Devin Townsend#Timeline

Devin Garrett TownsendSpelling "Garrett" confirmed by Townsend in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9ZdpLSUrTU Devin Townsend - 'Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007221106/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9ZdpLSUrTU |date=October 7, 2016 }}. The name was spelled "Garret" in the Infinity booklet. was born in New Westminster on May 5, 1972.{{cite web |title=Devin Townsend Biography |publisher=HevyDevy Records |author=Turner, Tracy |url=http://www.hevydevy.com/hdr_biography.html |access-date=November 25, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080626183214/http://www.hevydevy.com/hdr_biography.html |archive-date = June 26, 2008}} His parents are of Irish and British descent, with his father working in the restaurant industry. He picked up the banjo when he was five and began playing guitar when he was 12."[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p220909|pure_url=yes}} Devin Townsend Overview]." AllMusic. Retrieved June 8, 2009. As a young teenager, he befriended Brian "Beav" Waddell, who would later play guitars as part of the Devin Townsend Band and bass on the Devin Townsend Project.{{cite web|url=http://proglodytes.com/2016/03/21/podcast-ep-05-beav-waddell-from-devin-townsend-project/|title=Podcast Ep. 05 – "Beav" Waddell from Devin Townsend Project|last=Arthur|website=Proglodytes|date=March 21, 2016|access-date=March 22, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321164643/http://proglodytes.com/2016/03/21/podcast-ep-05-beav-waddell-from-devin-townsend-project/|archive-date=March 21, 2016}} He participated in several metal bands while he was in high school, and founded Grey Skies at the age of 19. Around the same time he joined a popular local group called Caustic Thought, replacing Jed Simon on guitar and playing alongside bassist Byron Stroud, both of whom would later become members of Townsend's flagship band, Strapping Young Lad."[https://web.archive.org/web/20080512195549/http://zimmershole.com/666/profiles/zh_jedsimon.html Profile: Jed Simon]." Zimmers Hole (official site) of Chris Valagao Mina In 1993, Townsend began writing material under the name Noisescapes, a project he later described as "just as violent as Strapping Young Lad".{{cite web|url=http://www.hevydevy.com/press/online_interview/1995_interview_hardrock.html|title=Strapping Young Lad|date=August–September 1995|publisher=Hard Rock Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101054033/http://www.hevydevy.com/press/online_interview/1995_interview_hardrock.html|archive-date=November 1, 2006 |author1=Gewgaw, Hervé S.K.|author2=trans. Billerey, Roger}}

Townsend recorded a Noisescapes demo and sent copies to various record labels. Relativity Records responded to Townsend with a record deal and Townsend began work on what was to be the first Noisescapes album, Promise. Shortly afterward, the label introduced him to musician Steve Vai. Impressed with Townsend's vocal work, Vai offered him the role of the lead vocalist on his new album Sex & Religion. After recording Sex & Religion, Townsend accompanied Vai on a world tour in support of the album.{{cite journal |title=Shrieking Havoc |last=Diperna |first=Alex |date=September 1993 |journal=Guitar World |publisher=Future US |location=South San Francisco, California |issn=1045-6295 |oclc=7982091}} Townsend soon landed a second tour, this time with the opening band of Vai's tour, the Wildhearts.{{cite journal |last=Johnson |first=Alex S. |date=January–February 2005 |title=Devin Townsend interrogated |journal=Zero Tolerance Magazine |issue=3 |publisher=Obdurate Ltd |issn=1742-9897 |oclc=266995054}} He played live with the band throughout half of 1994 in Europe, and appeared as a guest musician on their single Urge. Ginger, the band's frontman, remained close friends with Townsend,{{cite journal |last=Zell |first=Ray |date=November 24, 2001 |title=The Nutty Professor |journal=Kerrang! |issue=880 |page=34 |publisher=Bauer Media Group |issn=0262-6624 |oclc=32328241}} later co-writing several songs on Infinity and the Christeen + 4 Demos EP.

While on tour with the Wildhearts, Townsend formed a short-lived thrash metal project with Metallica's then-bassist Jason Newsted. The band, known as IR8, featured Newsted on vocals and bass, Townsend on guitar, and Tom Hunting of Exodus on drums. The group recorded a few songs together, although Townsend says that they never intended to go further than that. "People heard about it and thought we wanted to put out a CD, which is absolutely not true," he explains. "People took this project way too seriously." A demo tape was put together, but the material was not released until 2002, when Newsted published the IR8 vs. Sexoturica compilation.

Though Townsend was proud of what he had accomplished so early in his career, he was discouraged by his experience with the music industry. "I was becoming a product of somebody else's imagination, and it was mixing with my own personality," he later reflected. "This combination was appalling."

{{cite journal |last=Lageat |first=Philippe |author2=trans. Thibaudeau, Simon |title=Devin Townsend – Chimie 2000 |journal=Hard Rock Magazine |date=January 2001 |pages=48–50 |oclc=29807370}} He pushed to get his own projects off the ground. Despite touring with other musicians, however, Townsend continued to face rejection of his own music. Relativity Records dropped Noisescapes from their label shortly after Townsend accepted Vai's offer, seeing no commercial appeal in Townsend's music.{{cite web|title=Bracing for Success – CoC interviews Devin Townsend of Strapping Young Lad|publisher=Chronicles of Chaos|author=Bromley, Adrian|url=http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles/chats/1-7_strapping_young_lad.aspx|access-date=January 31, 2008|date=January 10, 1995|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216062732/http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles/chats/1-7_strapping_young_lad.aspx|archive-date=December 16, 2007}} "I have a hunch they only offered me a deal to get me to sing with Steve," he mused. While touring with the Wildhearts, Townsend received a phone call from Monte Conner, then-A&R representative for Roadrunner Records, expressing an interest in his demos and an intention to sign him. After being briefly signed by the label, the offer was ultimately rescinded by Cees Wessels, the owner of Roadrunner, who regarded Townsend's recordings as "just noise".{{cite web|title=Devin Townsend interviewed by Tony on 3RRR FM, Melbourne |publisher=The Church of Devin Townsend |url=http://www.axs.com.au/~vk3aaw/devhard1.htm |access-date=January 31, 2008 |date=April 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213192716/http://www.axs.com.au/~vk3aaw/devhard1.htm |archive-date=December 13, 2007 |url-status=dead }}

In 1994, Century Media Records offered Townsend a contract to make "some extreme albums". He agreed to a five-album deal with the record label,{{cite news|title=Devin Townsend: 'I Don't Have Anything To Say With Strapping Young Lad Anymore'|work=Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54611|access-date=January 31, 2008|date=July 4, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202060936/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54611|archive-date=December 2, 2008}} and also provided much of the guitar work on the 1994 album Millennium and the 1995 album Hard Wired by Vancouver industrial band Front Line Assembly. Townsend began to record material under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad. He avoided using his real name at this point in career, looking for a fresh start after his high-profile Vai gig. "At the beginning, I wanted to avoid at all cost to use my name because I was known as the singer for Steve Vai and it wasn't the best publicity to have," he later explained. "I was playing somebody else's music and I was judged in respect to that music." Townsend produced and performed nearly all the instruments on the debut studio album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing, which was released in April 1995.

Following the release of the record, Townsend and several other musician friends, Chris Valagao Mina, guitarist, vocal of Zimmers Hole, he knew in Vancouver recorded a rock opera in 1996 entitled Punky Brüster – Cooked on Phonics. Written and recorded in under a month, the album tells the fictional story of a death metal band from Poland that sells out becoming a punk rock band to achieve mainstream success. Townsend founded his own independent record label, HevyDevy Records, to release the album.

Townsend assembled a permanent lineup of Strapping Young Lad to record City, including prolific metal drummer Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Death, Testament), along with Townsend's former bandmates Jed Simon on guitar and Byron Stroud on bass. The industrial-influenced{{cite journal |last=Popoff |first=Martin |date=Winter–Spring 2003 |title=Strapping Young Lad |journal=Lollipop Magazine |issue=61 |oclc=36854274}} album was released in 1997. To this day, the album is widely considered Strapping Young Lad's best work,{{cite news |title=Strapping Young Lad – The New Black review |author=Bergman, Keith |work=Blabbermouth.net |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=788 |access-date=January 31, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214061030/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=788 |archive-date=February 14, 2008 }}{{cite magazine|title=Strapping Young Lad: Alien review|author=Begrand, Adrien|magazine=PopMatters|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/strappingyounglad-alien|access-date=January 31, 2008|date=March 25, 2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202041605/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/strappingyounglad-alien|archive-date=December 2, 2008}} with Metal Maniacs calling it "groundbreaking"{{cite journal |last=G. |first=Mike |date=September 2003 |title=The Devin Townsend Band: No Holds Barred |journal=Metal Maniacs |issn=1559-4297 |oclc=62782997 }} and Revolver naming it "one of the greatest metal albums of all time".{{cite journal |title=The 69 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time |journal=Revolver |date=September–October 2002 |publisher=Future US |location=South San Francisco, California |issn=1527-408X |oclc=42757765}} Townsend himself considers it the band's "ultimate" album.{{cite magazine |title=Strapping Young Lad Are All Rocked Out |magazine=Exclaim! |url=http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/points.aspx?csid1=82 |access-date=April 28, 2008 |date=July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202110515/http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/points.aspx?csid1=82 |archive-date=December 2, 2008 }} Later that year, Townsend released his second solo album, Ocean Machine: Biomech with a guitarist Chris Valagao Mina. The album featured a mix of hard rock, ambient, and progressive rock.

Dating back to the Sex and Religion tour, Townsend had been writing solo material for a project called Ocean Machine. The album, initially entitled Biomech, was recorded in 1995 and originally queued for release later that year in December on HevyDevy Records, a label created by Townsend solely for material he releases on his own. Due to unknown reasons, Ocean Machine: Biomech was put off for release until late 1996, but when the time came to finally release it Townsend had become unsatisfied with the recordings, rerecorded the entire album, and finally released in Japan on July 21, 1997.

