A mind-bending concert experience

Devin Townsend is known for his impressive talent as a musician, and earlier this month, he released the latest installment of his Devolution Series, Devolution Series #3: Empath Live In America, which documents his early 2020 tour that was cut short due to the rise of the pandemic. The album is undoubtedly high quality, with instrumentation on each track bringing mind-bending energy while Townsend’s vocal performance serenades the ears with harmony and melody.

“Evermore” is a lovely composition that shows just how attuned Townsend and his bandmates are to one another. The vocal arrangements offer an exploration of rock and metal genres while the instrumentation electrifies the air with scorching hard rock noise. “Evermore” makes for an amazing listening experience thanks to Townsend and co’s talent in the arena of live music performance. 

“Why?” is a lovely ditty that evokes an eye-popping musical vibe thanks to its vein-jolting melody. However, what really shines on this track is the keyboard playing. Right at the beginning, the notes from the keyboards bring a magical sense of wonder before switching to a harder sound that matches the musical pace the rest of the band is playing on. “Why?” is simply breathtaking thanks to the bittersweet instrumentation.

Right at the beginning of the track “Fuck Around Section,” surging guitar riffs can be heard shaking the background with vengeance before the whole piece shifts into a darker theme. 

“Gigpig Jam” is another great live performance that displays a softer side of Townsend and his crew. Elements of blues and jazz music that can be felt through each guitar riff and drum beat. What makes the track extra special is hearing the guitar solo wailing with pure emotion while the drums start to rock out at the end. “Gigpig Jam” is a solid live set thanks to the killer instrumentation.

Devolution Series #3: Empath Live In America is a fantastic album because it demonstrates how much Townsend and his band enjoy performing together in front of a live audience, giving them the opportunity to showcase their undeniable musical talent.