Devin Townsend discography

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Devin Townsend discography

Devin Townsend performing with Strapping Young Lad in November 2005.
Releases
↙Studio albums 14
↙Live albums 2
↙Compilation albums 2
↙EPs 3
↙Singles 1
↙Music videos 7
↙Strapping Young Lad discography  

Devin Townsend is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and record producer. As a solo artist, he has produced, written, and released fourteen full-length studio albums, one EP, one live album and two demo compilations on his independent record label, HevyDevy Records. Townsend is also the frontman, producer, and songwriter for the extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad, which has released five studio albums, one EP, and two live releases on Century Media. Since 1993, Townsend has produced and made guest appearances on dozens of albums by rock and metal artists. Townsend was recruited by Steve Vai to perform lead vocals on the 1993 album Sex & Religion.

Under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad, Townsend released the album Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing, in 1995.[1] His debut solo release was 1996's Punky Brüster – Cooked on Phonics. He formed a band under the Strapping Young Lad name to perform his next album, the industrial metal album City, in 1997. Devin started a project initially called Biomech, under the Ocean Machine moniker, to release his less metal-influenced music. It was ultimately released under his own name as 1997's Ocean Machine: Biomech.[2] This was followed by his first charting album, the 1998 album Infinity, which appeared at number 29 in Japan.[3] Strapping Young Lad went on hiatus at this time so that Townsend could focus on his solo music,[4] which had a varying lineup of supporting musicians.[2] His 2000 release Physicist reached number 80 in Japan,[3] and was followed by the 2001 release Terria which charted in France[5] and Japan.[3]

In 2002, Townsend reunited Strapping Young Lad and formed a new group, The Devin Townsend Band, as a permanent fixture for recording and touring for his solo music. The two bands recorded new albums simultaneously, and released Strapping Young Lad and Accelerated Evolution, respectively, in 2003.[6] The former was Townsend's first album to chart in the US, appearing at number 97 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.[7] Townsend also released a special edition of Accelerated Evolution which included an EP called Project EKO. The EP was Townsend's first foray into electronica, a genre which he explored further with Devlab in 2004.[2] Strapping Young Lad released Alien in 2005, which charted in four countries,[7][8][9][10] reaching 32 on Top Heatseekers.[7] In 2006, both bands released their final albums, The Devin Townsend Band's Synchestra charting in three European countries[5][11][12] and Strapping Young Lad's The New Black climbing to last place on the Billboard 200.[7]

In 2007, Townsend disbanded both Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Band to spend more time with his family and less time touring.[13][14] That year he released a third electronica piece, an ambient album called The Hummer, and a solo metal album, Ziltoid the Omniscient. He put his music on hiatus for a year, doing production work for other artists. In late 2008, he began recording a four-album series called The Devin Townsend Project, using a different musical style and band of supporting musicians for each album.[15][16] The first entry in the series, a relatively quiet rock album called Ki, was released in May 2009,[17] reaching number 26 in Finland[12] and appearing on the UK Indie[18] and UK Rock[19] charts. The second album in the series, a "commercial, yet heavy" metal album[citation needed] called Addicted, was released in November 2009, reaching number 36 in Finland, number 2 on the US Heatseekers chart, and became the first solo Townsend album to chart in the US Billboard 200,[20] reaching number 168. The third and fourth albums in the series, a metal album called Deconstruction and a new-age album called Ghost, were released simultaneously on June 20, 2011.

