Accelerated Evolution

Devin Townsend | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Inside Out U.S.
• ASIN: B00008IXCP
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,798 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Limited double 180gm clear vinyl LP pressing in gatefold sleeve. The album, written and produced by Townsend, was a mix of musical styles from Alternative and Hard Rock to Progressive Metal. Townsend assembled a group of Vancouver musicians to perform with him on the album: guitarist Brian Waddell, drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen, bassist Mike Young, and keyboardist Dave Young. This lineup, the Devin Townsend Band, was Townsend's first dedicated lineup for his solo material, and was created as a counterpart to Townsend's extreme Metal project Strapping Young Lad. Accelerated Evolution was written and recorded at the same time as Strapping Young Lad's self-titled album, with Townsend dividing his energy between the two. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devin Townsend = Underappreciated living god of modern rock, April 13, 2004

By 

M. B. Link "wildfirelink" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Accelerated Evolution (Audio CD)

Accelerated Evolution(2003). Devin Townsend's fifth solo album.

Whenever I looked up different underground modern rock music artists, the name Devin Townsend would come up every now and then. I knew of the name before because he was a key member of the band Strapping Young Lad, but I never actually stopped and paid attention to his work until now. So finally I decided to get acquainted with Devin's music and when I saw Accelerated Evolution sitting in the store, I immediately bought it. This was my first introduction to his work, and upon first listen, I was EXTREMELY impressed and I kicked myself for not discovering his music sooner. If this album is any indication, then DEVIN TOWNSEND IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING UNDERRATED MUSICIANS OF OUR TIME. He handles both the lead guitar and the vocals. And what a voice he has! One minute he is singing very melodically soothing, the next he's belting out some intense shouts and Hetfield-esque growls. When the lead guitar comes into play, he can shred out some outstanding lead solos and does so in a manner which sounds incredible. Of course, Devin isn't the only musician who can play well here. There is also Brian Waddell (rhythm guitars), Dave Young (keyboards), Ryan Vanpoederooyen (drums), and Mike Young (bass guitar) who all play their parts with talent. From what I've heard, most fans consider this album to be heavier, shorter, more accessible, and less progressive than his previous albums. This may be true as I've yet to hear the other albums, but if AE is any indication, the heavier and simpler approach works just fine.

Before I talk about the tracks, I'd like to do something different than usual and list several reasons why Devin Townsend's unrecognized new offering is a MUCH better modern rock album than virtually anything by every popular nu-metal act on the planet that gets overplayed in the U.S.:

1) EXCELLENT, ORIGINAL, HIGH QUALITY SONGWRITING BOTH INSTRUMENTALLY AND LYRICALLY. Unlike nu-metal bands such as Linkin Park, Nickelback, Smile Empty Soul, Staind, and countless others, Devin can actually write memorable songs which do not sound identical from track to track. All of the aformentioned bands cover the issues of hating and dealing with life in the lyrics, but NEVER do any of them offer a solution to the problems. Devin Townsend does address life's pressures and downfalls in a few songs, but other tracks actually invoke picking up the pieces and getting life back on track. In other words, the album has its angry spots but ends up leaving you in a positive mood. VARIETY IS THE KEY. Another reviewer stated that AE is the perfect album for those who are tired of hating life and want to fight back to make it better. I couldn't agree more.

2) STELLAR PRODUCTION. A lot of bands nowadays insist on following a "back-to-basics" trend where the album sounds raw and unpolished on purpose. AE is the opposite. Here you will find amazing full crystal clear, wall-of-sound production the way albums are meant to be produced. It brings out the music in a way which entrances the listener.

3) FOR ONCE, AN ACTUAL GOOD USE OF DETUNED GUITARS. If you notice, the rhythm guitars are all detuned, but unlike nu-metal bands, Devin Townsend does it in a way where the guitars actually sound heavy, adding to the quality of the music, and they never end up as just heavy buzzing distortion.

4) TASTEFUL USAGE OF SCREAMING. Nearly every nu-metal band screams their lungs out in a bad way. Devin, on the other hand, can actually sing well and only resorts to the scream at appropriate points during the songs. plus he never overuses it either, and that's definitely a good thing.

5) GUITAR SOLOS ARE PRESENT. Most modern bands use the excuse "No leads for better quality songs" just so that they can make up for their inability to play leads at all. Devin not only writes high quality songs, but delivers leads in spades. They aren't in every song, which is fine, but they are played much better than just distorted buzz sounds.

The amazing thing is, even though AE improves upon many nu-metal qualities, THIS MUSIC ISN'T IN ANY WAY NU-METAL WHATSOEVER. The album's sound is so accessible that I can actually see it appealing to just about any fan of rock from any genre.

As for the songlist, AE starts out with the intensely heavy and fastpaced 'Depth Charge'. It contains quite a hook, and in having that, draws the listener in the way any opener should. Next is the beautiful, yet heavy balladic rocker 'Storm'. One of the best ballads I've heard in a long time. The upbeat 'Traveller' and powerful 'Random Analysis' are the album's heavier and faster numbers, both of which are excellent. 'Deadhead' brings the pace down and is a pounding lengthy rocker with memorable melodies throughout the song. 'Suicide' is a slow-paced melancholic track. 'Away' is mostly instrumental, with INCREDIBLE solos all over the song. The mood begins to lift with 'Sunday Afternoon' before ending the album on a high note with the extremely catchy masterpiece 'Slow Me Down'.

