ALBUM REVIEW: Empath – Devin Townsend

From a concept album based around cheeseburgers on Deconstruction to dad dancing about in his garden in the video for Lucky Animals there isn’t many avenues that the iconic DEVIN TOWNSEND hasn’t dared to venture down. After deciding to take a break from his Devin Townsend Project releases his focus has shifted to his latest release entitled Empath which is due for release on March 29th via InsideOut Music. What could he possibly have in store for us this time round?

Castaway eases you in with serene waves lapping against the shore and a chilled echoing of guitars in the distance. Calypso drums amongst other instrumentation are introduced followed by a calming vocal chorus. Genesis starts to dial up the signature Devin Townsend eccentricity with crazy drum bursts, 8-bit jingles and just about everything but the kitchen sink tinkering around in the background. The chorus launches insane blast beats and a wall of energetic sound straight into your face. Spirits Will Collide exudes an anthemic demeanour from the off. Further chorus vocals enhance the dramatic atmosphere. This track thankfully doesn’t have any hidden curveballs to knock you off your stride, continuing to saunter along with a leisurely relaxing pace and allowing you to fully digest the lyrical content.

Evermore throws some offbeat time signatures into the mix before following a more operatic path. Only Townsend could get away with this level of whimsical frolicking whilst overlaying segments of the track with savage blast beats like some kind of demented fairground attraction. Sprite commences with an unusual narrative depicting the story of a lonely bird before introducing some intricate yet understated guitar work woven in with some emotive vocal work. Towards the closing stages the track takes a somewhat ominous twist with the appearance of some unnerving whispers which resemble Gollum traversing around the goblin tunnels, rambling away to himself. Hear Me sees everything suddenly dialled up to 11 as things take a turn for the extreme. Frantic drum work comes to the forefront alongside some jabbing riff work. Townsend unleashes his inner beast unleashing a volley of demonic screams. The track continues to provide some chilling levels of aggression with the odd dash of comedic splendour.

Why? returns to the theatrical nature of it’s predecessors with all the hallmarks of a Broadway performance. The vibe really gives you the feeling of witnessing a grand musical production and show’s just how diverse DEVIN TOWNSEND can be. The 11 minute Borderlands opens with a crowing cockerel followed by some floating, calming tones. This soon descends into varied levels of bedlam as you’re immersed in a sea of wild and wacky noises hitting you from every conceivable angle. The track ebbs and flows through subtle sections of tranquillity, spontaneously returning to the bounding liveliness.

Requiem continues the restful nature before slowly building the suspense with dramatic intrigue. This track eases you into the grand finale of the epic Singularity. Strap yourself as the 22 minute voyage begins with segments of pure escapism, soothing vocals and a minimalist vibe which will have you drifting away into your own thoughts. The intensity begins to swell as the track progresses and waves of energy burst through. One last torrent of unrelenting blast beats is unleashed and some of the heaviest work Townsend has constructed to date take the track by the scruff of the neck, dragging it through a pit of scorching coals. Before you know it the mood has changed again multiple times, never letting you become too acquainted with a certain dynamic. It will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what perplexing twist will unfold next.

Townsend has kindly devised a journalist’s nightmare with this effort. There is so much to comprehend it will require a fair few plays to fully digest the elaborate array of craziness on show. With more layers than an onion Empath will leave you perplexed yet full of awe at the sheer complexity. With little left to prove in the music industry, he continues to push the boundaries of music itself and use his extraordinary gift for piling tracks to the brim with intricacies and placing them so deftly that they don’t complete overwhelm each other. Musicians of phenomenal skill will come and go but there will never be anyone who can compare to the sheer talent that is DEVIN TOWNSEND.

Rating: 9/10

Empath is due for release on March 29th via InsideOut Music.

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