The Devin Townsend Project - Addicted

So, If you've ever wondered what it would sound like if Cannibal Corpse and Britney Spears collaborated on a record, look no further than The Devin Townsend Project's Addicted. Yeah, I did just say that, but believe me, it's pretty hard to describe this record. Just, uh, hear me out?

Some of you older folks might remember Devin Townsend from way back when. Besides a lengthy stint playing back up guitar for Steve Vai, he was known to most as the front man of extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad (speaking of, you should probably go listen to them..). In those days, his off-the-wall personality and unmistakable hairdo set him apart from the average metal vocalist. That said, Strapping Young Lad was a one trick pony. Devin was just screaming angry words, chugging out angry riffs, and being a very angry man playing very angry music in general. Well, by 2009, he had cleaned up something fierce. All of a sudden the dude was sober, wearing suits, and had given up on whatever hair he had left (along with cutoff t-shirts and jean shorts). He also released the second album in a four-part sequence under the Devin Townsend Project name; Addicted, a clear and deliberate reference to his own demons. One might expect something poignant featured on the album's cover, but guess what..

It's crayons.

Yep, crayons. The sight of a child’s plaything on the cover of an album released by "Hevy Devy" himself may worry the innocent Strapping Young Lad fanatic who hasn't been exposed to his solo work. Additionally, the fact that Addicted drew heavy production influence from Nickelback’s Dark Horse may (and should) worry pretty much everyone else. That said, try not to let anything deter you from giving Addicted a chance, because to be quite frank, the album is totally and utterly brilliant.

Anyone in the prog rock/metal world will likely speak volumes about the generally outstanding quality of Townsend’s solo releases. He's made some amazing records, and as a result is almost universally enjoyed and respected by his peers, fans, and critics alike. Looking back to the first of these - Ocean Machine: Biomech, we're presented with an album that was showered with glorious praise by critics and fans. As a result, each of Devin’s subsequent releases have been held to a PAINFULLY high standard, and are notoriously nit-picked by critics for even the finest details (albeit, usually applauded for them as well). Of course, one could look at Addicted in a similar way. You could take the album and analyze every note, every key change down to the most minute details, but you’d be missing the point entirely. Sure, Addicted is chock-full of brilliant technicalities just like any of Hevy Devy's other releases, but that’s not the point. This record is fun as hell, and that's all anyone really needs to know about it.

Take, for example the third track, “Bend It Like Bender!”. It starts with Devin’s signature chugging riffs and screaming vocals, but manages to break out into a poppy, catchy chorus centered around some BEAUTIFUL female vocals. “In-Ah!” is probably the most mainstream track present on the record, which is, frankly, full of pop themes. It's melodic, mid-tempo, and - get this - ternary in form. Not exactly what one would expect from one of today's prog masters. Hell, even the two (a little out of place, I must admit) crushingly heavy openers, “Addicted!” and “Universe in a Ball!” aren't even angry as such. They're just gigantic-sounding pop songs with weight, so to speak. Additionally, the anthemic choruses of tracks like “Supercrush!” are too catchy to ignore, and showcase clear influence from 80's arena rock. The melodies throughout Addicted are brilliant, and every track hits the mark (except, perhaps, “Universe in a Ball,” the real black sheep of this release).

So, before you listen too critically, or in the case of many an internet metal nerd, write Addicted off as "butt rock", take a chill pill and remember that this is an album that you’re meant to just sit back and enjoy. You’re supposed to take every song at face value and have fun,  whether it's headbanging to a gnarly riff or singing along to what I consider to be some of the catchiest hooks in music today. My suggestion? Take a drive, hit play on the the playlist below (it's nearly the complete album this time, you're welcome), and lose yourself in some great jams.