Contents

[edit] Devin Townsend

[edit] Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
DEU
[11]		 FIN
[12]		 FRA
[5]		 JPN
[3]		 UK
Indie
[18]		 UK
Rock
[19]		 U.S.
200
[21]		 U.S.
Heat
[22][23]		 U.S.
Indie
[24]
1996 Punky Brüster – Cooked on Phonics
  • Released: March 19, 1996
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — — — — — — — — —

Satire concept album, parody of punk rock music
1997 Ocean Machine: Biomech
  • Released: July 21, 1997
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — — — — — — — — —

Originally released as "Biomech" under the "Ocean Machine" moniker
1998 Infinity
  • Released: June 17, 1998
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — — — 29 — — — — —
2000 Physicist
  • Released: June 26, 2000
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — — — 80 — — — — —
2001 Terria
  • Released: November 6, 2001
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — — 125 81 — — — — —

Limited edition release includes a second disc featuring "Universal" b-side and extra video content.
2003 Accelerated Evolution
  • Released: March 31, 2003
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — — 135 249 — — — — —

Released as The Devin Townsend Band; special edition release includes a bonus disc titled Project EKO
2004 Devlab
  • Released: December 4, 2004
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — — — — — — — — —

Ambient soundscape produced entirely by Townsend
2006 Synchestra
  • Released: January 30, 2006
  • Label: HevyDevy
 85 33 128 — — — — — —

Released as The Devin Townsend Band; special edition release includes the Safe Zone bonus DVD
The Hummer
  • Released: November 15, 2006
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — — — — — — — — —

Only 500 copies released; the second ambient soundscape following 2004's Devlab
2007 Ziltoid the Omniscient
  • Released: May 27, 2007
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — — — — — — — — —

Special edition release includes a second disc featuring three bonus tracks and extra video content.
2009 Ki
  • Released: May 22, 2009
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — 26 179 — 22 31 — 69 —

First album of the Devin Townsend Project
Addicted
  • Released: November 17, 2009
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — 36 — — — — 168 2 22

Second album of the Devin Townsend Project
2011 Deconstruction
  • Released: June 20, 2011
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — 15 — — — — 165 — —

Third album of the Devin Townsend Project
Ghost
  • Released: June 20, 2011
  • Label: HevyDevy
 — 15 — — — — — — —

Fourth album of the Devin Townsend Project

[edit] Upcoming studio albums

Year Album details Notes
2012 Epicloud [25]
  • Release: 2012
  • Label: HevyDevy
Casualties of Cool [26]
  • Release: 2012
  • Label: HevyDevy

A duo of Devin Townsend and Ché Aimee Dorval.
TBA Ghost 2 [27]
  • Release: TBA
  • Label: HevyDevy

Album consisting of Ghost leftovers
TBA Z2 [28]
  • Release: TBA
  • Label: HevyDevy

Second album starring Devin's alter-ego character Ziltoid.

[edit] Extended plays, live albums, compilations, and videos

Year Album details Notes
1998 Christeen + 4 Demos
  • Label: HevyDevy

Includes the "Christeen" single and four B-sides from the Infinity sessions
1999 Official Bootleg
  • Label: HevyDevy

Live album on CD-R limited release, also released on VHS or DVD-R, both recorded in Tokyo (1999) and Vancouver (2000)
2000 Ass-Sordid Demos
  • Label: HevyDevy

Compilation of demos from 1990 to 1996
2003 Project EKO
  • Label: InsideOut

Electronica EP included with the special-edition release of Accelerated Evolution
2004 Ass-Sordid Demos II
  • Label: HevyDevy

Compilation of Noisescapes, Grey Skies, and Devin Townsend demos from 1991 to 1993
2006 Safe Zone
  • Label: HevyDevy

In-studio performance DVD released exclusively with the special edition of Synchestra
2011 Live in Baltimore
  • Label: HevyDevy

5-song live EP by the Devin Townsend Project released as a free Internet download
Unplugged
  • Label: HevyDevy

CD recorded as a limited edition for UK acoustic shows in July 2011
Contain Us
  • Label: HevyDevy

A box set including four Devin Townsend Project albums with two CDs and two DVDs consisting of both released and unreleased material

