Deconstruction (Devin Townsend Project album)

According to an 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mRWPSjlXQ4|title=KaaosTV Episode #36: The Devin Townsend Project|website=YouTube |access-date=2014-01-11|archive-date=2014-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624131357/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mRWPSjlXQ4|url-status=live}} Townsend explained that he wanted the album to have a positive message, despite its highly chaotic nature.

According to Exclaim!'s Laura Wiebe, Deconstruction "draws on the sum of Townsend's musical career and influences, from the eccentricity of his Steve Vai-fronting moment to the theatricality of Infinity and the pulverizing power of Strapping Young Lad." She also noted the various guest contributions from bands such as Cynic and Emperor as clearly having a significant influence on the album's style.{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/devin_townsend_project-deconstruction|title=Devin Townsend Project Deconstruction|access-date=2016-08-30|archive-date=2016-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921044616/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/devin_townsend_project-deconstruction|url-status=live}} In Thompsion Gerhart's review of the album for Sputnik Music he wrote that "If you're new to Devin Townsend, or even if you've been a fan for years, in a way, you could say that Deconstruction is the perfect summary of his works. That is, his early works." Gerhart goes on to note that Deconstruction, Townsend draws from his past work in Strapping Young Lad, his earlier Devin Townsend Project albums, as well as his solo music. "Heavier than anything Devin's done since City and more stacked with musical layers than anything he's done since his now flowering fascination with ProTools, Deconstruction certainly delivers what it promises - layer after layer of Devin to remove, dissect, and analyze."

Several songs reference or are referenced in other Devin Townsend music: "Stand" would be recalled in "Watch You" on Contain Us; "Planet of the Apes" recalls the melody of "A Monday" from Ki; "The Mighty Masturbator" reuses the coda of "Processional" from the Infinity/Christeen + 4 Demos EP.

{{Album ratings

|rev1=About.com

|rev1score={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Marsicano|first=Dan|date=June 2011|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/devintownsendband/fr/Devin-Townsend-Project-Deconstruction-Review.htm|title=Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction Review|publisher=About.com|access-date=October 31, 2014|archive-date=October 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031135709/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/devintownsendband/fr/Devin-Townsend-Project-Deconstruction-Review.htm|url-status=dead}}

|rev2=AllMusic

|rev2score={{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Freeman|first=Phil|date=July 2011|url=http://allmusic.com/album/deconstruction-r2202491/review|title=Deconstruction – Review|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=July 3, 2011|archive-date=July 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703225305/https://www.allmusic.com/album/deconstruction-mw0002150525|url-status=live}}

|rev3=Chronicles of Chaos

|rev3score=8.5/10{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=2-6353|title=CoC: The Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction|last=Lake|first=Dan|publisher=Chronicles of Chaos|date=August 22, 2011|access-date=September 12, 2022}}

|rev4=Hour Community

|rev4score={{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://hour.ca/2011/08/25/deconstruction/|title=Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction|last=G.|first=Kristof|publisher=Hour Community|date=August 25, 2011|access-date=September 28, 2018|archive-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000147/http://hour.ca/2011/08/25/deconstruction/|url-status=dead}}

|rev5=Metal Hammer

|rev5score=9/10{{cite journal|journal=Metal Hammer UK|title=Review|year=2011|issue=219|pages=82}}

|rev6= Metal Injection

|rev6score=9.75/10{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/devin-townsend-project-deconstruction-ghost|title=(Double) CD Review: DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT Deconstruction & Ghost|publisher=Metal Injection|date=May 31, 2011|access-date=September 12, 2022}}

|rev7=Rock Hard

|rev7score=8/10{{cite journal|journal=Rock Hard|title=Review|url=https://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen/27402-deconstruction.html|last=Rensen|first=Michael|year=2011|issue=290|access-date=2018-09-28|archive-date=2018-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928201019/https://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen/27402-deconstruction.html|url-status=live}}

|rev8=Sputnikmusic

|rev8score=4.5/5{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/44113/Devin-Townsend-Project-Deconstruction/|title=Review: Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction|last=Gerhart|first=Thompson D.|publisher=Sputnikmusic|date=June 21, 2011|access-date=August 30, 2016}}

}}

Deconstruction was received with positive reviews from music critics. Metal Hammer described Deconstruction as "easily the most deranged, complex and sonically overwhelming thing he's ever done". Bloody Disgusting's Jonathan Barkan praised the depth and complexity of the album, writing that "It’s astounding and an absolute joy to try and dissect." He concluded that "Deconstruction is quite possibly the closest I’ve ever heard an album come to aural insanity while still being a complete joy to listen to."{{Cite web|url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/120399/album-review-devin-townsend-project-deconstruction/|title=Album Review: Devin Townsend Project 'Deconstruction' - Bloody Disgusting!|date=2011-06-20|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-30|archive-date=2016-09-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911164513/http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/120399/album-review-devin-townsend-project-deconstruction/|url-status=live}} Exclaim!'s Laura Wiebe likewise noted that "There's so much range and depth that Deconstruction is almost visible and tactile", though she criticised the second half of the album as taking the self-deprecating comedic theme too far, "deliberately sabotaging what might otherwise be verging on brilliance".

