DEVIN TOWNSEND — Epicloud (review)

Album · 2012 · Progressive Metal

3.5/5 · 2013-01-27
Gallifrey

Devin Townsend Project - “Epicloud” 14/20

39th place album of the year 2012

“Epicloud” is the perfect name for this album. Epic and loud. And I still don’t know if it’s pronounced epic-loud or epi-cloud. But it doesn’t really matter. This is Devin’s 5th album under the Devin Townsend Project, and the first unplanned one. Devin was apparently trying to write an epic rock-opera sequel to “Ziltoid the Omniscient”, but suffered from writer’s block. Or, the Devin Townsend equivalent of writer’s block, which is writing pop music. And to be honest, I like this a lot better than “Ziltoid” (aside from the concept, that was brilliant), so I don’t mind how long he puts it off.

As with the other DTP album, “Epicloud” features Devy working with a bunch of guest musicians to create very individual sounding albums. Epicloud primarily showcases the very appropriate voice of Anneke Van Giersbergen, who has guest starred on thousands of song for thousands of bands, but this time gets a full album, singing as much as Devin, even more at times. Her voice really works with Devin’s common pattern of using vocal layers excessively, giving a full extra range to work with, specifically evident in “Save Our Now” and “Angel”.

Devin is well known for his ‘odd’ personality, and this album is one of his most ridiculous yet. “More!” is one of the most insane things I’ve ever heard, yet it’s completely exhilarating. This entire album is just fun through and through, even having that terrible cliché of people clapping after a song has ended. The album never really seems to pause either, each song flowing into the next in a seamless flow of vocal layers.

There isn’t really a distinct label for this sort of music, because it’s equally pop as it is metal, but far more fun than both. Devin’s softer material has often been labeled “atmospheric rock” or “atmospheric metal” due to his heavy use of layering, specifically with his voice. Epicloud has so many layers that even Wintersun’s sophomore release seems weak. Devin is shouting, screaming, singing and 100 other people doing the same at the same time and it just feels like euphoria.

My personal favourite songs on the album is “Save Our Now”, “Where We Belong” and “Hold On”, basically any time Devin pulls of the accelerator to create some truly beautiful music, but I cannot deny that “Liberation”, “More” and “Lucky Animals” aren’t insanely fun.

And that’s what Epicloud is. It’s fun. Fun Metal. This should be a genre now. I don’t think anyone can listen to this and feel bad. And in a world where 90% of metal is slow and depressing music, we need some fun here. I know Devin never really does the same thing twice, but I honestly hope he does. This is great.

Originally posted on my facebook page/blog http://www.facebook.com/neoprogisbestprog