Deconstruction (Devin Townsend Project album)
| Deconstruction | ||||
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| Studio album by Devin Townsend Project | ||||
| Released | June 20, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | November 2010 – February 2011 | |||
| Genre | Progressive metal, symphonic metal, industrial metal, extreme metal | |||
| Length | 70:49 | |||
| Label | HevyDevy, InsideOut Music | |||
| Producer | Devin Townsend | |||
| Devin Townsend chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Slipcase cover |
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Deconstruction is the thirteenth studio album by Canadian musician Devin Townsend, and the third of six albums in the Devin Townsend Project series. The album features two drummers, Dirk Verbeuren and Ryan Van Poederooyen, as well as a number of guest vocalists.
The album's choral and orchestral parts were written and arranged by Townsend using Pro Tools software. The parts were later transcribed into conventional musical notation for the orchestra.
The album was released on June 20, 2011,[1] simultaneously with the fourth Devin Townsend Project album Ghost, on Townsend's independent record label HevyDevy Records.
Concept
According to an interview with Townsend, the album is a concept album focused around a man who is obsessed with finding the true nature of reality. In the process of this journey, he goes to Hell and meets the devil. The devil shows him the secrets of the universe, presenting a cheeseburger to him. However, being a vegetarian, the man cannot eat the cheeseburger, rendering his attempts at working out the true nature of reality pointless. The album is chaotic in nature and has elements which are prominently humorous, which is a radical departure from Townsend's more recent work. Townsend also stated in this interview that Deconstruction is a musical representation of facing your fears and overcoming them.[2] Townsend explained that he wanted the album to have a positive message, despite its highly chaotic nature.
Music
Several songs reference or are referenced in other Devin Townsend music: "Stand" would be recalled in "Watch You" on Contain Us; "Planet of the Apes" recalls the melody of "A Monday" from Ki; "The Mighty Masturbator" reuses the coda of "Processional" from the Infinity/Christeen + 4 Demos EP.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |   [3] |
| Allmusic |  [4] |
| Blistering | [5] |
| DPRP | [6] |
| Metal Hammer | [7] |
Metal Hammer described Deconstruction as "easily the most deranged, complex and sonically overwhelming thing he's ever done".[7] Terrorizer Magazine rated it 5/5 and named it joint album of the month, alongside Ghost.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Devin Townsend[8].
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Praise the Lowered" | 6:02 |
| 2. | "Stand" | 9:36 |
| 3. | "Juular" | 3:46 |
| 4. | "Planet of the Apes" | 10:59 |
| 5. | "Sumeria" | 6:37 |
| 6. | "The Mighty Masturbator" | 16:28 |
| 7. | "Pandemic" | 3:29 |
| 8. | "Deconstruction" | 9:27 |
| 9. | "Poltergeist" | 4:25 |
| 10. | "Ho Krll" (iTunes exclusive bonus track) | 5:58 |
Personnel
- Devin Townsend – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, programming
- Ryan Van Poederooyen – drums on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10[9]
- Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork, Scarve) – drums on tracks 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9
- Paul Kuhr (Novembers Doom) – vocals on "Praise the Lowered"[10]
- Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth, ex-Bloodbath) – vocals on "Stand"[8]
- Ihsahn (Emperor) – vocals on "Juular"[11]
- Tommy Giles Rogers (Between the Buried and Me) – vocals on "Planet of the Apes"
- Joe Duplantier (Gojira) – vocals on "Sumeria"
- Paul Masvidal (ex-Death, Cynic) – vocals on "Sumeria"
- Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan) – vocals on "The Mighty Masturbator"
- Floor Jansen (ex-After Forever, ReVamp, Nightwish) – soprano vocals on "Pandemic"
- Oderus Urungus (Gwar) – vocals on "Deconstruction"
- Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah) – solo on "Deconstruction"[10]
- Florian Magnus Maier (Morean) (The Hungry Gods, Dark Fortress, Noneuclid) – undertones on "Stand" and "The Mighty Masturbator"
- Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra[12]
Production
- Devin Townsend – production, recording, mixing
- Jens Bogren – mixing
- Anthony Clarkson – artwork
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[13] | 23 |
References
- ↑ "THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT's 'Deconstruction', 'Ghost' Albums Get Release Date". March 27, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ↑ "KaaosTV Episode #36: The Devin Townsend Project".
- ↑ Marsicano, Dan (June 2011). "Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction Review". About.com. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
- ↑ Freeman, Phil (July 2011). "Deconstruction – Review". Allmusic. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ↑ Donnelly, Justin (June 2011). "Deconstruction – Review". Blistering. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
- ↑ De Val, Tom (June 2011). "Devin Townsend Project: Deconstruction & Ghost – Review". DPRP. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
- 1 2 Metal Hammer UK (219): 82. 2011. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - 1 2 DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT: DECONSTRUCTION DISSECTED – Radio Metal
- ↑ "Welcome to Dirk Verbeuren's official website!". Dirkverbeuren.com. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- 1 2 "Devin Townsend Constructs A Super-Group On "Deconstruction"". No Clean Singing. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Former EMPEROR Frontman To Guest On New THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT Album". February 1, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ↑ "Devin Townsend Project | The Devin Townsend Project Announces European Tour 2011". Hevydevy.com. December 9, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Devin Townsend – Chart history" Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums for Devin Townsend.
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