Devlab (album)
Devlab is the sixth studio album by Canadian Devin Townsend. It is so far the most unusual album of the metal musician because it contains fifteen untitled pieces in which he combines ambient with elements of electronic music and the noisecore. The album was released on 4 December 2004 at Townsend's own record label HevyDevy Records.
Background
Already for the Special Edition album for Accelerated Evolution Townsend named as a Project EKO EP had taken the first experiments in the field electronica. These experiments resulted in a complete electronic album, whose music style Townsend himself described as "heavy metal ambience". The ideas for the album emerged over a longer period on the laptop of Townsend. On the way back from the tour with Symphony X he added digitally along with the intention to make the fragments a "completely worn plate ". The recordings took place in 2004 over a period of several months in his own home studio The Devlab instead, which was also the name of the album. The recording of all instruments, the mix and the production took Townsend before unassisted. The album was sold exclusively through the website of the label HevyDevy Records.
Reviews
Because Townsend drove the album in small numbers on the website of his record label, it was discussed by only a few magazines and got largely positive reviews. The online magazine metal.de noticed that all located on Devlab, which has no place on the albums of his other projects such as Strapping Young Lad or The Devin Townsend Band. The album offers samples of various instruments beside " dreamy melodies, harsh noise interruptions, a number of layered synth surfaces, relaxed beats and warm bass lines ." The Tartarean Desire Webzine notes that Devlab was a good album, but not for Devin Townsend fans. As the reviewer of metal.de he recommends to hear the album under headphones and thinks that one should give the CD a chance and that open-minded listeners will be pleasantly surprised.