devin townsend project deconstruction

Released: 20 June 2011 Label: Century Media

Quite where do you begin with Devin Townsend? A true maestro of his music, Devin has been screwing with convention and creating the most ridiculously crafted metal masterpieces his whole career. He has transcended genre to the point that it’s insanity to even try and pin him down.

Devin is a genius, this much we know already. But – at the risk of alienating his adoring fanbase – his genius is not without its flaws and nor is this album, the third in the quadrilogy started last year with Ki and Addicted. Perhaps it’s understandable when an artist is so unafraid of walking the line between genius and madness that the boundaries get blurred and at times, Deconstruction comes dangerously close to the edge, often saved only at the very last minute from falling into an abyss of utter impenetrability. Still, we don’t go to Dev for three minute pop singles do we?

Attempting any sort of song by song analysis is a near impossible task nearly on a par with the mammoth scale of the album itself, but the mid-album trio of Planet of the Apes, Sumeria and the sixteen minute The Mighty Masturbator go some way to illustrating the almost incomprehensible scope of Deconstruction.

Planet of the Apes is a largely mid-tempo number, founded on twisting, awkward rhythms and, much like the rest of the album, orchestrated to the sort of Wagnerian proportions that would send the valkyries riding off in the other direction.

Sumeria combines relentless double kick with an operatic choral arrangement which plays out like a portent for the end of days and leaves you with the knowledge that Devin is a shoe-in when someone commissions the soundtrack of the apocalypse.

The last of the trio – The Mighty Masturbator– could only be the product of a twisted, brilliant mind. Taking in a myriad of moods, the experience is akin to being on a white knuckle roller coaster driven by a mad musical scientist who is only just in control of the ride. Devin’s vocals are awe-inspiring and it must rank as one of the finest moments in a fine career.
         

Deconstruction won’t sink in on first listen. It might not sink in after a hundred listens. We may never do more than scratch the surface of what Devin has created here. We can only admire the craftsmanship of someone so completely in a league of his own.

by Marcus Jervis