Deconstruction (The Devin Townsend Project album)

Deconstruction
Studio album by Devin Townsend Project
Released	June 20, 2011
Recorded	November 2010 – February 2011
Genre	Progressive metal, symphonic metal, industrial metal, groove metal, extreme metal
Length	70:49
Label	HevyDevy, InsideOut Music
Producer	Devin Townsend
Devin Townsend chronology
Addicted (2009) Deconstruction (2011) Ghost (2011)
Alternative cover
Slipcase cover

Deconstruction is the thirteenth studio album by Canadian musician Devin Townsend, and the third album in the Devin Townsend Project series. The album features two drummers, Dirk Verbeuren and Ryan Van Poederooyen, as well as a number of guest vocalists.

According to a recent 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.^[1] Townsend explained that he wanted the album to have a positive message, despite its highly chaotic nature.

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.^{[citation needed]}

The album was released on June 20, 2011,^[2] simultaneously with the fourth Devin Townsend Project album Ghost, on Townsend's independent record label HevyDevy Records.

Track listing

All songs written by Devin Townsend.^[3]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Praise the Lowered"	6:02
2.	"Stand"	9:36
3.	"Juular"	3:46
4.	"Planet of the Apes"	10:59
5.	"Sumeria"	6:37
6.	"The Mighty Masturbator"	16:28
7.	"Pandemic"	3:29
8.	"Deconstruction"	9:27
9.	"Poltergeist"	4:25
10.	"Ho Krll" (iTunes exclusive bonus track)	5:58

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[4]
Blistering	[5]
DPRP	[6]
Metal Hammer	[7]
Inferno	[8]
Imperiumi	[9]

Metal Hammer gave the album 9/10, describing it as "easily the most deranged, complex and sonically overwhelming thing he's ever done".^[7] Terrorizer Magazine rated it 5/5 and named it joint album of the month, alongside Ghost.^{[citation needed]}

Personnel

• Devin Townsend – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, programming
• Ryan Van Poederooyen – drums on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10^[10]
• Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork, Scarve) – drums on tracks 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9
• Paul Kuhr (November's Doom) – vocals on "Praise the Lowered"^[11]
• Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth, Bloodbath) – vocals on "Stand" ^[3]
• Ihsahn (ex-Emperor) – vocals on "Juular" ^[12]
• Tommy Giles Rogers (Between the Buried and Me) – vocals on "Planet of the Apes"
• Joe Duplantier (Gojira) – vocals on "Sumeria"
• Paul Masvidal (ex-Death, Cynic) – vocals on "Sumeria"
• Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan) – vocals on "The Mighty Masturbator"
• Floor Jansen (ex-After Forever, ReVamp) – vocals on "Pandemic"
• Oderus Urungus (Gwar) – vocals on "Deconstruction"
• Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah) – solo on "Deconstruction"^[11]

The orchestral work was performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.^[13]

Production

• Devin Townsend – production, recording, mixing
• Jens Bogren – mixing

References

1. ^ KaaosTV Episode #36: The Devin Townsend Project
2. ^ BLABBERMOUTH.NET – THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT's 'Deconstruction', 'Ghost' Albums Get Release Date – Mar. 27, 2011
3. ^ ^{a b} DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT: DECONSTRUCTION DISSECTED – Radio Metal
4. ^ Freeman, Phil (July 2011). "Deconstruction – Review." Allmusic. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
5. ^ Donnelly, Justin (June 2011). "Deconstruction – Review." Blistering. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
6. ^ De Val, Tom (June 2011). "Devin Townsend Project: Deconstruction & Ghost – Review." DPRP. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
7. ^ ^{a b} Metal Hammer UK 2011 issue 219 page 82
8. ^ Nuopponen, Aki (June 2011). "[1]." Inferno. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
9. ^ Kaartinen, Niko (June 2011). "Deconstruction – Review." Imperiumi. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
10. ^ http://www.dirkverbeuren.com/releases.php?subaction=showfull&id=1303340906&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4&
11. ^ ^{a b} http://www.nocleansinging.com/2011/05/04/devin-townsend-constructs-a-super-group-on-deconstruction/
12. ^ BLABBERMOUTH.NET – Former EMPEROR Frontman To Guest On New THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT Album – Feb. 1, 2011
13. ^ [2]