Overall, I am very pleased with AE. It gets my full five stars. Thanks to AE, I am now a fan and I'll certainly be buying more of Devin's solo albums in the future. To me, a good band can play great music, but it takes an incredible band to do it with such energy, originality, and dynamic edge. This band falls under the latter category. With AE, I've finally found a new rock/heavy metal album with a modern style that contains all the good qualities about songwriting that nu-metal bands lack, while still being accessible enough to draw nearly anyone in. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Other albums which sound like 'Accelerated Evolution':
-'Terria' by Devin Townsend
-'Train Of Thought' by Dream Theater
-'Burn The Sun' by Ark
-'Extension Of The Wish' by Andromeda

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars HevyDevy... sunny?, November 8, 2003

By 

spiral_mind (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Accelerated Evolution (Audio CD)

Strange as it sounds, that's actually the case; where the man's previous albums might have usually had one or two (or no) major-keyed songs surrounded by an overwhelming dose of depressing gloom, Devin Townsend seems to be in a more peppy mood than normal through his latest project. About half of Accelerated Evolution can only be described as (gasp) upbeat. What's the world coming to?

Not to worry, the other DT trademarks that have rightly earned him the description of "the mad scientist of heavy metal" - I didn't come up with the phrase, although I wish I knew who did - are all still here. The disc's sound & engineering have a marvelous blend of enveloping atmospherics and head-thrashing crunch. The setup's the usual blend of filtered guitars, bass, drums and keys, and they're somehow woven and built into an enormous wall of sound that verges on becoming smothering (but never entirely gets there).

The writing is classic Devy, although maybe not as layered and finely honed as what we heard on Biomech and Infinity. It might sound more simplistic, for lack of a better word, although that's not really accurate. With their relentless thrash, the twistedly catchy "Depth Charge" and "Random Analysis" could almost fit on either of those albums without much trouble. "Deadhead" and "Sunday Afternoon" languish on a bed of slow-burning noise that can get outright fierce all the same. "Traveller" and "Slow Me Down" are the most happy and straightforward tunes ever to be heard on a Townsend album yet, and the pseudo-power-ballad "Storm" proves that he's just as capable at being emotional. The overall result is almost a summary of every facet of Devin's songwriting, touching on the widest variety of moods that's been represented on a single album in his career. And yet it's probably the most easily accessible work of them all; it's certainly the most immediately addicting and singable one. The overt rage & anger is toned down for the most part as well (apart from some soul-wrenching screaming throughout "Suicide," but I suppose it's obligatory to some degree).

Where Accelerated Evolution stands in the Townsend catalogue depends on one's taste; if your taste runs to the extreme side of metal, look into Strapping Young Lad. Anyone looking for something more subtle with vast far-reaching scope will probably be better served with Biomech, Infinity or Terria first. Those who want something not quite so deep, but just as strong and well-crafted all the same, might be happier with A-E or Physicist. In the long run they're all well worth picking up anyway, quirks and all, for anyone who wants something beyond the ordinary. Be sure to crank it up loud.

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Devin album if a little under whelming., October 9, 2006

By 

Ben Stubbs "Horror / Metal Enthusiast" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Accelerated Evolution (Audio CD)

I have found "Accelerated Evolution" to be a difficult album to review. I really do find Devin's work in general to be highly enjoyable and wonderfully creative at times. I can also struggle somewhat with his tendencies towards the bizarre, with the "Infinity" album in particular going one step too far from the conservative for me to follow. "Accelerated Evolution" is certainly one of his more accessible releases, concentrating more on progressive rock and emotional epics rather than musical head-trips or Strapping Young Lad type barrages as were found on albums such as "Physicist". But then this holding back of creative juices also leaves me a tiny bit under whelmed. I think the problem I have these days is that I don't feel Devin has ever matched the variety, passion and quality of the "Ocean Machine - Biomech" release nearly ten years ago. Each album since has taken a chosen direction and run with it, whether it be out and out industrial brutality, progressive metal or circus cabaret without combining all of Devin's personas into one wholesome magnificence like that debut album managed. Yes, I'm a fussy fan!

But there's a lot to like about "Accelerated Evolution". Firstly, there's not a bad track on the album. Every song is solid both musically and lyrically and there are no awkward moments at all. "Depth Charge" and "Suicide" are both fantastic with heavy guitars and crushing drums backing up Devin's vocal attacks. Once again Devin utilizes both cleanly sung vocals and his trademark screaming. He never fails to be engaging and his emotional range is consistently awe-inspiring. But it's the moving lead guitar on "Deadhead" and "Away" that really impresses me the most even if the movements overstay their welcome a little. Combining such beautiful stirring melodies with Devin's personal and at times touching lyrics guarantees an affecting experience.

So why don't I absolutely love this album? Well, I guess some of the other sections on "Accelerated Evolution", while being completely solid as mentioned earlier, just don't grip me the way his work normally does. They pass by and I have no real inclination to listen to them again. None of it is annoying or bad, but then none of it is really inspiring or amazing either. It's all just a bit pedestrian, which is not something I would normally associate with this band. I will certainly listen to this album occasionally and recommend fans of his work give it a shot, but in my opinion it's just not the ultimate Devin release that some out there seem to suggest. Dare I say it's a little overrated.