DEVIN TOWNSEND: Lightwork (PROGRESSIVE METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

It's hard to get over the release of a masterpiece. This is true for all artists, even the most inspired. Especially when the world catches up with you and reminds you of your mere mortal condition in front of the immensity of the universe. Will "Empath" be the peak of Devin Townsend's career? It's impossible to say, but we have to admit that, just after its release, the Canadian giant saw two events favourable to introspection coinciding: the pandemic and the imminence of his fifties. Naturally, a workaholic like him could not but take refuge in composition to try to remove his existential doubts. 2021 saw the release of two totally opposite musical albums: the chaotic and delirious "The Puzzle" and the calm and ethereal "Snuggles". But there were still many other tracks to record. Not knowing how to choose them, Devin Townsend asked his friend and producer Garth Richardson to help him select them. The aptly named "Lightwork" is thus the post-pandemic testimony of a brilliant artist, but quite shaken in his certainties.

In fact, "Lightwork" is probably the most shaky and the least coherent album of the Canadian's career. For an average artist, this wouldn't really be a problem, but for Devin Townsend, it's disappointing to say the least. First of all, because the format "songs" privileged here is not what suits him best, then because the inherent madness of his way of composing is often limited by questionable stylistic choices, like the insipid 'Vacation' of americana inspiration or the very atmospheric 'Children Of God' which extends over ten very (too) long minutes.

Of course, Devin Townsend has always liked to surprise and, for the time being, the fans of his powerful riffs will get their money's worth, especially with the first four tracks of "Lightwork". Clearly oriented electro pop, they are very melodic ('Moonpeople', 'Equinox') and develop powerful refrains that the Canadian has the secret ('Lightworker', 'Call Of The Void'), they remain globally penalized by a surprisingly caricatural simplicity.

"Give us back our Devin", might be the most pronounced sentence by the aficionados of the master when listening to "Lightwork". They can console themselves with 'Heartbreaker' and 'Dimensions', both as strange as interesting, and especially with the excellent 'Celestial Signals'. This very melodic track, with its superb vocal harmonies (thanks to Anneke Van Giersbergen), its funky guitar and its powerful chorus, is a real symphonic metal nugget and represents without any doubt the summit of an otherwise very timorous album.

"Lightwork" is therefore a minor album in the career of Devin Townsend. If it might disappoint more than one fan, it has at least the merit of being very easy to access. Those who, until then, didn't like the music of the bald giant will be able to use it as a gateway to his universe and, who knows, prolong the experience by listening to his major works. There is an embarrassment of riches in his discography. - Official website

DEVIN TOWNSEND

LIGHTWORK

INSIDEOUT MUSIC

PROGRESSIVE METAL