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"Epicloud should suit those who never had the courage to tackle the work of this genius because it is the most affordable and direct album of Devin Townsend's career."
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3/5
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In 2009, a band was formed around Devin Townsend for the rather crazy project of releasing four different albums in the space of two years. The monumental tetralogy started by "Ki" and ended by "Ghos"t is played on tour and recorded for a boxed set of DVDs and CDs of the four London concerts. We thought Devin Townsend would be satiated, exhausted, bloodless... This is not the case since Epicloud is coming out this autumn. Epic and Loud, two adjectives that qualify the record to set the tone. We find on this record a part of the band of the tour, including Anneke Van Giersbergen, Devin's muse.
Devin Townsend couldn't come out of this intense creative period so easily and record Epicloud without being inspired. Indeed, it turns out that the above-mentioned tetralogy can easily be annexed to this Epicloud in which we find a bit of each of the four albums but especially the power and the melody of "Addicted" and the quietness of "Ghost". But what stands out the most from this listening is a joy that contrasts with Devin's strongly depressive period before his tetralogy. The formats are short and very immediate and the inspirations are solar.
Nevertheless, the initiative is not totally convincing. If the four albums that preceded Epicloud all allowed Townsend's inspiration and originality to express themselves through distinct concepts, this new album doesn't show the same requirement. Some tracks ("Liberation", "Save Our Now" or "Hold On") sound too obvious, too pop and even too commercial. Others are very good ("True North", "Grace" or "More!") in a style that remains very typical and familiar to Canadian.
So, it's hard to find any logic in this album which sees interludes ("Effervescent" or "Lessons"), ballads, certainly interesting but lacking of roughness ("Where We Belong" or "Divine") and very pompous tracks in a rock-opera genre ("Lucky Animals" or "Angel"). And how to judge the presence of "Kingdom", slightly re-recorded, but already present on the album Physicist?
Icing on the cake, a second record accompanies the limited edition. This one is made of quality demos but Epicloud is like one too many! Devin Townsend is in great shape and he absolutely wants to share it with us through more and more releases. He just forgot that by doing so he doesn't create the event anymore. Epicloud will suit those who never had the courage to tackle the work of this genius because it is the most affordable and direct album of Devin Townsend's career. An ideal gateway to the world of Canadian music for a wider audience. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Effervescent!-00:44 02. True North-03:53 03. Lucky Animals-03:21 04. Liberation-03:21 05. Where We Belong-04:27 06. Save Our Now-04:08 07. Kingdom-05:29 08. Divine-03:17 09. Grace-06:09 10. More!-04:05 11. Lessons-01:07 12. Hold On-03:57 13. Angel-05:54
LINEUP:
Anneke van Giersbergen: Chant Dave Young: Claviers Devin Townsend: Chant / Guitares / Basse / Claviers Mike Young: Basse Ryan Van Poederooyen: Batterie
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4/5 (4 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.2/5 (5 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH DEVIN TOWNSEND
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LAST INTERVIEW
DEVIN TOWNSEND (FEBRUARY 2019)
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"The hyperactive Canadian is back alone with "Empath", the opportunity for Music Waves to meet the one who had marked the site with his touching revelations..."
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"Osmium out now !" |
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT DEVIN TOWNSEND
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