ALBUM OF THE MONTH

DEVIN TOWNSEND ORDER OF MAGNITUDE - EMPATH LIVE VOLUME 1 InsideOutMusic 10/10

Devin Townsend has come a long way since Steve Vai’s Sex And Religion back in 1993. His vocals veer from richly melodic to screaming thrash, and his unique guitar style (open C tuning) and colossal productions see him sit ably across prog and metal genres. This two-CD album was recorded in December 2019 in London, with a band that includes guitarists Mike Kenneally and Markus Reuter, plus keyboardist Diego Tejeida. It’s stunning to hear Devin completely live with such able musicians. With 16 tracks coming from his more mellow prog side, there’s still enough punch to cater for most fans; the outro to Evermore, sections of Gato and the whole of Kingdom are very intense. Opener, Borderlands blends a Major key reggae lilt, rousing legato licks, ambient Lydian passages and slamming drum grooves. War’s 12/8 feel with detuned guitars is an infectious listening experience - few have the ability to fuse ‘Disney happy’ with metal immensity like Devin. Gigpig Jam highlights the band’s control and dynamics, while Deadhead ‘s wall of sound is as cinematic as it is intense. As for the inclusion of Disco Inferno... Devin is having his cake and eating it too! [JS]