Devin Townsend Project - Addicted
01. Addicted
02. Universe In A Ball
03. Bend It Like Bender!
04. Beautiful Crush
05. Hyperdrive
06. Wild Hearts
07. Ih-Ah!
08. The Way Home
09. Numbered
10. Souls Awake!
11. Om
Warning! Invest a couple of listens in this album and you'll be addicted alright. Unlike the first Devin Townsend Project release last year (the reservedly transcendental "KI"), the follow up "Addicted" has much in common with previous entries in the Townsend discography - it has the shiny production values of latter day Strapping Young Lad albums like "The New Black" and the overwhelmingly positive sentiments are reminiscent of feel-good summertime album "Synchestra".
On this album Devin uses some staple members of the band that played on "Synchestra" and "Accelerated Evolution", most notably drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen's technical antics are present and hard to miss thanks to the incredibly chunky frequencies on this album. Feeling that a woman's touch was needed Devin splits vocal duties with Anneke van Giersbergen. Her voice is really well suited to melodic heavy music and makes for some beautiful harmonies and the highlight of the album comes with Anneke's version of 'Hyperdrive', a euphoric reworking of a track from Devin’s back-catalogue.
Townsend is an artist and his medium is reflective of his subject matter. Hence an album about the addictive nature of the human race is his most commercial ever, from the poppy love-fest 'Ih-Ah!' to the industrial-strength groove of opener 'Addicted!' This is bound to alienate the many homicidal SYL fanatics out there, but followers of Townsend's numerous projects know that he can come at you from any angle - this time he broadsides listeners with a catchy energetic album that will satisfy a casual audience as much as the niche fanbase. The next instalment due for release, “Deconstruction”, promises to be a far less predictable ride…
Reviewed by Mike Gilpin
Addicted is out now on HevyDevy Records
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