In 2021, it was elected by Metal Hammer as the 19th best symphonic metal album.{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Hywel |last2=Dome |first2=Malcolm |last3=Goodman |first3=Eleanor |last4=Chantler |first4=Chris |last5=Gordon |first5=Connie |last6=Grady |first6=Spencer |last7=Rees |first7=Adam |last8=Selzer |first8=Jonathan |title=The 25 best symphonic metal albums |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-25-best-symphonic-metal-albums |website=Metal Hammer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=2 January 2022 |date=17 November 2021}}

{{tracklist

| all_writing = Devin Townsend[http://www.radiometal.com/en/article/devin-townsend-project-deconstruction-dissected,25214 DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT: DECONSTRUCTION DISSECTED] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725154819/http://www.radiometal.com/en/article/devin-townsend-project-deconstruction-dissected,25214 |date=2011-07-25 }} – Radio Metal

| title1 = Praise the Lowered

| length1 = 6:02

| title2 = Stand

| length2 = 9:36

| title3 = Juular

| length3 = 3:46

| title4 = Planet of the Apes

| length4 = 10:59

| title5 = Sumeria

| length5 = 6:37

| title6 = The Mighty Masturbator

| length6 = 16:28

| title7 = Pandemic

| length7 = 3:29

| title8 = Deconstruction

| length8 = 9:27

| title9 = Poltergeist

| length9 = 4:25

}}

{{track listing

| headline = iTunes/deluxe edition bonus track

| title10 = Ho Krll

| length10 = 5:58

}}

• Devin Townsend – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, programming
• Ryan Van Poederooyen – drums on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10{{cite web|url=http://www.dirkverbeuren.com/releases.php?subaction=showfull&id=1303340906&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4& |title=Welcome to Dirk Verbeuren's official website! |publisher=Dirkverbeuren.com |access-date=February 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207043016/http://www.dirkverbeuren.com/releases.php?subaction=showfull&id=1303340906&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4& |archive-date=February 7, 2012 }}
• Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth, ex-Soilwork, Scarve) – drums on tracks 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9
• Paul Kuhr (Novembers Doom) – vocals on "Praise the Lowered"{{cite web |url=http://www.nocleansinging.com/2011/05/04/devin-townsend-constructs-a-super-group-on-deconstruction/ |title=Devin Townsend Constructs A Super-Group On "Deconstruction" |date=4 May 2011 |publisher=No Clean Singing |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-date=March 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323102501/http://www.nocleansinging.com/2011/05/04/devin-townsend-constructs-a-super-group-on-deconstruction/ |url-status=live }}
• Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth, ex-Bloodbath) – vocals on "Stand"
• Ihsahn (Emperor) – vocals on "Juular"{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-emperor-frontman-to-guest-on-new-the-devin-townsend-project-album|title=Former EMPEROR Frontman To Guest On New THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT Album|date=February 1, 2011|access-date=September 3, 2013|archive-date=December 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213203137/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-emperor-frontman-to-guest-on-new-the-devin-townsend-project-album|url-status=live}}
• 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 (ex-The Dillinger Escape Plan) – vocals on "The Mighty Masturbator"
• Floor Jansen (ex-After Forever, ReVamp, Nightwish) – soprano vocals on "Pandemic"
• Oderus Urungus (Gwar) – vocals on "Deconstruction"
• Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah) – solo on "Deconstruction"
• Florian Magnus Maier (Morean) (The Hungry Gods, Dark Fortress, Noneuclid, Alkaloid) – undertones on "Stand" and "The Mighty Masturbator"
• Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra{{cite web|url=http://www.hevydevy.com/news/2010/12/09/the-devin-townsend-project-announces-european-tour-2011/ |title=Devin Townsend Project | The Devin Townsend Project Announces European Tour 2011 |publisher=Hevydevy.com |date=December 9, 2010 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322234439/http://www.hevydevy.com/news/2010/12/09/the-devin-townsend-project-announces-european-tour-2011/ |archive-date=March 22, 2012 }}

• Devin Townsend – production, recording, mixing
• Jens Bogren – mixing
• Anthony Clarkson – artwork

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