Rock’s most eclectic man nails it.
Arguably more than any other rock artist over the last couple of decades – with the possible exception of our own Ginger Wildheart (and lest we forget the two were in a band together) – Devin Townsend has been perhaps the most challenging to follow.
“Transcendence” is his tenth “solo” album (interestingly he still refers to DTP as a solo project despite the presence of long time cohorts Ryan Van Poederooyen on Drums, Dave Young: Guitar, Keys Brian ‘Beav’ Waddell: Bass and Mike St-Jean: Keyboards, Synths, Programming) and let’s get it said right now – it’s his best by a long way.
There’s nothing here remotely as – lets call it “challenging” for the sake of politeness – as a concept album about Ziltoid the Alien, instead, here Townsend has made the best prog metal album of 2016 so far.
Right from the kick off of the lush, glorious “Truth” this is a quite wonderful – and yes, often baffling, – journey.
But its also a journey worth taking, because the rewards are incredible.
“Truth” is one of many on the collection to make use of stunning female backing vocals to give it a real depth (one of the singers here is The Gathering’s Anneke Van Giersbergen) and largely acts as the overture. In many respects it feels as though the record proper begins with the brilliant “Stormbending” – which not only sounds like Dream Theater at their most grandiose – but also gives a clue to the ethos of the album in its first line: “Time is a human construct” sings Devin as only he can, and with that in mind, its time to just immerse yourself.
Capable of moments of fragility – the opening of “Secret Sciences” sounds almost stripped down for example – but also of dazzling, bombastic epics such as “Higher” which clocks in at almost 10 minutes, veering from the lush opening to moments of genuine heavy metal, Transcendence gives the appearance of having a life of its own almost.
A gift for melody is obvious throughout though, which is why for all its disparate ideas it is more cohesive and accessible than Townsend often is, “Stars” one of the shortest things here, is quite simply gorgeous, the title track is thunderous, and the keyboard drenched “Offer Your Light” is driving, thumping rock n roll, and yet they all fit together perfectly.
“From The Heart” is perhaps best of the lot, seemingly telling the story of Townsend’s own life with what appears to be his most personal set of lyrics, while “Transdermal Celebration” ushers itself in a country twang, and seems to make perfect sense of a Ween track – which is no mean feat in itself!
A lengthy – but never meandering – affair, rather, one of those records that reveals more to you each time you listen. “Transcendence” is not music for a Spotify playlist or to dip in and out of, rather songs like the chugging, almost power metal, “Failure” need to be listened to in full, in the dark, with your headphones and your own thoughts.
Give it 70 minutes of your life and you won’t regret it.
Rating 9/10
