Late last year, the Devin Townsend Project released their double album “Z2.” This year, in a twist to artist Devin Townsend’s original release, Townsend has decided to release the double album as two separate packages: “Dark Matters” and “Sky Blue” August 7, 2015.
Townsend is known for his extraterrestrial sound, giving science fiction a musical backdrop. The release of “Z2” has been a continuation of that core sound. Now, however, the album will be split in two, letting fans pick and choose which sides of the full story they’d like to be a part of.
Devin Townsend put together the Devin Townsend Project as a form of self discovery. After going solo and deciding to write music without drugs or alcohol as a catalyst, Townsend found that his musical sound could be split into different categories.
As a way to encompass each sound, Townsend set out to release a series of albums, each backed by a variety of musicians. The project started in 2009, but soon became a widespread and taxing, according to a post Townsend published on his twitter, journey.
“I may have just written the heaviest thing I’ve ever done…” Townsend posted back in October 2012 when the idea of “Z2” started to become reality.
A double album is essentially when an album consists of enough music to be placed on two albums, but the music is released as a whole. The double album “Z2” was split into two ideas. The first half of “Z2” was released as half a Devin Townsend Project album and half a “Ziltoid against the world,” concept album, a sequel to a solo album Townsend released in 2007 called “Ziltoid the Omniscient.” “Z2” is short for Ziltoid squared or Zee Two, also according to Townsend’s twitter posts.
The biggest difference between the two albums is that, “One is a musical composition and the other is a narrative,” according to I.O. Kirkwood of metaldescent.com. “Sky Blue,” the second disk of “Z2” being released as a solo album, includes radio shows entitled “Ziltoid Radio” submitted by Townsend as well as other complimentary Ziltoid extras, while “Dark Matters” includes music performed by the Devin Townsend Project.
Adding to the collection of unique pieces not only special to this album but to Townsend’s style, the album also includes a fan collaboration. Townsend called it, “The Universal Choir,” inviting fans to submit their own vocals to be added to tracks included on the album.
The lyric videos for March of the Poozers and Rejoice are other worldly, making the viewers feel like they’re on the same galactic adventure the Devin Townsend Project has created with these albums.
“Devin Townsend is one of the most prolific musicians around today,” says OUTBURN Magazine. “The man is an unstoppable lunatic. He transcends the meaning of keeping busy.”
The track list for “Sky Blue” is:
01. “Rejoice”
02. “Fallout”
03. “Midnight Sun”
04. “A New Reign”
05. “Universal Flame”
06. “Warrior”
07. “Sky Blue”
08. “Silent Militia”
09. “Rain City”
10. “Forever”
11. “Before We Die”
12. “The Ones Who Love”
The track for “Dark Matters” is:
01. “Z²”
02. “From Sleep Awake”
03. “Ziltoidian Empire”
04. “War Princess”
05. “Deathray”
06. “March of the Poozers”
07. “Wandering Eye”
08. “Earth”
09. “Ziltoid Goes Home”
10. “Through the Wormhole”
11. “Dimension Z”
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