Released: Nov 17, 2009
Genre: Progressive
Label: HevyDevy
Number Of Tracks: 10
The Devin Townsend Project’s latest album delivers such an epic, grandiose sound that writing a cinematic score in the future would not be a bad career move.
AddictedFeatured review by: UG Team, on november 24, 2009 2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Sound: Even if it’s not his intention, Devin Townsend is quickly proving himself to be one of the most versatile musicians in any genre. While his work with extreme metal project Strapping Young Lad was usually an assault on the senses, the vast majority of his solo output has been the polar opposite – or as close to that description as you can get. Fueled by mellow, ambient arrangements, solo endeavors like The Hummer and Ki seem like they could not have been possibly been touched by the man behind such crushing metal tunes as “Underneath The Waves” or “All Hail The New Flesh.” For the new album Addicted (released only about six months after his previous record Ki), his current outfit The Devin Townsend Project has combined the best of both musical worlds with impressive results.
Addicted is not what you would call “light listening.” With every song delivering an epic-type approach to songwriting, the Devin Townsend Project’s fourth album (Townsend’s 11th solo album in total) is a veritable wall of sound. It’s hard to characterize the record as any one specific genre, which makes the listening experience a fascinating one. The opening track “Addicted!” (by the way, exclamation points follow each title oddly enough), there’s an array of computer/sci-fi samples, thick banshee-like vocals, and good, old fashioned distorted guitar. “Universal Ball!” does not ease up on the energy, but only adds intensity with its industrial vibe and operatic vocals. Townsend’s range and power are insane, and guest vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen (who sounds like a long-lost member of ABBA) is a fitting match for the multi-talented artist.
There are plenty of twists and turns on Addicted, and “Supercrush!” is a perfect example of the craziness. Starting out with a slower, chugging guitar and the cherubic vocal stylings of Giersbergen, the chorus explodes with a wall of sound that showcase the male and female voices trading off. In many ways, the 10 tracks could be compared to orchestral pieces. “Numbered!” stands out in this aspect for its grandiose construction, at times almost sounding like it would fit perfectly in an over-the-top musical – at least one that doesn’t mind pinch harmonics and some badass percussion. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: If the fact that every song features an exclamation point didn’t tip you off, reading the full song text should indicate that Townsend has one of the oddest approaches around to lyric writing. There’s something quite vague and mysterious about each song, but it’s not because Townsend is caught up in a thesaurus. He just prefers to keep things simple, fairly repetitive, and very cryptic. Take the song “Hyperdrive!”, which features the casual lines, “Where the river flows; Sail away, Hey, I’m sorry; Everyday is a new day; Hooray for love.” Nothing is ever truly clarified from beginning to end, but given Townsend’s amazing skills as a musician, one has to believe that he knows exactly what he’s doing. Of course, that still doesn’t help in the deciphering process. // 7
Impression: With Addicted, you get the feeling that Townsend has some pretty lofty goals as a composer. You’ll be barraged by a variety of sounds and instruments while listening to the CD, so be prepared for something far different than the traditional rock arrangements. Townsend has dabbled in a variety of genres, and the new album in many ways touches on them all again – only on a grander and heavier scale. There’s never quite the metal peak you’d get with Strapping Young Lad, but there’s enough of an industrial vibe to keep things aggressive. Yes, those heavy moments are usually interwoven with big, keyboard-driven, epic choruses, but it makes for a wildly refreshing combination in the end. // 8
Addicted
Reviewed by:
lesken100, on september 16, 2010 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sound: Fans of strapping young lad should turn away. Now. This is not the heavy devin townsend, but his more experimental mind surfacing. Not saying that this is no good, not at all, this is a good CD! The vocals are a bit layered behind all the other sounds, but that just adds to the wall of sound pounding your face off. The presence of guest vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen is dominating at times, but not controlling, as devin shines through as a metal Pavarotti. This is going to be a long review, given that there is so much going on, but my working time is nothing compared to the time that must have been spent on this album.
01. Addicted!: It all starts with a monstrous riff that soon turns to an effect-laden experience. Annekes clean vocals paves the way for devin´s growling shrieks. The anthemic chorus made me start noddin my head and it did not wear off until the song was finished. The mid part being a psychedelic lead, and the song even dabbles with double bass drums! It ends with synths who fade into the next song...
02. Universe In A Ball!: This is by far my favourite, a not very hard to learn riff showing tremendous power. This is another devin-dominated song, and it showcases his talent for melodic growling. The midpart is hilarious, being some kind of evil nintendo part. A strong chorus, and a strong song. The drums are as heavy as they are groovy and I find myself noddin once again.
03. Bend It Like Bender!. This track is good fun. It´s where the poppy feeling first enters, and you can hear it several times through the record. The chorus by Anneke reminds me of ABBA, but strangely enough, it works.
04. Supercrush!: Now that´s downtuned guitar! The first vocal entry sounds slightly African actually, when I think about it. Even though the female vocals remind me of ABBA, they also remind me of delain, but at the last refrain they ABSOLUTELY reminds me of ABBA.
05. Hyperdrive!: The first riff is metalcore by the rulebook! The rest of the song aint. Features memorable vocal hooks and probably the strangest lyrics ever. Once again I get the poppy feeling.
06. Resolve!: you hear the evil laughter, an very ac/dc metal riff, and a scale solo a´la John Petrucci. A less strong song with a chant of "I, I, I" after the chorus. An ok song, but no star in the book.
