a rift

Ziltoid the Omniscient

devy-through-the-ages:

Lineup:
Devin Townsend - Everything

Guest Musicians:
Dave Young - Backup Vocals
Brian Waddell - Backup Vocals
Fredrik Thordendal - Assistance with drum programming

During his extended break from the music industry, Devin shaved off his beard and his trademark Skillet hairdo. He also quit drinking, smoking, recreational drugs, and pornography. During this break he alone wrote and recorded a new album in his own home studio. He played all the instruments on the record except for drums, which were recorded using The Drumkit from Hell expansion on the EZDrummer software. The expansion uses drum sounds recorded from Meshuggah drummer Tomas Haake’s drumkit. Dave Young and Brian Waddell of the now-defunct Devin Townsend Band contribute some backup vocals on the album. Fredrik Thordendal of Meshuggah assisted Devin in programming drums for the record.

The album is a concept album/space opera about an alien named Ziltoid the Omniscient, who comes to Earth in search of the ultimate cup of coffeh(Black). He is disappointed by the coffee the Earthlings present, and he destroys the planet. A group of survivors, led by Captain Spectacular escape the Earth and are chased by Ziltoid throughout the galaxy. Eventually, Ziltoid has an existential crisis and goes to the Omnidimensional Creator to find out the true nature of his reality. He is revealed to be a puppet. As he faces this realization, we the listeners find out that this whole story has been a mere daydream of a coffee shop barista.

The character Ziltoid has become a mascot for Devin’s music. Similar to Iron Maiden’s Eddie, or Megadeth’s Vic Rattlehead. The character Ziltoid itself is a representation and a parody of Devin during his time with Strapping Young Lad. The puppet Devin uses for Ziltoid has the actual shaven remains of Devin’s Skullet.

The album’s sound is a blend of Devin’s two former bands. It features the aggression and technicality of SYL while still maintaining the prog metal stylings and softer passages similar to the DTB. Since Devin was on break when this album was released, there was no tour in support of it. When Devin began playing live again with the newly formed Devin Townsend Project, several songs from the album were featured in regular rotation in the setlists, including Color Your World, Hyperdrive, The Greys, and By Your Command. The entire album was performed live at the Tuska Open Air Festival in 2010. The song Hyperdrive(Which is another big fan favorite) was re-recorded for the 2009 DTP album Addicted, featuring Anneke van Giersbergen on lead vocals. 

The special edition of the album contains a bonus disc with 3 extra tracks. Don’t Know Why is a rant by Ziltoid himself. Traveling Salesman is a Johnny Cash-esque song that is very out of place on the album. Another Road is basically Devin warming up to a metronome, with some parts sounding similar to Canada off of Terria. The bonus disc is also a DVD with an instructional guitar vid from Devin, as well as several skits featuring Ziltoid.

Tracklisting:

1. ZTO
   
2. By Your Command
   
3. Ziltoidia Attaxx!!!
   
4. Solar Winds
   
5. Hyperdrive
   
6. N9
   
7. Planet Smasher
   
8. Omnidimensional Creator
   
9. Color Your World
   
10. The Greys
    
11. Tall Latte
    
12. Don’t Know Why(Bonus Track)
    
13. Travelling Salesman(Bonus Track)
    
14. Another Road(Bonus Track)
    

Full album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUcmBI1D4lg

It is also good to note that the booklet offers additional information about what is happening and portrays a different point of view on certain events. Always has me grinning stupidly, A+ recommended read.

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