During this period, Townsend was also asked to audition for the lead vocalist spot in Judas Priest after Rob Halford's departure. Though a fan of the band, he turned down the offer, explaining that: "No one would want to see Devin Townsend singing for Judas Priest. I mean, it's ridiculous."{{cite web |last1=(3RRR FM Melbourne) |first1=Tony |title=INTERVIEW WITH DEVIN TOWNSEND with Tony |url=http://www.axs.com.au/~vk3aaw/devhard1.htm |website=www.axs.com.au |publisher=Wayback Machine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213192716/http://www.axs.com.au/~vk3aaw/devhard1.htm |access-date=20 July 2021|archive-date=December 13, 2007 }}

After the completion of City and Ocean Machine: Biomech, Townsend began to approach a mental breakdown. He explained, "I started to see human beings as little lonesome, water based, pink meat life forms pushing air through themselves and making noises that the other little pieces of meat seemed to understand." In December 1997, he checked himself into a mental-health hospital, where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The diagnosis helped him understand where the two sides of his music were coming from; he felt his disorder "gave birth to the two extremes that are Strapping's City record and Ocean Machine: Biomech."{{cite web |title=HevyDevy News for 1998 |url=http://members.home.net/hevydevy/news.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981206124933/http://members.home.net/hevydevy/news.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 1998 |website=members.home.net/hevydevy |access-date=October 17, 2019}}{{cite web| url=http://www.farbeyondmetal.com/index.php?page_id=1120 |title=Metal Hammer Interviews Devin |publisher=Far Beyond Metal |author=Ingham, Chris |year=1998 |access-date=November 21, 2007 | url-status=usurped |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070522103216/http://www.farbeyondmetal.com/index.php?page_id=1120 |archive-date = May 22, 2007}} After being discharged from the hospital, Townsend found that "everything just clicked" and he was able to write his third solo album, Infinity, which he described as "the parent project" of City and Ocean Machine: Biomech, with music influenced by Broadway. Townsend returned to the studio, accompanied by Hoglan, to work on the album, on which Townsend played most of the instruments. Infinity was released in October 1998. Later in his career, Townsend has cited Infinity as his favorite solo record.

With Infinity, Townsend began to label all albums outside of Strapping Young Lad under his own name, dropping the Ocean Machine moniker, to reduce confusion. He wanted to show that despite the highly varied nature of his projects, they are all simply aspects of his identity. The album Biomech was relabeled and redistributed as Ocean Machine: Biomech, under Townsend's name, to reflect the new arrangement.

File:Devin Townsend.jpg

Townsend's next project took several years to come to fruition. After the creation of the IR8 demo tape, Townsend and Jason Newsted had begun work on a new project called Fizzicist, which they described as "heavier than Strapping Young Lad". When the IR8 tape was leaked, Newsted's Metallica bandmates James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich learned of the project. Hetfield was "fucking pissed" that Newsted was playing outside the band, and Newsted was prevented by his bandmates from working on any more side projects,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/pretty-hate-machine-19960627 |date=June 27, 1996 |author=Fricke, David |title=Pretty Hate Machine |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=November 26, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203150416/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/pretty-hate-machine-19960627 |archive-date=February 3, 2015 }} although Townsend would later downplay Metallica's role in Newsted's unavailability.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9ZdpLSUrTU|title=Devin Townsend - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?|date=October 5, 2016|publisher=YouTube}} With the project stalled, Townsend instead wrote the album himself, entitling it Physicist. Townsend assembled his Strapping Young Lad bandmates to record it, the only time this lineup was featured on a Devin Townsend album. The thrash-influenced Physicist was released in June 2000, and is generally considered a low point in Townsend's career. Hoglan and the rest of the band were dissatisfied with the way the sound was mixed,{{cite web |url=http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/SYL-2003.htm |title=Interview with Gene Hoglan of Strapping Young Lad |author=Hawkins, Chris |publisher=Metal-Rules.com |date=February 2003 |access-date=November 26, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202041056/http://metal-rules.com/interviews/SYL-2003.htm |archive-date=December 2, 2008 }} and Townsend considers it his worst album to date.{{cite web |date=July 20, 2006 |title=Interviews: Devin Townsend from Strapping Young Lad and the Devin Townsend Band |url=http://www.alternative-zine.com/interviews/en/92 |author1=Povarchik, Roy |author2=Vayner, Ofer |publisher=Alternative-Zine.com |access-date=November 26, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108065536/http://alternative-zine.com/interviews/en/92 |archive-date=November 8, 2007 }}

Feeling he had "ostracized a bunch of fans" with Physicist, Townsend felt he had the chance to make a more personal and honest record. Townsend was inspired one morning while driving across Canada with his band, and looked to write an "introspective" album dedicated to his homeland.{{cite journal |last=Small |first=Aaron |date=November 2001 |title=Devin Townsend: Diary of a Madman |journal=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles |location=Toronto |issn=1705-3781 |oclc=57191652}} He produced and recorded Terria, a "highly illustrated stream-of-consciousness" album, with Gene Hoglan on drums, Craig McFarland on bass and Jamie Meyer on keyboards. Townsend cited Ween's White Pepper as an inspiration for the album. Terria was released in November 2001.

Townsend's solo run lasted until 2002. After a five-year break from recording, Strapping Young Lad reunited to record a new album. Townsend credits the album, Strapping Young Lad, as an emotional response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, in the United States. "If the world's about to blow up," said Townsend, "let's write the soundtrack for it." The album's lyrics were based more around fear and insecurity than the "hostile" lyrics of City. Musically, Strapping Young Lad was less industrial than City,{{cite web|title=Interview with Strapping Young Lad|publisher=Chain D.L.K.|author=Hamilton, Shaun|url=http://www.chaindlk.com/interviews/index.php?interview=StrappingYoungLad|access-date=January 31, 2008|date=March 20, 2003|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010083254/http://www.chaindlk.com/interviews/index.php?interview=StrappingYoungLad|archive-date=October 10, 2007}} and more reminiscent of death metal,{{cite web|title=SYL Review|website=AllMusic|author=Hinds, Andy|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r625168|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=January 31, 2008}} with a "larger-than-life" rock production style. Townsend cited Front Line Assembly, Grotus, and Samael's Passage as influences. The self-titled album was released in February 2003. It received lukewarm reviews, with critics finding it inferior to City,{{cite web|title=CD Reviews: Strapping Young Lad – SYL|publisher=Rockzone.com|author=Smith, Nate|url=http://rockzone.com/reviews/syl-st.shtml|access-date=January 31, 2008|year=2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105103729/http://www.rockzone.com/reviews/syl-st.shtml|archive-date=January 5, 2008}}{{cite web|title=Strapping Young Lad – SYL : Review|publisher=Chronicles of Chaos|author=Hoose, Xander|url=http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-2966_strapping_young_lad_syl.aspx|access-date=January 31, 2008|date=April 16, 2003|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216062747/http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-2966_strapping_young_lad_syl.aspx|archive-date=December 16, 2007}} but it was the band's first charting album, entering at 97th place on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.{{cite news|title=Strapping Young Lad Enter Billboard Heatskeekers Chart|work=Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=9872|access-date=January 31, 2008|date=February 20, 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214061020/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=9872|archive-date=February 14, 2008}}

File:Devin Townsend - Zen (2005) - 2.jpg

While Strapping Young Lad was being reunited, Townsend formed a new, permanent band "on par with Strapping" to record and tour for his solo releases. The Devin Townsend Band consisted of Brian "Beav" Waddell on guitar, Mike Young on bass, Ryan Van Poederooyen on drums, and Dave Young on keyboards. Townsend performed guitar, vocals, and production, as he did in Strapping Young Lad. Townsend worked on the band's first album, Accelerated Evolution, at the same time he was working on Strapping Young Lad, spending half the week on one and half on the other.{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/content/view/167/74/ |title=Interview With Gene Hoglan |date=June 16, 2005 |author="Lord of the Wasteland"; Lehtinen, Arto |publisher=Metal-Rules.com |access-date=April 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821222024/http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/content/view/167/74/ |archive-date=August 21, 2008 }} Accelerated Evolution, named for the pace of putting a new band together in under a year, was released a month after Strapping Young Lad. Mike G. of Metal Maniacs called it "the album of the year", praising it for "the hard-to-accomplish trick of being extreme yet accessible, simultaneously heavy 'n' rockin' yet majestic and beautiful." Prior to the formation of the Devin Townsend Band, Townsend had represented his solo releases live with the Strapping Young Lad lineup; the band would play one set of Strapping Young Lad songs and one set of Devin Townsend songs.Gibson, Doug (June 26, 2005). "[http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=14203 Interview with Strapping Young Lad's Jed Simon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102091023/http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=14203 |date=January 2, 2011 }}." Metal Underground. After the release of Accelerated Evolution, Townsend's two bands toured separately for their separate albums.{{cite web|title=Devin Townsend Biography |publisher=HevyDevy Records |author=Turner, Tracy |url=http://www.hevydevy.com/hdr_biography.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626183214/http://www.hevydevy.com/hdr_biography.html |archive-date=June 26, 2008 }}

