Devin Townsend has been beyond busy this year as he works on a series of new projects, and Loudwire has reported that he has about 100 songs ready to be recorded. In a series of tweets, Townsend pointed out that he has begun to record this new material with drummer Morgan Agren and that he also has plans on collaborating with a slew of other artists.

One can expect plenty of the wacky and outlandish songwriting style that Townsend has become famous for on these new songs, though this is extreme for even his standards. Earlier this year Townsend put the Devin Townsend Project on hiatus while he worked on this new material, indicating that he would begin recording in 5.1 surround sound. Townsend has stated that much of this new music will not be metal, as he has a desire to expand his musical horizons into uncharted territories.

Townsend became famous in the metal community for his overpowering production style and guitar playing in Strapping Young Lad, who became one of the most revered bands in the metal underground before their breakup. For fans who are still looking for the super-heavy and pummeling sound of Strapping Young Lad, half of the band’s classic lineup have formed a new band with former members of the Devin Townsend Project and Threat Signal, called Imonolith, who will be recording their first album in the coming months.

I start recording tomorrow.

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) March 26, 2018

Nice to be working with my friend Morgan on a bunch of this material. We sit in a similar place on the beat and we tend to go pretty deep quite quickly. I like his swing. Lots of talented artists involved in this stuff. It’s an odd phase, but really creative and really personal.

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) March 26, 2018

I have about 100 songs in different forms and styles. I’m just going to finish as much of it as budget allows and see what goes where. It’s been a change period, similar to between SYL and KI I’d say. I’m hiring people as needed for whatever the song calls for.

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) March 26, 2018

There will be other drummers too I think. Depends on the track

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) March 26, 2018

I’ll be traveling a fair bit to various cities and working with people as I go. Polygamous creativity ftw

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) March 26, 2018

I’ll certainly keep folks updated as I go, if budget allows, I’ll try to do filming of the process. (Hey hey, @ZimZimY5000 … 🙂

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) March 26, 2018

It seems like much of the material calls for different things. Some orchestral, some metal, some rock, some prog, some bizzare, some funky, some pop, some electronic…I want the best people for what that style needs.

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) March 26, 2018

I know who I’m interested in working with already, it’s all just about scheduling and budget etc. Everyone is busy all the time 🙂 and that’s a good thing…

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) March 26, 2018

Photo credit Raymond Flotat