#16 - Top of 2011

Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction (Inside Out)

This year graced us with not one, but TWO DTP albums, "Deconstruction" and "Ghost". Both made it into the the list for this year with "Deconstruction" being in number 16. Of the two, this represents the "wild" and "heavy" side of the artist, while Ghost is the "pensive" and "introspective" side of Devin. Since the dissolution of Strapping Young Lad, this is the heaviest record of Devin and the third part of the four-part initial DTP experiment. In addition, it is a quasi-concept album of a man's journal to discover the inner workings of truth, leading him to hell, all acting as a metaphor to overcoming fears and difficulties in life. In a track by track examination of the album, we begin with "Praise the Lowered" , the sole relaxing moment of the album, with guest vocals from the singer of Novembers Doom (Paul Khur) . It is followed by "Stand", a complex composition which bears striking similarities thematically to the Devin Townsend Band album "Terria" and has guest vocals (or rather, roaring) from Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth. "Juular" which follows, has since become a live concert favourite and is an extremely heavy and aggressive piece, complimented by guest vocals from Ihsahn.  "Planet of the Apes" is a paranoid piece of true progressive metal with influences from bands like Messugah as well as the aforementioned late Strapping Young Lad.  Again there is a guest vocalist here, Tomy Giles Rodgers (Between the Buried and Me).  "Sumeria"  features the great Paul Masvidal of Cynic and is along with "Juular" the two more listener-friendly moments of the record. This comes in stark contrast with "The Mighty Masturbator" which starts in a very pompous manner and ends up being an absolute mindfuck of a song, justly complimented by the insanity that is Greg Puciato from Dillinger Escape Plan. "Pandemic", is more structured as a song, but just as heavy, and is full of Strapping Young Lad influences, complimented by operatic vocals provided by Miss Floor Jansen (Nightwish, Star One etc.). "Deconstruction" veers again into complete insanity with Jazz improvs followed by blastbeat attacks and GWAR guesting to throw the whole song into a nearly perfect chaos. "Poltergeist" which closes out the album features no guests, but is again extremely aggressive and justly summarises the whole album, acting as a good finisher to one of the most Townsend albums Devin Townsend has ever done. Not recommended to outsiders and a very rough listen, but engaging nonetheless!

93/100

Below is the music video for the infernal "Juular".