HARDWARES

Devin Townsend does not merely write songs, he creates complete musical environments that invite you to get lost within the layered walls of melody-infused noise. As if to play the other side of the recently-minted anarchistic Strapping Young Lad coin, Accelerated Evolution finds Townsend returning to his more melodic Ocean Machine persona, a move that many fans have been waiting for. Heavier than Terria, lighter that Physicist, not nearly as off the wall as Infinity, Acclerated Evolution picks up where Ocean Machine left off, drowning us in a majestic not-quite-pop-metal romp. Lead track 'Depth Charge' is a typical Townsend starter, up-tempo and brash, his pipes making a great song simply brilliant. In fact, this album is all about Townsend's remarkable voice, which is truly an instrument in its own right whether he's crooning his way through 'Sunday Afternoon' and pop-rocker 'Slow Me Down' or screeching sadness and venom in 'Deadhead' (reminiscent of 'Bastard' from Ocean Machine) and 'Suicide'. Musically, Accelerated Evolution is everything we've come to expect from Hevy Devy... big drums (not played by Gene Hoglan for a change), rich reverbed guitar, and layered keyboards for miles and miles that do anything but soften the sound. This is pure Devy metal without the SYL brutality, although 'Suicide' does hint at it for a few moments. And, Townsend reminds the world that he's an accomplished guitar player - something people often forget - on the aforementioned 'Sunday Afternoon' and the heady eight minute instrumental 'Away'. It's amazing, really; nine albums in less than ten years and the man has yet to disappoint. More power to him.