this effort up in emphatic fashion.
This may not be Devin‘s most spectacularly innovative release but PowerNerd was never intended to be. What was only meant to be a bit of fun turned into a much deeper and thoughtful affair that he has since confirmed he will be glad to see the back of. You may not venture back to this release as often as his other works but for the sheer willpower that was required to get this release over the line, that alone deserves 45 minutes of your time.
Rating: 8/10
PowerNerd is out now via InsideOut Music.
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