Strapping Young Lad began working on their next album, Alien, in March 2004.{{cite news |title=Strapping Young Lad Re-Sign With Century Media, Begin Work on New Material |work=Blabbermouth.net |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=20897 |access-date=January 31, 2008 |date=March 30, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202060857/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=20897 |archive-date=December 2, 2008 }} Feeling that the band's previous album did not live up to expectations, Townsend decided to take his music to a new extreme.Smit, Jackie (March 10, 2005). "[http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles/chats/1-722_devin_townsend.aspx Fury & passion in extremis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616183140/http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles/chats/1-722_devin_townsend.aspx |date=June 16, 2011 }}." Chronicles of Chaos. During the process of writing and recording the new album, Townsend stopped taking the medication prescribed to treat his bipolar disorder because he began expressing doubt about the initial diagnosis, and decided to stop taking the medication,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9ZdpLSUrTU&t=267|title=Devin Townsend - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?|date=October 5, 2016|publisher=YouTube}}S. Johnson, Alex. "Tales of extraordinary madness." Zero Tolerance magazine. December 30, 2004. Iss. 003. but continued with his substance abuse, and he eventually "flipped out" during the process, and later called the resulting album "toxic" and "psychologically very unhealthy". Although Townsend considered the album an "impenetrable mass of technicality",{{cite journal |last=Jones |first=Deirdre |date=December 1, 2006 |title=Masters of menace |journal=Guitar Player |issn=0017-5463 |oclc=1751642}} it was well received on its release, selling 3,697 copies in its first week{{cite news|title=Soundscan Report: Queens Of the Stone Age, Ozzy Osbourne, Strapping Young Lad|work=Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=34808|access-date=January 31, 2008|date=March 30, 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202060907/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=34808|archive-date=December 2, 2008}} and appearing on several Billboard charts.{{cite magazine|title=Artist Chart History – Strapping Young Lad|magazine=Billboard|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=strapping young lad|chart=all}}|access-date=January 31, 2008}} Around this time, Townsend also contributed to the soundtrack of the video game Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/interplay-signs-metal-bands-for-fallout-brotherhood-of-steel-58884407.html|title=Interplay Signs Metal Bands for 'Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel'|author=Interplay Entertainment Corp.|date=January 9, 2004|work=prnewswire.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106113404/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/interplay-signs-metal-bands-for-fallout-brotherhood-of-steel-58884407.html|archive-date=January 6, 2016|access-date=June 7, 2015}}

Shortly thereafter Townsend began putting together the next Devin Townsend Band record, with the working title Human.Townsend, Devin (January 7, 2005). "[http://www.hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3039#p64865 New news!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711164334/http://www.hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3039 |date=July 11, 2011 }}" HevyDevy Forums. Retrieved December 5, 2008. Townsend intended the album as the more "pleasant" counterpart to Alien. "It's basically a record about coming back down to earth after being in space with Alien for a while."{{cite web |url=http://www.revelationz.net/index.asp?ID=1760 |title=Interview with Devin Townsend |author=Kolman, Tajs |date=January 27, 2006 |publisher=RevelationZ Magazine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814043536/http://www.revelationz.net/index.asp?ID=1760 |archive-date=August 14, 2007 }} The album ended up being renamed Synchestra and was released in January 2006. Townsend showcased a wide variety of musical styles in Synchestra, blending his trademark "pop metal" with influences from folk, polka, and Middle Eastern music.

The final Strapping Young Lad album, The New Black, was released later in 2006.

From home, Townsend completed his second solo ambient album, The Hummer, releasing it exclusively on his website in November 2006.

In May 2007, Townsend released Ziltoid the Omniscient, a tongue-in-cheek rock opera about the eponymous fictional alien. This was truly a solo album; he programmed the drums using Drumkit from Hell,Lee, Cosmo (2007). "[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1067913|pure_url=yes}} Ziltoid the Omniscient: Review]." AllMusic. a software drum machine that uses samples recorded by Tomas Haake of MeshuggahToontrack (2010) "{{cite web |url=http://www.toontrack.com/products.asp?item=11 |title=Drumkit from Hell EZX |access-date=2010-04-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508005531/http://www.toontrack.com/products.asp?item=11 |archive-date=May 8, 2010 |df=mdy-all }} Drumkit From Hell," Toontrack. and played all other instruments himself. Shortly after the album's release, Townsend announced that he no longer planned to tour or make albums with Strapping Young Lad or the Devin Townsend Band. He explained that he was "burnt out on travelling, touring, and self promotion" and wished to do production work, write albums, and spend time with his family without the stress of interviews or touring.Townsend, Devin (May 10, 2007). "[http://hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6699 From Dev.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116013651/http://hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6699 |date=January 16, 2009 }}" HevyDevy Forums. Retrieved November 26, 2008.

In 2008, Townsend lent his voice to characters in several episodes of the Adult Swim cartoon Metalocalypse (see Musician cameos in Metalocalypse for more). The original character design for Pickles the Drummer, one of the series' main characters, bore a striking resemblance to Townsend. The series' co-creator Brendon Small acknowledged the similarity, and altered the design before the series began. "We made sure he didn't look like Devin Townsend. We gave him the goatee and the dreadover so he wouldn't look like that."{{cite web |url=http://www.thecultureshock.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=44 |title="Metalocalypse" Brendon and Tommy |date=September 21, 2006 |author=Douglas, Patrick |publisher=The Culture Shock |access-date=November 25, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716230625/http://www.thecultureshock.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=44 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}

Image:Devin tuska 2010.jpg

After removing himself from the music industry, Townsend cut his trademark hair offGenghis & Ragman (May 10, 2009). "[http://therighttorock.com/?p=440 Podcast #80 – Idol] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717025122/http://therighttorock.com/?p=440 |date=July 17, 2011 }}." The Right to Rock. and gave up drinking and smoking. Townsend found it "disconcerting" that he had difficulty writing music without drugs, and that he had trouble identifying his purpose as a musician. He spent a year producing albums in absence of writing, but found it unrewarding and decided to "pick up the guitar and just write". This began a period of "self discovery"Raven, Paul Graham (April 11, 2009). "{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110717201620/http://www.rock-metal-music-reviews.com/interview-devin-townsend/ Interview: Devin Townsend]}}." The Dreaded Press. Retrieved April 14, 2009. where he learned "how to create without drugs".{{Cite news |last= |date=March 20, 2009 |title=Devin Townsend to return this summer with K |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.NET/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116527 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323093552/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.NET/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116527 |archive-date=March 23, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2024 |work=Blabbermouth.net}}

Over two years, Townsend wrote over 60 songs, and found that they fit into "four distinct styles". In March 2009, Townsend announced his plans for a four-album series called Devin Townsend Project, with the goal of clarifying his musical identity and being "accountable" for the persona he projects to the public. The project's concept includes a different "theme" and a different group of musicians on each album.

Ki, the first album of the Devin Townsend Project tetralogy was written to "set the stage" for the subsequent albums. Townsend channelled his new-found control and sobriety into Ki, a "tense, quiet" album, which contrasts with much of the music he had been known for. Additional female vocals were provided by Ché Aimee Dorval (Casualties of Cool). Ki was released in May 2009.InsideOut Music. "[http://www.insideout.de/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=645 Devin Townsend – Ki] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724161234/http://www.insideoutshop.de/product_info.php?products_id=2030 |date=July 24, 2011 }}."

File:Anneke van Giersbergen & Devin Townsend, live at the Retinal Circus.jpg and Townsend, live at The Retinal Circus 2012, Roundhouse, London]]

The second entry, a "commercial, yet heavy" album called Addicted, was released in November 2009 and features lead vocals from Townsend and Dutch singer Anneke van Giersbergen. Brian "Beav" Waddell was recruited from the Devin Townsend Band to play bass.

Townsend returned to the stage in January 2010, touring North America with headliner Between the Buried and Me as well as Cynic and Scale the Summit. This was followed by a headlining tour in Australia and a series of high-profile shows in Europe (for example co-headlining the Brutal Assault festival in Czech Republic). He headlined a North American tour with UK label mates TesseracT supporting, which began in October 2010, and toured in Europe with support from Aeon Zen and Anneke van Giersbergen."[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=135020 Devin Townsend to Perform Entire Ziltoid Album at Finland's TUSKA Festival] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606064923/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=135020 |date=June 6, 2011 }}." Blabbermouth.net. February 12, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2010.

The third and fourth albums in the Devin Townsend Project series, Deconstruction and Ghost, were released simultaneously on June 21, 2011. In December 2011 all four Devin Townsend Project albums with additional material were released as the Contain Us box set."[http://www.insideoutmusic.com/newsdetailed.aspx?IdNews=10623&IdCompany=8%29 Devin Townsend Announces Track Listing for 'Contain Us' Box Set] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019025339/http://www.insideoutmusic.com/newsdetailed.aspx?IdNews=10623&IdCompany=8%29 |date=October 19, 2015 }}." Inside Out Music. November 16, 2011. Townsend performed all four of Devin Townsend Project albums in London and recorded them for a DVD box set called By a Thread: Live in London 2011 that was released on June 18, 2012. The first three shows were held at the University of London Union, November 10–12, 2011. Ki, Addicted, and Deconstruction were each performed on one night, respectively. The show for Ghost was held at the Union Chapel, Islington on November 13, 2011.{{cite web |author=bravewords.com |url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/172788 |title=> News > DEVIN TOWNSEND – Footage From Sold Out Performance of Ghost Album Online |publisher=Bravewords.com |access-date=July 23, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185044/http://www.bravewords.com/news/172788 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }} These four shows were each entitled "An Evening with the Devin Townsend Project".BraveWords.com. "{{cite web |url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/158044 |title=Splash |access-date=2011-03-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318090607/http://www.bravewords.com/news/158044 |archive-date=March 18, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}"