07. Ih-ah!: The only ballad-like acoustic song on the album. I love it. An incredibly catchy tune with duet parts sent from Satan himself. But the let down of Ih´s and Ah´s leave me utterly pissed. An excellent song, with one destroying factor.
08. The Way Home!: My other favourite. The dreamy intro prepares us for Devins magnificent vocal performance. The song is filled with synths, if you listen closely. It all seems over pretty fast, which is a problem.
09. Numbered!: this is a song for the guitarists, ´cause this track has got amazing riffs! And the symphonic metal singing sounds impressive. At the end it turns heavy, before it ends softly in a gentle manner. Job done.
10. Awake!: This is the album epic, and the album heavy! It puts everything Devin´s known for into 9 minutes. Okay, maybe not, but that's not possible, is it? The album ends on a high note, and the metal genius has gained another fan. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: Unfortunately, the lyrics don't stand the test. The weirdness is not the problem, but it quickly gets samey. The repetition parts on Ih-Ah is bad, and what you hear on the last tracks, you hear on the first too. If I was to rate only the lyrics, I would have chosen 5, but the vocal performances is stunning. This CD opened my mind for girls in metal, big time! And the man himself, would not seem out of place as a opera singer. Not that I want him to join that league! For the uplifting singing, I will give this part a 7. // 7
Impression: This is something only Devin could have created! Its powerful, brilliant, and mostly heavy like a neutron star. The synths does not drag the CD down, and the man shows himself as a decent guitarist. The rythmic drums made me move a lot of times, and that's not bad for drums sounding like poppy beats. It suited the songs perfectly! A highly recommend this CD to people into progressive and industrial, and everyone interested in GOOD metal. I really need to get this CD! // 9
Second! lol
Anyway, I heard Nibz (tentative title) to Supercrush on youtube and I got, well, addicted to that song, I still repeat that every time I hear it on my playlist.
All in all, this album is surely one of my fav. albums of this year. The sound is so mindblowing and after seeing the Pro Tool edit session with Devin, I must admit the layers he uses are awesome, so the sound comes out as powerful as it does. I'll definately give this one the highest rating. Devin WTF!
This guy is truely amazing at what he does, he worked so hard on this album he got shingles!!! lol If that doesn't say BUY THIS ALBUM then I don't know what will
Great review. I was a bit sceptical at first, when I heard that it was focusing on the pop-elements of metal. But I should have known that if anyone is able to incorporate pop-elements and still make great music, it's Devin. Devin Townsend!
Universe IN A Ball
Fantastic album, Ki makes a lot more sense now. Going by how good these past two albums are I can't wait for Deconstruction to arrive!
I love this album. Listened to it several times a day since my signed copy arrived nearly two weeks ago, and I'm still noticing things I haven't heard before!
coincidentally, devy is going to be writing a metal musical...it'll be called Z2 and it'll be the sequel to Ziltoid The Omniscient. Personally I can't wait.
Farking great album, probably my favourite of 2009. I don't know how he did it. If it was a combination of his writing experience building up over the years to conclude with the process of making this album or the fact he was sober when he composed it.
AMAZING album, I preordered a signed copy and the songs are just addicting!!
The Dev is still outdoing himself.
Deffinetly one of my favourite albums of the year along with the Great Misdirect.
well if SYL didnt work out at least he's continuing his solo project. thats sometimes the best thing to do when band members dont cooperate like what happened with me. I might have to go solo myself so yeah. glad he's still playing music.
Possibly one of the worst things i have heard, I can't believe I'm going to have to sit through this when I go to see Between the Buried and me Scale the Summit and Cynic in Tampa.
Apparently Devin was at a local clinic I went to a couple months ago... It was fairly crowded and it's harder to recognize him without his skullet. Dammit.
A couple of people have forgotten, or perhaps didn't know, that Hyperdrive wasn't origonally from this album. It first appeared on Ziltoid.
Long time Dev/SYL fans will most likely notice that bits of lyrics have a tendency to pop up over and over again in various songs.
At the start of Addicted, there is a passage from Awake. And once again in Supercrush, there is passage or a reference to a passage from Skeksis: "You've already gone".
A couple of people have forgotten, or perhaps didn't know, that Hyperdrive wasn't origonally from this album. It first appeared on Ziltoid.
Long time Dev/SYL fans will most likely notice that bits of lyrics have a tendency to pop up over and over again in various songs.
At the start of Addicted, there is a passage from Awake. And once again in Supercrush, there is passage or a reference to a passage from Skeksis: "You've already gone".
Rockin' F'en album.
Wait til you hear Deconstruction. It's an amazing album, but a lot of the lyrics are form other songs.
I discovered Devin Townsend on accident. It was last March (2012) as part of a contest (watch this concert online, enter to win his sig Peavey guitar).
Holy sh-t have I been missing out! the concert was basically Addicted! in its entirety, and my mind was blown. A measly 5 months later, and I own all 4 currently available + the By a Thread box set, 3 by Devin Townsend (solo) and 3 by Devin Townsend Band (no Strapping Young Lad yet).
I've discovered a musician with the range of musical styles the runs the gamut of all the music I like, with just about the same oddball sense of humor, and a huge back catologue.
That said, Addicted! is by far my favorite album he's done (at least, that I've heard so far). I probably listen to it at least 5 times a week.
I look forward to seeing him next year.
FIRST.