[edit] Singles

Year Title Album
1998 "Christeen"
  • Label: USG (USG 1028-4)
 Infinity

[edit] Music videos

Year Title Album Director
1996 "Life" Ocean Machine: Biomech
1997 "Christeen" Infinity
2003 "Storm" Accelerated Evolution
2006 "Vampira" Synchestra Marcus Rogers[29]
2009 "Coast" Ki Konrad Palkiewicz
"Bend It Like Bender!" Addicted Konrad Palkiewicz
2011 "Supercrush!" Addicted Konrad Palkiewicz
"Juular" Deconstruction David Brodsky

[edit] Strapping Young Lad

[edit] Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
FIN
[30]		 FRA
[8]		 JPN
[10]		 SWE
[9]		 U.S.
200
[7]		 U.S.
Heat
[7][31]		 U.S.
Indie
[7]
1995 Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing — — — — — — —

Reissued on June 12, 2006 with three bonus tracks, the music video for "S.Y.L." and extended liner notes
1997 City
  • Released: February 11, 1997
  • Label: Century Media (Cat. # 7851)
 — — — — — — —

Reissued on June 5, 2007 with five bonus tracks and alternative cover art
2003 Strapping Young Lad
  • Released: February 11, 2003
  • Label: Century Media (Cat. # 8127)
 — — 154 — — 97 —
2005 Alien
  • Released: March 22, 2005
  • Label: Century Media (Cat. # 8327)
 — 156 185 48 — 32 35
2006 The New Black
  • Released: July 11, 2006
  • Label: Century Media (Cat. # 8427)
 17 139 164 — 200 8 15

[edit] Other albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
FIN
[30]
1998 No Sleep 'till Bedtime
  • Released: June 2, 1998
  • Label: Century Media
 —

Live album recorded in Melbourne, Australia
2003 Tour EP
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Century Media
 —

Limited edition tour EP of 2,500 copies, featuring tracks from SYL album
2004 For Those Aboot to Rock
  • Released: November 2, 2004
  • Label: Century Media
 —

Live video performance recorded in Vancouver
2007 C:enter:###
  • Released: April 19, 2007
  • Label: Restrain
 —

Released as 7-inch vinyl EP on the German label Restrain Records, limited to 500 hand numbered copies, including Japanese-only bonus tracks "C:enter:###" and "In the Rainy Season", a live version of "Underneath the Waves", and a cover of Melvins song "Zodiac"
2008 1994–2006 Chaos Years
  • Released: March 31, 2008
  • Label: Century Media
 32

Also available as a limited collector's edition in special CD/DVD package, including a poster[32]

[edit] Music videos

Year Title Director
1995 "S.Y.L." Blair Dobson[33]
1997 "Detox"
2003 "Relentless" Marcus Rogers[34]
2005 "Love?" Joe Lynch[35]
2006 "Zen" Marcus Rogers[36]
"Wrong Side" David Brodsky[37]
2007 "Almost Again" Marcus Rogers[38]

[edit] Other collaborations

Year Album details Notes
1994 IR8 / Sexoturica
  • Label: Chophouse

Guitars on IR8, a collaboration with Jason Newsted and Tom Hunting

[edit] Production credits and involvement on other albums

Devin Townsend has appeared on numerous albums outside of his solo material and Strapping Young Lad, often filling the role as the producer.[39]

Year Album Artist Credit(s)
1993 Sex and Religion Steve Vai Vocals
1994 Millennium Front Line Assembly Guitar on "Division of Mind, "Vigilante" and "Sex Offender"
1995 Hard Wired Front Line Assembly Guitar on "Circuitry", "Modus Operandi", "Transparent Species", "Barcode" and "Condemned"
Alien Love Secrets Steve Vai Spoken word at the end of song "Juice"
1996 Working Man – A Tribute to Rush Various Artists Vocals on "Natural Science"
Convergence James Murphy Vocals on "Since Forgotten", vocals and keys on "The Last One"
Fire Garden Steve Vai Vocals on "Whookam"
Pigwalk Stuck Mojo Producer, vocals on Animal and Violate