Despite the Devin Townsend Project being originally a four-album series, Townsend decided to continue working under the moniker and released the fifth album, Epicloud on September 18, 2012. Again featuring Anneke van Giersbergen on vocals, Epicloud appeared on several European charts, peaking at number 8 in Finland.{{cite web |url=http://www.finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Devin+Townsend+Project&titel=Epicloud&cat=a |title=Devin Townsend Project – Epicloud (Album) |publisher=Finnishcharts.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016025232/http://www.finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Devin+Townsend+Project&titel=Epicloud&cat=a |archive-date=October 16, 2013 }} On October 27, 2012, Townsend performed a one-off show covering his musical career called The Retinal Circus at Roundhouse in London. The 3-hour performance was recorded in high definition and released on DVD and Blu-ray on September 30, 2013.Townsend, Devin (October 9, 2012). [https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/posts/508345132524147 The Retinal Circus on DVD and Blu-ray, scheduled release Q2/2013] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019025339/https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/posts/508345132524147 |date=October 19, 2015 }}. Facebook.Townsend, Devin (August 12, 2013). [https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/posts/650835571608435 The Retinal Circus, now available to pre-order] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019025338/https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/posts/650835571608435 |date=October 19, 2015 }}. Facebook. Also in 2012, Townsend played bass on the debut Bent Sea album Noistalgia. He also produced the record.{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=167991 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108053825/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=167991 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 8, 2012 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – BENT SEA: Another Track Available For Streaming |work=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=July 23, 2012 }}

Another project Townsend has mentioned several times between 2009 and 2012 is Obviouser, an album featuring "creepy, bass driven apocalyptic music" created with an "Ampeg rig" and an "Icelandic choir".{{cite tweet|number=2051679694|user=dvntownsend|title=Working on new project after the dtp very freaky...probably called 'Obviouser' and will be multi media....creepy...bass focused.|date=June 6, 2009}}Clark, Evan (August 28, 2012). "[http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2012/08/28/devin-townsend-productivity-and-the-urge-for-understanding-the-hbih-interview-part-two/ Devin Townsend: Productivity and the Urge for Understanding — The HBIH Interview [Part Two]] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028215918/http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2012/08/28/devin-townsend-productivity-and-the-urge-for-understanding-the-hbih-interview-part-two |date=October 28, 2014 }}." Heavy Blog Is Heavy. Retrieved September 5, 2014. Working with many projects simultaneously at that time, Townsend stated in 2012 the Obviouser project is vying for pole position until "he wakes up and says 'he wants to do it'".

{{BLP primary sources|section|date=November 2015}}

After Deconstruction and Ghost, Townsend announced a new album, Casualties of Cool, with which he started to work after the release of Epicloud. The album features Ché Aimee Dorval (from Ki) on vocals and Morgan Ågren on drums.{{cite tweet|number=238316907378401280|user=dvntownsend|title=In a freak turn of events, the mindbending, unbelievable Morgan Agren is playing drums on Casualties Of Cool. no release date any time soon |date=August 22, 2012}} Townsend described the album sounds like "haunted Johnny Cash songs" and "late night music", highlighting it will be different than anything he has done before.{{cite web |url=http://www.theprp.com/2012/02/06/news/devin-townsend-working-on-casualties-of-cool-side-project/ |title=Devin Townsend Working on Casualties of Cool Side Project | Theprp.com – Metal, Hardcore and Rock News, Reviews and More |publisher=Theprp.com |date=February 6, 2012 |access-date=September 25, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208232132/http://www.theprp.com/2012/02/06/news/devin-townsend-working-on-casualties-of-cool-side-project/ |archive-date=February 8, 2012 }} Townsend referred the music of the album to be "closest to his heart" at this point of his life,{{cite tweet|number=352091254500245505|user=dvntownsend|title=Casualties is the closest to my heart of stuff I've done since Ki, but may ostracize those who are new to what I do...|date=July 2, 2013}} and that it is an important and satisfying project he does not want to rush.{{cite tweet|number=348517648914583552|user=dvntownsend|title=Picking away at Casualties. Such an absolute pleasure to not be rushed !!|date=June 22, 2013}}{{cite tweet|number=395633554442313728|user=dvntownsend|title=And yeah...every day fine tuning Casualties... Put so much care into this one, but when I'm in the wrong mood, I don't hear it = |date=October 30, 2013}}

File:Casualties of Cool live at the Union Chapel London, 2014.jpg live at the Union Chapel, Islington, 2014]]

The album was completed in November 2013,{{cite tweet|number=402932359567114240|user=dvntownsend|title=Casualties Disk 1 finished and mastered as of Friday! ...Disk 2 awaits.|date=November 19, 2013}} and a bonus disc was also made for the album, containing the leftover material from the main album as well as songs from Ghost 2, the unreleased compilation of leftover tracks from Ghost.{{cite tweet|number=270677949026562048|user=dvntownsend|title=Oh yeah, the bonus disk for Casualties will be the Ghost 2 stuff. = |date=November 20, 2012}}{{cite tweet|number=391013139350712320|user=dvntownsend|title=Disk 2 contains the songs that distracted from the original vibe as well as ghost 2 stuff... Some may like 2 better, but 1 is the vision.|date=October 18, 2013}}{{cite tweet|number=396410635564482560|user=dvntownsend|title=Picking away at Casualties... calming. Verrrry specific mix though. Starting Disk 2 next week. Extra Casualties, best parts of Ghost 2 |date=November 1, 2013}} Originally in 2012, Townsend stated that this album will be the sixth and the last album in the Devin Townsend Project series,"Casualties of Cool is the end of the Devin Townsend Project" Metal Hammer 11/2012. The Retinal Circus special. pp. 15. October 29, 2012. but he ultimately confirmed that Casualties of Cool is its own project.{{cite tweet|number=432927905606156288|user=dvntownsend|title=It will be under the 'Casualties Of Cool' project, but anything over and above goes into Ziltoid. This is about making an awesome thing|date=February 10, 2014}}{{cite tweet|number=432942828964950016|user=dvntownsend|title=And yeah, Casualties Of Cool is its own thing...not DTP, and although Ziltoid is very metal, Casualties is not.|date=February 10, 2014}} Townsend also started a crowdfunding campaign through PledgeMusic to support the release of the album.{{cite tweet|number=432927399873757184|user=dvntownsend|title=So for almost a year now, we've been planning a Pledge campaign... it'll start in a couple of weeks. Been a hard decision...|date=February 10, 2014}} The funding quickly reached its goal, and all additional funds were put directly to Townsend's upcoming projects."[http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/casualties-of-cool Casualties of Cool] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314161859/http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/casualties-of-cool |date=March 14, 2017 }}." PledgeMusic. Retrieved March 3, 2014. Casualties of Cool was released on May 14, 2014."[https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/posts/10151911718081167?stream_ref=10 The Casualties of Cool Pledge campaign has started.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019025338/https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/posts/10151911718081167?stream_ref=10 |date=October 19, 2015 }}" Devin Townsend official Facebook page. February 22, 2014. The album was re-issued worldwide on January 15, 2016, containing an additional DVD with live footage from the 2014 concert at the Union Chapel in London."{{cite web |url=http://www.teamrock.com/news/2015-11-11/devin-s-casualties-of-cool-album-set-for-reissue |title=Devin's Casualties of Cool album set for reissue |work=TeamRock |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=2016-01-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209035110/http://www.teamrock.com/news/2015-11-11/devin-s-casualties-of-cool-album-set-for-reissue |archive-date=February 9, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}""{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/devin-townsend/casualties-of-cool-to-see-full-release-including-live-at-union-chapel-dvd/967846509954335 |title=Archived copy |website=Facebook |access-date=2016-01-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209035110/https://www.facebook.com/notes/devin-townsend/casualties-of-cool-to-see-full-release-including-live-at-union-chapel-dvd/967846509954335 |archive-date=February 9, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}"

From 2009,"[http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/11/17/ziltoid-part-2-z2/ Ziltoid Part 2... Z2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219071535/http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/11/17/ziltoid-part-2-z2/ |date=December 19, 2014 }}." MetalSucks. November 17, 2009. Townsend worked on a long-running album project called Z², a sequel to the album Ziltoid the Omniscient (2007).Townsend, Devin (January 16, 2012).[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/158637399734353921 Just finished writing track one for Z2.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209035110/https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/158637399734353921 |date=February 9, 2016 }} Twitter Originally in 2012, he teased he "may have just written the heaviest thing (he's) ever done" for the album,{{cite tweet|number=258081924592062464|user=dvntownsend|title=I may have just written the heaviest thing I've ever done... holy shit.|date=October 16, 2012}} and stated there might a surprising lack of Ziltoid himself appearing on the album. However, in August 2013, a London-based radio station, TeamRock Radio, aired the first episode of Ziltoid Radio, a satirical radio show hosted solely by Ziltoid,"[http://www.teamrockradio.com/news/devin-townsends-ziltoid-gets-teamrock-radio-show Devin Townsend's Ziltoid gets TeamRock Radio show] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824233055/http://www.teamrockradio.com/news/devin-townsends-ziltoid-gets-teamrock-radio-show |date=August 24, 2013 }}." TeamRock Radio. August 21, 2013. this being one element of the Z² project."[http://www.teamrockradio.com/news/devin-townsends-teamrock-radio-show-is-part-of-z2-project Devin Townsend's TeamRock Radio show is part of the Z2 project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830005951/http://www.teamrockradio.com/news/devin-townsends-teamrock-radio-show-is-part-of-z2-project |date=August 30, 2013 }}." TeamRock Radio. August 21, 2013. Townsend also discussed a "ZTV" or "Ziltoid TV" to precede the album.{{cite tweet|number=328322089796898818|user=dvntownsend|title=Then Z2 I hope following on the Ztv stuff, creatively all very exciting. I have no desire to chase commercial acceptance. Thanks for joining!|date=April 28, 2013}}{{cite tweet|number=341067714942627840|user=dvntownsend|title=AND ZTV starts filming in a month and a half! THAT is going to rock your world... anyways, later... d|date=June 2, 2013}}{{cite tweet|number=366909864993230848|user=dvntownsend|title=It starts with Ziltoid radio, then Ziltoid TV, then the album, then the show!!|date=August 12, 2013}} Townsend later stated he found the project hard to schedule and work with amidst touring and writing,{{cite tweet|number=394248886266511360|user=dvntownsend|title=When I signed on to the episodes, I had NO idea how huge of a job it is to do every week. Amidst touring, meetings and writing its difficult|date=October 26, 2013}}{{cite tweet|number=395642612427661313|user=dvntownsend|title=I do really enjoy doing the radio show, if it was my only responsibility I could really get into it, but it has to play ball with everything|date=October 30, 2013}} stating "it takes a lot of effort" to keep the content and its tongue-in-cheek humour entertaining.{{cite tweet|number=394249087588900864|user=dvntownsend|title=I cant justify 'phoning it in' and the content is hard to keep entertaining... amidst it all, often I find myself just not in the mood...|date=October 26, 2013}}{{cite tweet|number=395644912516874240|user=dvntownsend|title=I think ZRadio is still cool, but it takes a lot of effort to not just 'phone it in'... Its not worth doing if it's 'just a radio show'.|date=October 30, 2013}}

