Liam BarrettDevin Townsend is one of those unique talents that almost defies classification. Over a career spanning more than thirty years (and almost as many musical genres!), he has developed a style that is so distinctly his own. Drawing on elements of industrial metal, progressive rock and musical theatre, and wrapping them up in his own eccentricities and oddball sense of humour, there is only one Devin Townsend.
On his more recent solo albums, he has drifted further away from the heavier side of his personality, and experimented with more complex song structures and orchestration, with often beautiful results. But with his latest effort, PowerNerd, he has talked of making a conscious decision to deliver a more straightforward record, challenging himself to write the whole album in one week.
While the results are certainly less ambitious than Empath or Lightwork, this is still a solid entry in the Townsend discography. And whether by design or as a consequence of his streamlined approach to writing, this is also easily the heaviest album he has produced since his work with the Devin Townsend Project.
The Songs
PowerNerd kicks things off in style with the title track, a ridiculously fun rocker that lets Townsend show off his playful side (what other heavy metal songs feature cat meows?). The guitars and drums come fast and heavy, and coupled Townsend’s distinctive growled vocals, makes for a suitably energetic opener.
A recurring motif in Townsend’s later career has been the juxtaposition of aggressive instrumentation with a feeling of hopefulness. “Falling Apart” continues that trend, touching on themes of perseverance in the face of struggles, expressed with typically bombastic chorus of overlaid vocals. It’s a song that would not have sounded out of place on Transendence, the final album by the defunct Devin Townsend Project.
Indeed, there are quite a few tracks here that are reminiscent of that stage of Townsend career. “Glacier” in particular, with its soft acoustic verses and rousing chorus, evokes “Before We Die” from Sky Blue. Similarly, “Jainism”, one of the stronger tracks for this album, is a throwback to the more overtly metal stylings of the DTP.
It’s not all throwbacks though, there are plenty of songs that are more in keeping with his recent output. “Gratitude” is a pleasantly uplifting number in the style of his work on Empath, and “Goodbye” boasts one the catchiest guitar riffs in Townsend’s long career. And as a final highlight, the album closes with “Ruby Quaker”, a delightfully delirious faux rock n’ roll number that serves as a paean to Townsend’s beloved coffee.
The Verdict
For all of his musical experimentation, the quality of Devin Townsend’s musical output has been remarkably consistent over the last two decades, so it’s no surprise that PowerNerd is an impressive offering. The songwriting and musicianship remain strong, and Townsend’s familiar wall-of-sound production ensures that even the quieter songs have a suitably “big” sound. While not as ambitious as his previous two solo albums, the return to a more direct form of rock music is sure to please old school fans.