Guitar on Inside my head
1997 Urge The Wildhearts Vocals on "Kill Me to Death"
Stillborn Unit:187 Guitar, vocals
Loaded Unit:187 Producer
GRRRR!! Various Artists
Bound by Fire Zimmers Hole
A Tribute to Judas Priest – Legends of Metal Various Artists Vocals, guitars, keyboards and production on "Sinner"
1998 Anarchic Airwaves The Wildhearts Guitar
Remix Dystemper Skinny Puppy Guitar on "Worlock (Rhys Fulber – Eye of the Beholder mix)"
2001 Music for Them Asses The Almighty Punchdrunk Producer, guitar, synthesizer
Legion of Flames Zimmer's Hole Producer
Someone Please Kill Me Frygirl
Violate This Stuck Mojo Producer, vocals on "Wrathchild" and "Shout at the Devil"
Finger It Out Just Cause Producer
2002 Evenlight Evenlight Producer, vocals on "Los Bad Guy 'Os" and "Pay", guitar on "Rat in a Maze" and "Tapper"
The Lament Configuration December Producer
Symbol of Life Paradise Lost Vocals on "Two Worlds" and "Small Town Boy"
The De-Evolution of Yasmine Bleeth Sir Millard Mulch Spoken word on "The Great Strength of Our Order"
Natural Born Chaos Soilwork Producer, vocals on "Black Star Deceiver" and "Soilworker's Song of the Damned"
A Tribute To The Beast Vol.2 Various Artists Producer, vocals on "Wrathchild" (with Stuck Mojo)
2003 As the Palaces Burn Lamb of God Producer, guitar on "A Devil in God's Country"
2004 The Human Equation Ayreon Lyrics and vocals on "Day Three: Pain", "Day Eight: School" and "Day Sixteen: Loser"
Heavilution The Heavils Producer
Ten Ways from Sunday Ten Ways from Sunday
Of Malice and the Magnum Heart Misery Signals Producer, vocals on "A Victim, a Target"
2005 How to Sell the Whole F#@!ing Universe to Everybody... Once and for All! Sir Millard Mulch Spoken word on "The Great Strength of Our Professional Affiliations/How to Spend Music Industry Currency"
Undoing Ruin Darkest Hour Producer
2006 Beyond Hell Gwar Producer, vocals on "Tormentor"
2007 Deliver Us Darkest Hour Producer, guitar on "Full Imperial Collapse"
If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say, Start a Band Removal Vocals on "Layers of the Union"
Iron Gag A Life Once Lost Guitar solo on "Detest"
Sworn to a Great Divide Soilwork Vocal production
Summon in Thunder Himsa
2008 When You Were Shouting at the Devil... We Were in League with Satan Zimmer's Hole Producer
Controller Misery Signals
Terror Syndrome Terror Syndrome Mixing, guitar on "Spinning Backwards"
Declaration Bleeding Through Producer
Dichotomy Becoming the Archetype
2009 TBA Advent Mixing
The Internal Dialogue Contrive Mixing[40]
In Your Room Agua de Annique Writer on Just Fine
2011 Sea Shepherd EP Gojira Vocals on "Of Blood and Salt"
SIN-atra Various Artists Vocals on "New York, New York"