File:Devin Townsend Project - live at the Royal Albert Hall 2015.jpg live at the Royal Albert Hall 2015]]

After writing ideas for over 70 songs,{{cite tweet|number=417565848983699456|user=dvntownsend|title=And I began writing for z2 about 6 months ago. Between all the ideas, there's close to 70 songs. Some are really good, but none are 'it'|date=December 30, 2013}} Townsend stated he would finally finish the whole project,{{cite tweet|number=379248328342380545|user=dvntownsend|title=I know I've been overwhelming people with music, but the releases are staggered to give each room. Casualties April, z2 next years end. But|date=September 15, 2013}}{{cite tweet|number=364761687708008448|user=dvntownsend|title=...in about 2 weeks, it's all about Ziltoid for the next 2 years. SO much lined up for that peckerhead it's verging on obscene. |date=August 6, 2013}} followed by the announcement the album would be released on October 27, 2014.{{cite tweet|number=496767123004616705|user=centurymedia|title=.@thisismonuments heading out this fall with @dvntownsend and @AnimalAsLeader on the Abstract Reality tour!|access-date=August 6, 2014|date=August 5, 2014}} The recording process started in May 2014,{{cite tweet|number=417566755960012800|user=dvntownsend|title=I'm proud to say that the ideas that are coming now are beginning to take the shape. The theme. It's so exciting. We start recording in May|date=December 30, 2013}}{{cite tweet|number=433937161398673409|user=dvntownsend|title=So recording of Z2 starts May 2nd in LA! The project started so far include ztv a big graphic novel comic, a documentary and crazy live show|date=February 13, 2014}} and the final project includes the album, a Ziltoid TV program and a live show, with a "big graphic novel comic" and a documentary. The album itself is a double album, with disc one featuring Devin Townsend Project material and disc two containing the main album.{{cite tweet|number=438912576554934273|user=dvntownsend|title=So check it: Z2 is going to be a double record, one Ziltoid, one dTP, and the theme it's 'Ziltoid against the world' ....so...|date=February 27, 2014}} According to Townsend, the album's theme is "Ziltoid against the world". The Devin Townsend Project disc is called Sky Blue and the Ziltoid disc is called Dark Matters.{{cite tweet|number=497219080886439936|user=dvntownsend|title=Oh, and the DTP album is called 'Sky Blue' while the Ziltoid disk is called 'Dark Matters'|date=August 7, 2014}}

After finishing the album, Townsend stated the project was "punishing" and an "absolute nightmare to complete" due to amount of material against tight schedules.{{cite tweet|number=503751235460419584|user=dvntownsend|title=What a punishing record this was to make. Right up to the bitter end. Just a total dickhead of a process. Fucking hell. Yerrggh...|date=August 25, 2014}}{{cite tweet|number=506699299515015168|user=dvntownsend|title=I had just received some bad news prior to that interview, all is actually really well now. Z2 was an absolute nightmare to complete...|date=September 2, 2014}}{{cite tweet|number=503425584173953024|user=dvntownsend|title=One more day... we have till midnight tomorrow to deliver everything for Z2... still so much to do...no extensions. Can we do it?|date=August 24, 2014}} He also described the hardship of the project by telling "if he was ever going to start drinking [again], the last months would have been it", but now "he's starting to get excited again".{{cite tweet|number=506700274325807105|user=dvntownsend|title=If I was ever going to start drinking, the last few months would have been it...but we're through, sober, and starting to get excited again.|date=September 2, 2014}} Later, "after the chaos of finishing it had subsided", Townsend stated he is really satisfied with the result.{{cite tweet|number=508177807310983168|user=dvntownsend|title=Ok, so I went for a walk and listened to z2 today. After the chaos of finishing it has subsided, I have to say: Fuck yeah.|date=September 6, 2014}}

Townsend recently discussed at least a year-long hiatus, beginning after the Z² show taking place at the Royal Albert Hall on April 13, 2015.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWsppHFEc6s|title=Devin Townsend interview with TotalRock @Sonisphere 2014|date=July 8, 2014|work=YouTube|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216024344/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWsppHFEc6s|archive-date=December 16, 2015}}{{cite tweet|number=497215176353906688|user=dvntownsend|title=I want to take a year off perhaps after The Royal Albert show to recharge my batteries, get some new inspiration and experiences...|date=August 7, 2014}}{{cite tweet|number=486292942441562113|user=dvntownsend|title=So hey! April 13, 2015... We're going to do a 'Ziltoid musical' at the Royal Albert Hall! ...indeeeed! |date=July 7, 2014}} During the indefinitely long[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBeqUrcZtzk Devin Townsend Project – London Royal Albert Hall – 13 April 2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702114608/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBeqUrcZtzk |date=July 2, 2015 }}. YouTube. break Townsend intends to "recharge his batteries", "get some inspiration and experiences" and to "see what the next chapter holds" for him.[https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/photos/a.175020189189978.40890.134347786590552/862944100397580/?type=1 Z² official announcement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019025338/https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/photos/a.175020189189978.40890.134347786590552/862944100397580/?type=1 |date=October 19, 2015 }}. Devin Townsend official Facebook page.

In 2014, Townsend recorded a poppy-sounding song in Los Angeles with producer Brian Howes, but has decided against releasing. Townsend mentioned that he is against the project being contrived due to the current hard rock undertones in popular music. He described it as a "lukewarm heavy metal Devin song".{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/jameyjasta/episode-42-devin-townsend-strapping-young-lad|title=Episode 42 – Devin Townsend|work=SoundCloud|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218034646/https://soundcloud.com/jameyjasta/episode-42-devin-townsend-strapping-young-lad|archive-date=December 18, 2014}} On December 11, 2015, Townsend announced via Twitter that he was recording vocals for a song by Steve Vai.{{cite tweet|number=675388814248906754|user=dvntownsend|title=Recording vocals for a song by @stevevai today. Its a good experience.|date=December 11, 2015}}

In early 2016, Townsend completed the seventh DTP album, entitled Transcendence at Armoury Studios in Vancouver. The album was released on September 9.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/devin-townsend-interview-what-i-tried-to-do-with-this-record-was-make-something-beautiful-because-a7219291.html|title=The Devin Townsend Project exclusively stream new song 'Stormbending'|last=Dedman|first=Remfry|date=September 1, 2016|website=Independent.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=September 16, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20160909235037/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/devin-townsend-interview-what-i-tried-to-do-with-this-record-was-make-something-beautiful-because-a7219291.html|archive-date=September 9, 2016}} On March 17, 2017, Devin Townsend Project played Ocean Machine live in its entirety at Hammersmith Apollo. On October 30, 2017, Devin announced that he was working on four new albums.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/925213773270364160|title=Devin Townsend on Twitter|website=twitter.com|access-date=May 6, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506015016/https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/925213773270364160|archive-date=May 6, 2018}}

On January 31, 2018, Townsend announced on his Facebook page that he was taking a break from the Devin Townsend Project and focusing on a number of other projects, including the four new albums previously announced.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/photos/a.175020189189978.40890.134347786590552/1999972140028098|title=Devin Townsend|website=Facebook.com|language=en|access-date=February 1, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506015016/https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/photos/a.175020189189978.40890.134347786590552/1999972140028098|archive-date=May 6, 2018}}

On January 15, 2019, Townsend announced his album, Empath, on which work had been completed, and slated for release on March 29, 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/devin-towsend-announces-empath-release-date-announces-mini-docuseries|title=DEVIN TOWSEND Announces Empath Release Date, Announces Mini-Docuseries|date=January 16, 2019|website=Metal Injection|access-date=January 16, 2019}} The album's purpose is "to see what would happen if all the styles that make up [Townsend's] current interests were finally represented in one place.", and about "allowing the audience a feeling for a variety of musical emotions. The musical dynamics represented on this single album are broad, challenging, and immense. To approach this sort of work with a long history of what makes heavy music 'heavy', allows this to be done with a type of power rarely heard."{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/videos/vb.134347786590552/360542761167495/?type=2&theater|title=DEVIN TOWNSEND announces new album 'Empath'|website=Facebook|access-date=January 16, 2019}} Guests on the album include former Frank Zappa collaborators Mike Keneally, Morgan Ågren and Steve Vai, as well as Samus Paulicelli, Chad Kroeger, Anneke Van Giersbergen, Ché Aimee Dorval from Casualties of Cool, and Ryan Dahle. A series of documentary videos detailing the making of Empath has been released on YouTube.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZBcGuM_UpE| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/lZBcGuM_UpE| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=YouTube| date=January 16, 2019|publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 16, 2019}}{{cbignore}} He appeared on the YouTube show Tuesday Talks hosted by Mary Spender.{{cite web

| author= Pete Carpenter

| date= January 2, 2018

| publisher= Native FM

| url= https://www.native.fm/article/best-of-bristol-mary-spender

| title= Best of Bristol: Mary Spender

| access-date= November 11, 2019

| quote= ... Mary Spender ... a native of Bristol, her distinctive guitar style and crisp, clear sultry vocal have been making waves throughout YouTube ... her ‘Tuesday Talks’ ... interviewing such talents as KT Tunstall, Devin Townsend and Kaki King...

