Devin Townsend unveiled the names of each part of his upcoming double album via Twitter this week. Additionally, he tweeted about special guests, and what fans can expect from this new release.
In a series of tweets, he revealed that the album would be a dual album, with one disk being material from his Devin Townsend Project, and the second disk being a formal follow up to 2007’s concept album, Ziltoid the Omniscient. Also, Townsend tweeted that there will be a few bonus tracks on this upcoming release.
The Devin Townsend Project album will be called “Sky Blue”, and the Ziltold album is called, “Dark Matters”.
His motivation for making these albums included wanting to present his audience with something awesome and less intense.
I'm a little tired of everything being so intense all the time. I wanted to make something big, shiny, fun and awesome for people.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 7, 2014
He added that the Ziltoid disk, complete with a Universal Choir of fan submissions, was his focus.
My focus was definitely Ziltoid. I really wanted to do that. DTP album was a struggle in some ways, but ended up good. A solid bonus.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 7, 2014
And, he provided a little more information on the type of material that will be on the album, along with an idea of what fans can expect this release to be similar too.
Ziltoid disk is not a heavy philosophical thing, it's fun and like a sci-fi radio play. Orchestras, Universal choir, huge amounts of work.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 7, 2014
Townsend tweeted that Z2 – the upcoming Ziltoid album – summarizes the challenges and positive events in the years since ‘Ki’, the first album of the Devin Townsend Project.
Been 7 years since Ki, 7 years of chaotic activity. In a sense, Z2 summarizes it all, but less heavy in intent than I expected. Its fun.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 7, 2014
The album also features several special guests including, Dutch singer-songwriter Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering), Dominique Persi of Stolen Babies, and Fozzy’s Chris Jericho.
So, what are his feelings about the completion of the album, and everyone’s work on the project?
I'm proud of it. I'm proud in the state my mind is in I didnt phone it in, at all… I gave this thing 150% the whole way. Everyone did.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 7, 2014
And what are Townsend’s future plans? Right now it’s looking like he’s planning on some well deserved time off to recharge and spend time with his family following a series of fall tour dates.
I want to take a year off perhaps after The Royal Albert show to recharge my batteries, get some new inspiration and experiences…
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 7, 2014