[edit] References

General
Specific
  1. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Devin Townsend Biography." Allmusic. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Turner, Tracy. "Devin Townsend Biography." HevyDevy Records. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d (Japanese) "Music Releases". Oricon. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  4. ^ Gramlich, Chris (February 2003). "The Reluctant Return of Strapping Young Lad". Exclaim!. http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid2=4&fid1=1576&csid1=44. Retrieved 2008-04-28. 
  5. ^ a b c "Devin Townsend." Les Charts. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  6. ^ G., Mike (September 2003). "The Devin Townsend Band: No Holds Barred." Metal Maniacs.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g ""Artist Chart History – Strapping Young Lad". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Strapping Young Lad". Les Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  9. ^ a b "Strapping Young Lad". Swedish Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Strapping Young Lad". Oricon. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  11. ^ a b "Townsend, Devin Band". Musicline.de. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  12. ^ a b c "Devin Townsend." Finnish Charts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  13. ^ "Devin Townsend Says Strapping Young Lad Is Over For Good". Blabbermouth.net. March 20, 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  14. ^ Bowar, Chad (2006). "Strapping Young Lad Interview: A Conversation With Frontman Devin Townsend". About.com. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  15. ^ ""Devin Townsend to return this summer with Ki". Blabbermouth.net. March 20, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  16. ^ Rausch, Jan (April 7, 2009). ""Video interview with Devin Townsend". Toazted. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  17. ^ "Devin Townsend – Ki". InsideOut Music. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  18. ^ a b "Top 30 Independent Label Albums" (May 31, 2009). BBC Radio 1. Retrieved and archived June 6, 2009.
  19. ^ a b "Top 40 Rock Albums" (May 31, 2009). BBC Radio 1. Retrieved and archived June 6, 2009.
  20. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=130983
  21. ^ [1]
  22. ^ [2]
  23. ^ "Devin Townsend Project: Ki First-Week Sales Revealed" (June 24, 2009). Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
  24. ^ [3]
  25. ^ Townsend, Devin (May 22, 2011).Epicloud is the next record.Twitter
  26. ^ http://www.hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=10988#p295048
  27. ^ "Devin Townsend - Ghost 2". Metal Storm. May 23, 2011.
  28. ^ ". Twitter. Jan 16, 2012.
  29. ^ "Devin Townsend Band: Vampira." Cinestir Films. January 27, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  30. ^ a b "Strapping Young Lad". Finnish Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  31. ^ "Strapping Young Lad Enter Billboard Heatseekers Chart". Blabbermouth.net. February 20, 2003. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  32. ^ "Strapping Young Lad: New 1994–2006 Chaos Years Trailer Available." Blabbermouth.net. May 30, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  33. ^ (2005) Album notes for Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing by Strapping Young Lad, p. 12 [CD booklet]. Camden, London, England: Century Media Records (CM 77559-2).
  34. ^ "Strapping Young Lad Re-Sign with Century Media, Begin Work on New Material." Blabbermouth.net. March 30, 2004. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  35. ^ "Strapping Young Lad > Music Videos > Love?". MTV. MTV Networks. March 22, 2005. http://www.mtv.com/videos/strapping-young-lad/44847/love.jhtml#. Retrieved November 29, 2008. 
  36. ^ "Strapping Young Lad > Music Videos > Zen". MTV. MTV Networks. January 24, 2006. http://www.mtv.com/videos/strapping-young-lad/73155/zen.jhtml#. Retrieved November 29, 2008. 
  37. ^ "Strapping Young Lad > Music Videos > Wrong Side". MTV. MTV Networks. June 7, 2006. http://www.mtv.com/videos/strapping-young-lad/100065/wrong-side.jhtml#. Retrieved November 29, 2008. 
  38. ^ "1994–2006: Chaos Years [CD/DVD] > Credits". Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1385194. Retrieved November 29, 2008. 
  39. ^ "HevyDevy Records – Discography". HevyDevy Records. Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080730025551/http://www.hevydevy.com/hdr_discography.html. Retrieved August 3, 2008. 
  40. ^ "Contrive taps Devin Townsend for new album mix" (July 21, 2009). Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved August 2, 2009.

[edit] External links

Devin Townsend
Supporting musicians
Solo
The Devin Townsend Band
Devin Townsend Project
Box set
Related articles
Strapping Young Lad
Studio albums
Live albums
EPs
  • Tour EP
  • C:enter:###
Compilations
Singles
  • "S.Y.L."
  • "Detox"
  • "Relentless"
  • "Love?"
  • "Wrong Side"
DVDs
Related articles
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