| archive-date= November 12, 2019

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191112003341/https://www.native.fm/article/best-of-bristol-mary-spender

| url-status= dead

}}

On March 12, 2020, Townsend postponed the remainder of his Empath Vol. 1 North American Tour due to the coronavirus pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2020/03/12/devin-townsend-postpones-remainder-of-north-american-tour/|title=Devin Townsend Postpones Remainder of North American Tour|date=March 12, 2020|website=MetalSucks|language=en|access-date=April 7, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend/posts/3840273982664562 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/134347786590552/3840273982664562 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Devin Townsend|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=April 7, 2020}}{{cbignore}} Four days later, on March 16, 2020, Townsend launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs of the canceled tour. It raised $80,804 of the $50,000 goal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2020/03/16/devin-townsend-launches-crowdfunding-campaign-to-make-up-for-lost-touring-income/|title=Devin Townsend Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Make up for Lost Touring Income|date=March 16, 2020|website=MetalSucks|language=en|access-date=April 7, 2020}} As a "thank you" to his fans, Townsend launched what he dubbed "Quarantine Project", releasing new music in the process.{{Citation|title=The Coronavirus Quarantine Silver Lining, Part 2: Devin Townsend Launches "Quarantine Project" {{!}} MetalSucks|date=March 18, 2020|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2020/03/18/the-coronavirus-quarantine-silver-lining-part-2-devin-townsend-launches-quarantine-project/|language=en|access-date=April 7, 2020}} Among the new tracks is a new mix of "A New Reign" from the Sky Blue album.{{Cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/devin-townsend-releases-new-mix-of-a-new-reign-from-sky-blue-album-quarantine-project-part-10|title=DEVIN TOWNSEND Releases New Mix Of "A New Reign" From Sky Blue Album (Quarantine Project: Part 10)|last=BraveWords|website=bravewords.com|date=April 2020 |language=en|access-date=April 7, 2020}} Townsend collaborated with the likes of Kat Epple, Samus Paulicelli, Morgan Ågren, Federico Paulovich, Ché Aimee Dorval, Mattias Eklundh, Wes Hauch and Liam Wilson.{{Citation|title=Devin Townsend's New Song Features ex-Members of The Faceless, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Decrepit Birth {{!}} MetalSucks|date=March 27, 2020|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2020/03/27/devin-townsends-new-song-features-ex-members-of-the-faceless-the-dillinger-escape-plan-decrepit-birth/|language=en|access-date=April 7, 2020}}

In April 2020, Townsend began uploading a chronological series of podcasts on his official YouTube channel, with each episode discussing one or two of the albums in his discography. These podcasts have been monologue discussions and reflections on the albums themselves, the influences, the personnel, and the state of Townsend's life during the times these albums were being written and recorded.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KIhclVaK0Des9uMrJlt1w|title=Devin Townsend official YouTube channel|website=www.youtube.com|access-date=September 11, 2020}}

In August 2020, Townsend announced the upcoming release of Empath Live Volume 1: Order of Magnitude, a live concert recorded during the first Empath Tour, and Empath Live Volume 2: By Request, a virtual concert for fans in lieu of the second tour, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://musicplayers.com/2020/08/devin-townsend-announces-order-of-magnitude-empath-live-volume-1-will-stream-empath-live-volume-2-by-request-set-online/|title=Devin Townsend Announces "Order of Magnitude"|website=www.musicplayers.com|date=August 17, 2020}} On September 5, he hosted a streaming premiere of Empath Live Volume 2, a prerecorded virtual show featuring Samus Paulicelli on drums, Wes Hauch on guitar, Liam Wilson on bass, and Townsend on guitar and vocals.{{Cite web|date=July 24, 2020|title=DEVIN TOWNSEND Announces 'Revolutionary' Virtual Concert 'Empath Volume 2: By Request'|url=https://blabbermouth.herokuapp.com/news/devin-townsend-announces-revolutionary-virtual-concert-empath-volume-2-by-request/|access-date=November 22, 2020|website=Blabbermouth.net|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130004842/https://blabbermouth.herokuapp.com/news/devin-townsend-announces-revolutionary-virtual-concert-empath-volume-2-by-request/|url-status=dead}} Each of them performed separately in front of green screens, with eight different camera setups each, to enhance the virtual concert experience. In 2021, he released two live albums: Devolution Series #1 - Acoustically Inclined, Live in Leeds, which was a recording of an acoustic show in Leeds in 2019, released on March 19 and Devolution Series #2 – Galactic Quarantine which was a recording of the aforementioned virtual show, released on June 25.{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/devin-townsend-announces-devolution-series-1-acoustically-inclined-live-in-leeds/|title= EVIN TOWNSEND Announces 'Devolution Series #1 - Acoustically Inclined, Live In Leeds'|website=www.blabbermouth.com|date=February 5, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://archive.blabbermouth.net/news/devin-townsend-announces-devolution-series-2-galactic-quarantine/|title=DEVIN TOWNSEND Announces 'Devolution Series #2 - Galactic Quarantine'|website=www.blabbermouth.com|date=May 14, 2021}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Townsend's next project was a double release including the albums The Puzzle and Snuggles. The two albums were released on 3 December 2021, after two release delays "due to a massive shortage in raw materials and plastics, preventing the physical releases, particularly the boxsets and vinyls, from getting completed and shipped out in time.".{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/news/43318/Devin-Townsend-albums-delayed/|title=Devin Townsend albums delayed|date=October 14, 2021|website=Sputnikmusic|accessdate=October 15, 2021}} The Puzzle is based on the chaotic experience of the 2020 pandemic while Snuggles is said to be more calm; both albums are "collaborative multimedia art projects" accompanied by films and, in the case of The Puzzle, a graphic novel.{{cite web |url=https://music.mxdwn.com/2021/01/20/news/devin-townsend-details-multitude-of-upcoming-releases-including-two-films-and-accompanying-scores-the-puzzle-and-snuggles-a-graphic-novel-in-2021-and-a-proper-solo-album-in-2022/ |title=Devin Townsend Details Multitude of Upcoming Releases Including Two Films and Accompanying Scores The Puzzle and Snuggles & A Graphic Novel in 2021 and a Proper Solo Album in 2022 |work=mxdwn.com |last=Grech |first=Aaron |date=January 20, 2021 |accessdate=July 30, 2021}} These were followed by another solo album in 2022 called Lightwork.{{cite web |date=September 19, 2021 |title=DEVIN TOWNSEND - PHYSICAL RELEASE OF THE PUZZLE DELAYED BY TWO WEEKS |url=https://bravewords.com/news/devin-townsend-physical-release-of-the-puzzle-delayed-by-two-weeks |accessdate=October 8, 2021 |work=bravewords.com}} A tour in support of Lightwork was announced with dates in April–May 2022.{{cite web |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/devin-townsend-announces-lightwork-album-european-tour/ |title=DEVIN TOWNSEND Announces 'Lightwork' Album, European Tour |work=Blabbermouth |date=June 11, 2021 |accessdate=July 30, 2021}} Ultimately, Townsend cancelled his solo tour dates in favour of opening for American progressive metal band Dream Theater's European Tour in early 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/tour-dates/dream-theater-announces-devin-townsend-as-opener-for-european-tour|title=DREAM THEATER Announces DEVIN TOWNSEND As Opener For European Tour|date=2021-10-31|website=Metal Injection|access-date=2021-12-05}} with his Lightwork tour being postponed until early 2023.

On October 16, 2023, via Inside Out Music's YouTube channel, Townsend announced a new podcast series by publishing its first episode.{{cite web |last1=Townsend |first1=Devin |title=DEVIN TOWNSEND - Podcast Episode 1: Synesthesia |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PilIGrjqqs&ab_channel=InsideOutMusicTV |website=YouTube |date=October 16, 2023 |publisher=InsideOutMusicTV |access-date=20 October 2023}} The podcast was to be published monthly via the same channel. Based on the first episode, as well as Townsend's Instagram, the new series' aim was, as opposed to the original Devin Townsend Podcast series (published on Townsend's YouTube channel), not to analyze his past records, but rather to 'focus on a real time observation of the next ones.'.{{cite web |last1=Townsend |first1=Devin |title=Instagram post on the profile 'dvntownsend' from October 16th |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/CydKGLDvWkq/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== |website=Instagram |publisher=dvntownsend |access-date=20 October 2023}}

On August 23, a new song and video was released called PowerNerd, which was included on a new studio album of the same name that was released on October 25, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Keenan |first=Hesher |date=2024-08-23 |title=Devin Townsend Saves the Day with "PowerNerd", Album Due October 25 |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2024/08/23/devin-townsend-saves-the-day-with-powernerd-album-due-october-25/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}} His rock opera The Moth was performed live at De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Netherlands on March 27 and March 28, 2025;{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-devin-townsend-performs-his-rock-opera-the-moth-live-for-first-time-in-groningen-netherlands|title=Watch: DEVIN TOWNSEND Performs His Rock Opera 'The Moth' Live For First Time In Groningen, Netherlands|date=March 28, 2025|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}} the project has been in the works since at least 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/devin-townsend-isnt-sure-what-the-moth-is-gonna-be-yet|title=DEVIN TOWNSEND Isn't Sure What The Moth Is Gonna Be Yet|first=Greg|last=Kennelty|date=October 16, 2023|website=Metal Injection}} He is also currently working on a number of other projects, including ones called Axolotl,{{Cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/devin-townsend-issues-update-on-axolotl-project-it-s-really-beautiful-and-weird|title=DEVIN TOWNSEND Issues Update On AXOLOTL Project - "It's Really Beautiful And Weird"|website=bravewords.com|date=March 4, 2024 }} and a web series called Ruby Quaker.{{Cite web|url=https://eternal-terror.com/2024/10/02/devin-townsend-interview-2/|title=DEVIN TOWNSEND – interview – Eternal Terror Live}}

