DEVIN TOWNSEND

Devolution Series #2 – Galactic Quarantine INSIDEOUT

Devin swaps the acoustic guitar for all-out metal on latest lockdown live release.

With no touring, Devin Townsend has devoted his energies to raising money for charity through online concerts and Galactic Quarantine is one of his virtual events with the band spread across North America. Unlike the inaugural Devolution Series release, the acoustic Live In Leeds, this is all about skull-crushing heaviness, spanning old Strapping Young Lad (All Hail The New Flesh) through to more recent cuts like Stormbending and March Of The Poozers.

To replicate the densely layered studio arrangements, Townsend makes extensive use of backing tracks, so it’s not a particularly livefeeling album. The mix doesn’t help; there’s no air in the music, everything is ultra-compressed to the mid-range and most of the time it’s impossible to hear drummer Samus Paulicelli’s cymbals, making him sound like a drum machine. Fortunately, Townsend attacks his vocals with abandon, whether hitting the high notes in Kingdom or roaring his way through the stomping By Your Command. The mix notwithstanding, Townsend’s humour and sheer charisma are hard to resist. “Don’t let the bullshit get you down,” he advises. Wise words.