The Devin Townsend Project — Deconstruction

intothewellsabyss
Jun 25, 2023
3 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

12 years ago this month, we got a double dose of the Devin Townsend Project!

On June 20, 2011, The Devin Townsend Project released their third (and thirteenth release by Devin Townsend as a solo artist) full-length studio album, "Deconstruction”.

The album was released simultaneously with the fourth Devin Townsend Project album “Ghost”, on Townsend's independent record label HevyDevy Records.

The album features two drummers, Dirk Verbeuren and Ryan Van Poederooyen, as well as a number of guest vocalists. The album's choral and orchestral parts were written and arranged by Townsend using Pro Tools software. The parts were later transcribed into conventional musical notation for the orchestra.

Background:

According to an interview with Townsend, the album is a concept album focused around a man who is obsessed with finding the true nature of reality. In the process of this journey, he goes to Hell and meets the devil. The devil shows him the secrets of the universe, presenting a cheeseburger to him.

However, being a vegetarian, the man cannot eat the cheeseburger, rendering his attempts at working out the true nature of reality pointless. The album is chaotic in nature and has elements which are prominently humorous, which is a radical departure from Townsend's more recent work. Townsend also stated in this interview that “Deconstruction” is a musical representation of facing your fears and overcoming them. Townsend explained that he wanted the album to have a positive message, despite its highly chaotic nature.

According to Exclaim!'s Laura Wiebe, “Deconstruction” "draws on the sum of Townsend's musical career and influences, from the eccentricity of his Steve Vai-fronting moment to the theatricality of “Infinity” and the pulverizing power of Strapping Young Lad." She also noted the various guest contributions from bands such as Cynic and Emperor as clearly having a significant influence on the album's style.

In Thompsion Gerhart's review of the album for Sputnikmusic he wrote that "If you're new to Devin Townsend, or even if you've been a fan for years, in a way, you could say that “Deconstruction” is the perfect summary of his works. That is, his early works." Gerhart goes on to note that “Deconstruction”, Townsend draws from his past work in "Strapping Young Lad", his earlier Devin Townsend Project albums, as well as his solo music. "Heavier than anything Devin's done since “City” and more stacked with musical layers than anything he's done since his now flowering fascination with ProTools, “Deconstruction” certainly delivers what it promises - layer after layer of Devin to remove, dissect, and analyze."

Several songs reference or are referenced in other Devin Townsend music: "Stand" would be recalled in "Watch You" on “Contain Us”; "Planet of the Apes" recalls the melody of "A Monday" from “Ki”; "The Mighty Masturbator" reuses the coda of "Processional" from the “Infinity/Christeen + 4 Demos” EP.

Critical Reception:

“Deconstruction” was received with positive reviews from music critics. Metal Hammer described “Deconstruction” as "easily the most deranged, complex and sonically overwhelming thing he's ever done".

Bloody Disgusting's Jonathan Barkan praised the depth and complexity of the album, writing that "It’s astounding and an absolute joy to try and dissect." He concluded that "Deconstruction” is quite possibly the closest I’ve ever heard an album come to aural insanity while still being a complete joy to listen to."

Exclaim!'s Laura Wiebe likewise noted that "There's so much range and depth that “Deconstruction” is almost visible and tactile", though she criticised the second half of the album as taking the self-deprecating comedic theme too far, "deliberately sabotaging what might otherwise be verging on brilliance".

In 2021, it was elected by Metal Hammer as the 19th best Symphonic Metal album.

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Deconstruction + Ghost (Deluxe Edition)” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/deconstruction-ghost-deluxe-edition/1045552230

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Juular”: https://youtu.be/n-DKs0qfdEk

Click this link to follow the ultimate Devin Townsend on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

The Devin Townsend Project — Deconstruction

Background:

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