Townsend began an indefinite hiatus from touring after the North American tour in support of PowerNerd had concluded.{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Gregory |title=Devin Townsend announces hiatus from touring |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/news/devin-townsend-announces-hiatus-from-touring/ |website=Revolver |access-date=1 May 2025 |language=en}}

Townsend is married to Tracy Turner, whom he began dating when he was 19.{{cite web|first=Charlie |last=Steffens|url=http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/templateid/10362/menuid/3/tempidx/5/catid/4/restemp/N%3B/fPpagesel/2|title=Strapping Young Lad|magazine=Blistering|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923192101/http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/templateid/10362/menuid/3/tempidx/5/catid/4/restemp/N%3B/fPpagesel/2|archive-date=September 23, 2015|access-date=August 17, 2017}} She gave birth to their first son in October 2006.{{cite web |url=http://hevydevy.com/hdr_news.html |author=Turner, Tracy |title=HDR News |publisher=HevyDevy Records |date=November 2006 |access-date=November 25, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080702044425/http://hevydevy.com/hdr_news.html |archive-date = July 2, 2008}} Townsend and his family live in the Vancouver suburb of Coquitlam.[https://www.suncityparadise.com/article/travel-profile-devin-townsend/ Travel Profile: Devin Townsend] Retrieved on September 11, 2020

Townsend has been a vegetarian for ethical reasons since around the early 1990s, but does not consider himself an activist.{{cite web|access-date=August 17, 2017|url=http://www.radiometal.com/article/devin-townsend-in-heavy-metal-food-holy-cow-this-is-zen,54578|title=Devin Townsend in Heavy Metal Food: holy cow, this is zen|first=Gilles|last=Lartigot|date=December 14, 2011|publication-date=January 25, 2012|format=video|website=Radiometal.com|location=Montreal, Canada|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620203741/http://www.radiometal.com/article/devin-townsend-in-heavy-metal-food-holy-cow-this-is-zen,54578|url-status=dead}} He has revealed in interviews that he suffers from depression.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVf3S9k3v_8| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/sVf3S9k3v_8| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=DEVIN TOWNSEND - Empath (Track by Track Pt. 4)|date=April 23, 2019|access-date=June 15, 2019|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder around 1998, a condition that was unknowingly exacerbated by his alcohol and drug use at the time; he has been sober and free of anti-psychotic medication since 2007.

Image:Strapping Young Lad 1.jpg, Italy (2006)]]

Townsend designed his two main projects, the aggressive Strapping Young Lad and his more melodic solo material, as counterparts.{{cite web|title=Interview with Devin Townsend|publisher=Metal-Rules.com|author=Hawkins, Chris|url=http://metal-rules.com/interviews/Devin.htm|access-date=January 31, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917103600/http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/Devin.htm|archive-date=September 17, 2007}} Strapping Young Lad's music was a diverse mix of extreme metal genres: death metal, thrash metal, black metal{{cite web|title=Alien review|publisher=Decibel magazine|author=Terry, Nick|url=http://www.decibelmagazine.com/reviews/apr2005/strapping_young_lad.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506005044/http://www.decibelmagazine.com/reviews/apr2005/strapping_young_lad.aspx|archive-date=May 6, 2006 |access-date=January 31, 2008}} and industrial metal. Townsend's solo material blends many genres and influences, with elements of atmospheric ambient music,{{cite journal |last=Ballard |first=David |date=March–April 2003 |title=A lad insane |journal=Revolver |publisher=Future US |location=South San Francisco, California |issn=1527-408X |oclc=42757765}} hard rock and prog rock, along with glam metal and arena rock.Henderson, Alex. "[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r634643|pure_url=yes}} Accelerated Evolution: Review]." He described it as "a highly orchestrated type of expansive music based in hard rock and heavy metal. Dense and produced with a large amount of ambient elements."{{cite web|url=http://jazzandrock.com/?p=804|title=Devin Townsend: My Music is like Sugar coated nightmares|work=jazzandrock.com|date=July 2015 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106113404/http://jazzandrock.com/?p=804|archive-date=January 6, 2016}} Despite Strapping Young Lad's greater mainstream acceptance, Townsend identifies more with his solo material, and has never intended Strapping Young Lad to be the focus of his music.{{cite journal |author=Jimzilla |date=Summer 2003 |title=Strapping Young Lad: Devin Townsend |journal=Throat Culture}}

Townsend is synesthetic, experiencing musical notes as colors and shapes. Partly due to this, he simultaneously composes and mixes his music in what he describes as "all autopilot", practically without any deliberate application of music theory.{{Citation|title=Devin Townsend Blows Our Tiny Minds – That Pedal Show| date=November 9, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zm5QD7smSw|language=en|access-date=2022-01-25}} As a self-proclaimed "fan of multitracking", Townsend has developed a trademark production style featuring an atmospheric, layered "wall of sound".{{cite news|title=The Devin Townsend Band – Synchestra|newspaper=Cleveland Scene|author=Lay, David|url=http://www.bigcity.com/2006-02-08/music/the-devin-townsend-band/|access-date=December 2, 2008|date=February 8, 2006}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Townsend has drawn critical praise for his productions, which "are always marked by a sense of adventure, intrigue, chaotic atmospherics and overall aural pyrotechnics", according to Mike G. of Metal Maniacs. Townsend mainly uses Pro Tools to produce his music, alongside other software suites such as Steinberg Cubase, Ableton Live, Logic Pro and Waves Audio plugins.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LrTB9JFBME| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/8LrTB9JFBME| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=How to Produce a Massive Vocal Wall of Sound {{!}} Devin Townsend|website=YouTube| date=October 30, 2018}}{{cbignore}} Townsend's musical ideas and production style have drawn comparisons to Phil Spector and Frank Zappa.{{cite web|title=Alien Review|website=AllMusic|author=Rivadavia, Eduardo|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r732850|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=January 31, 2008}} Townsend has carried out the mixing and mastering for most of his solo work himself.

Townsend has also mixed and remixed work for other artists such as Rammstein,{{Cite web |last=Neilstein |first=Vince |date=2010-02-09 |title=DEVIN TOWNSEND REMIXES RAMMSTEIN'S "RAMMLIED": EXCLUSIVE PREMIER |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2010/02/09/devin-townsend-remixes-rammsteins-rammlied-exclusive-premier/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}} August Burns Red, Pendulum and Misery Signals.{{Cite web |date=2012-03-01 |title=OMG! There Is A MISERY SIGNALS Documentary Being Made! |url=https://metalinjection.net/news/yes/omg-there-is-a-misery-signals-documentary-being-made |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}} In 2024 he co-produced the album II: Frailty by the Chinese progressive metal band OU.{{cite web |last=Everley |first=Dave |title="OU frequently sound like they've beamed in from the 25th century." Devin Townsend-approved Chinese metallers OU take prog metal into strange new worlds on II: Frailty |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/ou-ii-frailty-album-review-metal-hammer |website=Metal Hammer |access-date=10 May 2024 |date=25 April 2024}}

Townsend mainly uses Open C tuning for both six and seven string guitar. He now also uses Open B tuning and Open B flat tuning on his six string guitars. Townsend's technique varies from fingerpicking, power chords and polychords to sweep-picked arpeggios and tapping techniques. He is also known for his heavy use of reverb and delay effects. He has expressed that he has no taste for shred guitar, saying that "Musically it doesn't do anything for me" and that he only solos when he thinks that he can within the context of the song.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=102mdX-UEzI |title=Devin Townsend on creating the 'heavy sound' |publisher=YouTube |date=August 19, 2009 |access-date=July 23, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826045754/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=102mdX-UEzI&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1 |archive-date=August 26, 2011 }}

Townsend employs a variety of vocal techniques in his work, including screaming, growling{{cite web|title=The New Black Review|website=AllMusic|author=La Gorce, Tammy|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r860713|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=January 31, 2008}} or even falsetto.{{cite news|title=Strap on for a fun ride with Lad|newspaper=Michigan Daily|author=Rosli, Adlin|url=http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1998/aug/08-03-98/arts/arts6.html|date=August 3, 1998|access-date=January 31, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050508101106/http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1998/aug/08-03-98/arts/arts6.html |archive-date = May 8, 2005|url-status=dead}} Daniel Lake of Decibel Magazine classifies Townsend's voice as a "semi-operatic tenor".{{cite news| url = https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/11/21/justify-shitty-taste-devin-townsend-bands-physicist/| title = Justify Your Shitty Taste: Devin Townsend Band's "Physicist"| work=Decibel |date=November 21, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2018| first=Daniel| last=Lake}}

