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Devin Townsend - Zē CD (album) cover

Devin Townsend

 

Experimental/Post Metal

3.69 | 186 ratings

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Wicket
Prog Reviewer
5 stars The main criticism behind this album seems to be an overall agreement in bombast over substance.

And I strongly disagree, because in all honesty, there wasn't a whole lot of substance on the first album.

I won't knock it, I enjoy the humor of the first Ziltoid album, but eventually the album morphed from telling an incomprehensible story about an alien invasion and coffee to just the ending of "Biomech", length and bombast with no substance or continuation of plot. The ending of the album frankly fell on its face.

Here I think Devin decided to correct that error. Knowing the Ziltoid plot would eventually just descend into nonsense (as all Townsend stuff does), he decided to focus more on bombast, more orchestral samples, more choirs and backing vocals, more loud, more raw, more everything. The perfect recipe for any soundtrack to a movie (real or otherwise). I understand that this strategy won't appeal to everyone, but frankly, I think it just makes the quality on this album much better. The album transitions much more cleanly from song to song. "Z2" actually sounds like an overture, rather than just the cartoonish 30 seconds of hell from "ZTO", and overture that continues with "From Sleep Awake". Rather then just a few songs stuck together with narration to make it sound like a concept album, the songs actually flow better and connect seamlessly. Overall, the production is just better, and that alone makes this album worthy of the extra star.

And while there may be a hint of humor lacking from the sequel, there's more of a sense of urgency, more drama. "War Princess" signals a forthcoming war, and as such, the tempo chugs along with thick, bassy drums, reverbed guitars and triumphant, echoing string samples and vocals. It's a war march, and it sound like it. "Deathray" is the equivalent to "Ziltoidia Attaxx!" from Z1, but instead of just downtuned guitars, chugging riffs and blastbeasts, it's a bit more sophisticated than that. It sounds more like a battle tune and not just a meat-headed breakdown. It just sounds like Devin put more time into this album than the first Ziltoid (which explains the blog post on his website saying that Z2 took a lot out of him and that he was nearly exhausted when it was all said and done).

Overall, the album doesn't sound like it was recorded in a tin can like Ziltoid 1. Yes, it's also more serious than the first, but that also makes it better, like it or not. It's an album that actually carries my full attention to the very end, an album that actually continues a somewhat follow able plot line to the every end! But honestly, it's not a surprise. I had a feeling if Townsend was going to do a sequel to Ziltoid, he'd make it bigger, badder and better. And by god, did he succeed.

But of course, there is a second album to be had here, which ironically, is the first.

Dubbed "Sky Blue", this is another atmospheric, reverb-tastic album full of catchy melodies and brutal riffs, which "Rejoice" begins with (with Anneke van Giersbergen once again providing some fantastic and haunting vocals). Think the bombast of "Epiclouder" meeting the colossal reverb and noise of "Accelerated Evolution", and you've basically summed up this disc. It's brilliant. Catchy choruses ("Fallout"), beautiful soaring melodies ("Midnight Sun"), and atmospheric ballads ("Rain City"). This disc is nothing to sneeze at either. Although with this disc I might have given just 4 stars, together with Z2, this whole thing is just another big, stupid, loud spectacle, which, in Townsend's world, equals a masterpiece. Just another ruckus, hilarious take on metal and everything else.

Wicket | 5/5 |

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