Townsend draws influence from a wide range of music genres, most prominently heavy metal. Townsend has cited, among others, Judas Priest, W.A.S.P., Broadway musicals, ABBA, new-age music, Zoviet France, King's X, Morbid Angel, Barkmarket, Grotus, Jane's Addiction, Fear Factory{{cite web|title=Interview: Strapping Young Lad: An extreme metal all-star squad|publisher=In Music We Trust|author=SOS, Mike|url=http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/71h16.html|access-date=January 31, 2008|date=August 2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213220003/http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/71h16.html|archive-date=February 13, 2012}} and Godflesh{{cite web|url=http://www.terrorizer.com/news/news-news/devin-townsend-i-found-out-about-playing-damnation-festival-on-twitter/|title=Devin Townsend: "I found out about playing Damnation Festival on Twitter"|work=Terrorizer|date=October 19, 2011|first=Miranda|last=Yardley|access-date=March 10, 2020}} as his influences, and has also expressed his admiration for Meshuggah on several occasions, calling them "the best metal band on the planet".{{cite magazine|title=The New Raging Bull! – Strapping Young Lad|magazine=Guitar Player|author=Jones, H. Deirdre|url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/strapping-young-lad/nov-06/24072|access-date=January 31, 2008|date=November 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430072334/http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/strapping-young-lad/nov-06/24072|archive-date=April 30, 2009}} Townsend lists Paul Horn and Ravi Shankar as the "two most important musicians in his life".{{cite web|title=The Two Most Important Musicians of My Life|publisher=MetalSucks|author=Townsend, Devin|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/11/17/the-two-most-important-musicians-in-my-life/|access-date=October 28, 2013|date=November 17, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021326/http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/11/17/the-two-most-important-musicians-in-my-life/|archive-date=December 3, 2013}} The two songs that Townsend credits with changing the way he thought about music are "The Burning Down" by King's X, and "Up the Beach" by Jane's Addiction.{{cite web|url=https://machinemusic.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/metal-hummus-and-sex-an-interview-with-devin-townsend/|title=Metal, Hummus, and Sex: An Interview with Devin Townsend|work=מאשין מיוזיק|date=August 20, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106113404/https://machinemusic.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/metal-hummus-and-sex-an-interview-with-devin-townsend/|archive-date=January 6, 2016}} City was influenced by New York noise rock bands such as Foetus and Cop Shoot Cop, and The New Black's influences were Meshuggah, and "more traditional metal" like Metallica. He is also influenced by orchestral and classical composers such as John Williams, Trevor Jones and Igor Stravinsky.{{cite web|title=Devin Townsend Masterclass|publisher=Guitar Messenger|author=Townsend, Devin|url=http://www.guitarmessenger.com/artist-masterclasses/devin-townsend-masterclass/|access-date=October 28, 2013|date=February 11, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030204227/http://www.guitarmessenger.com/artist-masterclasses/devin-townsend-masterclass/|archive-date=October 30, 2013}}

{{Main|Devin Townsend discography}}

• Sex & Religion (1993)

• Cooked on Phonics (1996)

• Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing (1995)
• City (1997)
• Strapping Young Lad (2003)
• Alien (2005)
• The New Black (2006)

• Ocean Machine: Biomech (1997)
• Infinity (1998)
• Physicist (2000)
• Terria (2001)
• Devlab (2004)
• The Hummer (2006)
• Ziltoid the Omniscient (2007)
• Empath (2019)
• The Puzzle (2021)
• Snuggles (2021)
• Lightwork (2022)
• PowerNerd (2024)

• Ki (2009)
• Addicted (2009)
• Deconstruction (2011)
• Ghost (2011)
• Epicloud (2012)
• Z²: Sky Blue (2014)
• Z²: Dark Matters (2014)
• Transcendence (2016)

• Accelerated Evolution (2003)
• Synchestra (2006)

• Casualties of Cool (2014)

{{BLP sources section|date=November 2020}}

Townsend played ESP six and seven-string guitars from 1994 to 2009 during his endorsement with ESP. In the early days of Strapping Young Lad, he was seen playing an ESP Flying V-style 6-string with a single EMG 81 pickup and a custom graphic designed by Townsend. This was the guitar that was used during the shows in support of Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing, and the shows in support of City. In addition to this guitar, Townsend also utilized an ESP EXP Explorer-style guitar with two EMG 81 pickups. During the late 1990s and the 2000s, he was also seen with two ESP Telecaster models (one white, one black) with EMG 81 pickups, which were used for the majority of his six-string material. Townsend also utilized two ESP Custom Shop Horizon 7-string guitars with a 27" baritone scale and EMG 81-7 pickups, which closely resembled ESP's Stephen Carpenter signature model. He has also been seen with the Stephen Carpenter SC-607 and SC-607B. He was also occasionally seen playing what is believed to be a Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS during Accelerated Evolution and Synchestra-era shows (mainly for performing "Deadhead"). At the time, this was the only guitar Devin Townsend was seen with that did not have EMG pickups, but was modified with a Seymour Duncan STK-S2n Hot Stack in the neck.

After returning to public view in 2009, Townsend began endorsing Peavey, and later released a PXD Devin Townsend signature model, essentially a Flying V-style 7-string baritone guitar with an EMG 81-7 pickup and a 7-string EMG SA single coil pickup in the neck position. Peavey also made Townsend a number of custom 7-strings, including one with a single EMG 81-7 pickup that is used for playing most of the material on Ziltoid The Omniscient. Aside from his signature model, Townsend also utilizes two custom 6-string Predator models made by Peavey; one with a natural flame-top finish and the DTP logo on the 12th fret, and one in a black finish with a Floyd Rose vibrato unit (for Open C and Open B tuning, respectively).

In 2012, Townsend announced that he was using other guitars besides his Peavey models, including two Sadowsky Telecaster models and a number of Framus semi-hollow body guitars.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3BwXTb5_1o|title=Video: Devin Townsend on his Framus Guitar|date=January 21, 2013 |publisher=Framus/Warwick|access-date=November 26, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522212608/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3BwXTb5_1o|archive-date=May 22, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz3CXJf-NQ4|title=Video: AK1974 "Mandelbrot" for Devin Townsend|date=April 30, 2013 |publisher=Framus/Warwick|access-date=November 26, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522153838/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz3CXJf-NQ4|archive-date=May 22, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llTne4JqnyM|title=Video: Devin Townsend AK1974|date=August 2012 |publisher=Framus/Warwick|access-date=November 26, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523022023/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llTne4JqnyM|archive-date=May 23, 2014}} In regard to this, Townsend stated on HeavyBlogIsHeavy.com: "The Peavey situation was intense and a real eye opener in terms of how things REALLY work in the business side of endorsements, and I can't say I really enjoyed it, but we got the guitar out and everyone is nice to each other so all good... I really like that V. However, I decided to use other guitars for other stuff as well, a Sadowsky Tele set, a Framus hollowbody group of guitars, and the V's. No one is entirely happy with that decision, but I find it difficult to not be straight up with folks about what I want to play and do and have typically pissed people off as a result... The bottom line though is I like what I like and it is important to the music to be accurate with tones and vibe. The guitars I actually play, I really like, regardless of brand."

For Strapping Young Lad and solo projects from 1996 – 2004, Townsend mainly used the Peavey 5150 head, with Mesa/Boogie and Marshall 4x12 cabinets, for his main sounds. Around 2005, Townsend began to utilize Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier and Stiletto amp heads, boosted with a Maxon OD808, running into Mesa/Boogie 2x12 cabinets, and Marshall 4x12 cabinets. He would also run a 3rd signal into a 1990s Roland GP-100, which would be amplified by a Mesa/Boogie tube power amp. He would still make use of the Peavey head for some solo recordings, such as Synchestra. He switched to a Fractal Audio AxeFx system in 2010, replacing his entire Mesa/Boogie and Marshall rig. He has been through a number of outboard modules that were mainly used for echo/reverb effects, something that Townsend is known for as a part of his signature sound. One of his favorites is the Roland GP-100, a unit that Townsend still uses along with his Fractal units. He also used a TC Electronic G-Force in tandem with his Mesa/Boogie rig. Townsend also utilizes D'Addario Strings (.010-.052 and .010-.060) and Planet Waves Custom Series cables.

As of 2014, he reintroduced the Dual Rectifier into his rig using a wet-dry-wet setup with the Dual Rectifier being the center dry sound and the AxeFx being the stereo effected sounds using the model of the Dual Rectifier as a basis. In 2015, for live shows, the Dual Rectifier was replaced with a Kemper Profiler Amplifier, and the Roland GP-100 was retired in favor of effects in the Fractal Axe-FX.

At the 2016 NAMM Show, Townsend introduced a signature set of Fishman pickups in the Fluence line and a signature Framus guitar that features an original body shapes, the Fishman pickups and the Evertune Bridge.

In November 2017, Townsend posted to social media and forums that his equipment list had been reduced, explaining how he had eliminated a number of pieces of equipment from his setup. He wrote, "I was working with many amp companies, but I have made my choice and have settled on a single Axe Fx 2XL+ for my ENTIRE chain. I use Framus Guitars, Fishman Pickups,

D'Addario strings, Fractal Axe Fx. One Rig to rule them all =)"{{cite web|url=https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/my-journey-to-fractal-by-devin-townsend-part-1-2.132432/|title=Article: My Journey to Fractal|date=November 15, 2017 |publisher=Fractal Audio Systems|access-date=November 15, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042324/https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/my-journey-to-fractal-by-devin-townsend-part-1-2.132432/|archive-date=December 1, 2017}}

In 2018 Mooer released the Devin Townsend signature Ocean Machine pedal, featuring twin delays, reverb and looper with infinite feedback in a genuine collaboration which Townsend enthusiastically recommended. The relatively unusual pedal design was received well, with 5 star reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/mooer-ocean-machine|title=Article: Mooer Ocean Machine review Devin Townsend makes waves with this dual delay reverb and looper|date=February 7, 2018|publisher=MusicRadar|access-date=July 14, 2021}}

In 2023, Devin paired with guitar pick maker Acoustik Attak to release his signature Devin Townsend "Earthtone" pick.

{{Main|List of Devin Townsend's bands members}}

• Devin Townsend – guitars, lead vocals, theremin, keyboards
• Mike Keneally – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals (2019–2020, 2023–present)
• James Leach – bass (2021–present)
• Darby Todd – drums (2021–present)

{{Reflist}}

{{Portal|Music|Canada}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Devin Townsend}}
• [http://www.hevydevy.com/ HevyDevy Records]
• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p220909}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/user/poopynuggeteer Devin Townsend] at YouTube

{{Devin Townsend|state=plain}}

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{{The Wildhearts}}

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