Z²

Z² has been a long-running project, with Townsend announcing it in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/11/17/ziltoid-part-2-z2/|title=Ziltoid Part 2... Z2|publisher=MetalSucks|date=November 17, 2009|access-date=September 9, 2014}} Later he stated that he "may have just written the heaviest thing he's ever done" for the album.[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/258081924592062464 Devin Townsend's Twitter] Townsend also mentioned there is a surprising lack of Ziltoid himself appearing on the album, and that it "will be interesting to see how it all pans out". The project took its first steps on August 24, 2013, when a London-based radio station TeamRock Radio aired the first one-hour episode of Ziltoid Radio, a satirical radio show hosted solely by Ziltoid.{{cite web|url=http://www.teamrockradio.com/news/devin-townsends-ziltoid-gets-teamrock-radio-show |title=Devin Townsend's Ziltoid gets TeamRock Radio show |publisher=TeamRock Radio |date=August 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824233055/http://www.teamrockradio.com/news/devin-townsends-ziltoid-gets-teamrock-radio-show |archive-date=August 24, 2013 }} Later, Townsend stated that "Z Radio is just one little element of the Z² project".{{cite web|url=http://www.teamrockradio.com/news/devin-townsends-teamrock-radio-show-is-part-of-z2-project |title=Devin Townsend's TeamRock Radio show is part of the Z2 project |publisher=TeamRock Radio |date=August 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830005951/http://www.teamrockradio.com/news/devin-townsends-teamrock-radio-show-is-part-of-z2-project |archive-date=August 30, 2013 }} After several Ziltoid Radio episodes aired, Townsend said he found the project hard to schedule and work with amidst touring and writing,[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/394248886266511360 Devin Townsend's Twitter][https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/395642612427661313 Devin Townsend's Twitter] because he doesn't want to just "phone it in", and "it takes a lot of effort" to keep the content with tongue-in-cheek humour entertaining.[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/394249087588900864 Devin Townsend's Twitter][https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/395644912516874240 Devin Townsend's Twitter] A total of seven Ziltoid Radio episodes aired between August 2013 and January 2014, and since then there has been no discussion or activity considering the series or its affiliation with the Z² project. The episodes have since been removed from TeamRock Radio's website. Townsend published a series of online videos involving Ziltoid in a series titled ZTV.

In October 2013, Townsend said that he had "more ideas than time", but that it was "almost time to start demoing" the album.[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/393101142021775361 Devin Townsend's Twitter] Later Townsend stated that since June 2013 he had written ideas for over 70 songs,[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/417565848983699456 Devin Townsend's Twitter] and revealed that the album was "taking shape".[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/417566755960012800 Devin Townsend's Twitter] Townsend also stated he was going to finish the whole project in two years.[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/364761687708008448 Devin Townsend's Twitter] In February 2014, Townsend announced the recording process of Z² started on May 2, 2014, in Los Angeles,[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/433937161398673409 Devin Townsend's Twitter] and also revealed that the project will include the Ziltoid TV program and a live show, with a "big graphic novel comic" and a documentary. On February 26, 2014, Townsend posted that Z² will be a double album, with disc one being the main album and disc two featuring Devin Townsend Project material.[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/438912576554934273 Devin Townsend's Twitter] According to Townsend, the album's theme will be "Ziltoid against the world". Townsend revealed his intention of adding audience-participated choir tracks on both discs.[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/438912776006668288 Devin Townsend's Twitter]

The Z² show took place at the Royal Albert Hall on April 13, 2015, after which Townsend stated his intent to take at least a year-long hiatus from recording and touring.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWsppHFEc6s|title=Devin Townsend interview with TotalRock @Sonisphere 2014|date=July 8, 2014|access-date=September 9, 2014|publisher=YouTube}}[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/497215176353906688 Devin Townsend's Twitter][https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/486292942441562113 Devin Townsend's Twitter] However, by February 2016, work had begun on the next DTP record, Transcendence.[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/695649574476623872 Devin Townsend's Twitter] Z² won the Juno Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year at the 2015 Juno Awards.[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/devin-townsend-wins-juno-award-in-metalhard-music-album-of-the-year-category/ BLABBERMOUTH.net]

Z² is released in three different editions. The basic jewel case edition includes both albums on CD. The limited digipak edition features expanded artwork, both albums on CD and a bonus CD featuring Dark Matters without its dialogue. The vinyl edition features a double gatefold package in a slipcase, including the two albums on four records. The vinyl edition also includes both albums on CD.{{cite web|url=http://www.recordshopx.com/artist/townsend_devin/z2/|title=Devin Townsend – Z2|publisher=Record Shop X|access-date=September 9, 2014}} The Japanese limited edition of the album features a "Loud Park" concert on a bonus DVD, recorded in Saitama, Japan, in October 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/VQCD-10416|title=Devin Townsend – Z2 [w/ DVD, Limited Edition]|publisher=CDJapan|access-date=September 28, 2014}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Devin Townsend

| total_length = 56:32

| title1 = Rejoice

| length1 = 4:16

| title2 = Fallout

| length2 = 4:30

| title3 = Midnight Sun

| length3 = 4:58

| title4 = A New Reign

| length4 = 4:52

| title5 = Universal Flame

| length5 = 4:39

| title6 = Warrior

| length6 = 3:31

| title7 = Sky Blue

| length7 = 3:52

| title8 = Silent Militia

| length8 = 4:28

| title9 = Rain City

| length9 = 7:45

| title10 = Forever

| length10 = 3:45

| title11 = Before We Die

| length11 = 8:24

| title12 = The Ones Who Love

| length12 = 1:32

}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Devin Townsend except where noted

| total_length = 60:28

| title1 = Z²

| length1 = 3:59

| title2 = From Sleep Awake

| length2 = 3:00

| title3 = Ziltoidian Empire

| length3 = 6:26

| title4 = War Princess

| length4 = 8:18

| note4 = lyrics: Townsend, Dominique Lenore Persi

| title5 = Deathray

| length5 = 4:43

| title6 = March of the Poozers

| length6 = 6:25

| title7 = Wandering Eye

| length7 = 3:41

| title8 = Earth

| length8 = 7:39

| title9 = Ziltoid Goes Home

| length9 = 6:20

| title10 = Through the Wormhole

| length10 = 3:44

| title11 = Dimension Z

| length11 = 6:13

}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Devin Townsend except where noted

| total_length = 53:23

| title1 = Z²

| length1 = 3:54

| title2 = From Sleep Awake

| length2 = 3:00

| title3 = Ziltoidian Empire

| length3 = 6:21

| title4 = War Princess

| length4 = 7:47

| note4 = lyrics: Townsend, Persi

| title5 = Deathray

| length5 = 4:06

| title6 = March of the Poozers

| length6 = 5:18

| title7 = Wandering Eye

| length7 = 3:26

| title8 = Earth

| length8 = 7:47

| title9 = Ziltoid Goes Home

| length9 = 6:34

| title10 = Dimension Z

| length10 = 5:09

}}

Do note that the original tenth track "Through the Wormhole" has been removed entirely on the raw version, likely because it almost only consists of dialogue.

;Sample and influential credits

• The chorus from the song "Sky Blue" is based on "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" by Usher[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/525948899182145536 Devin Townsend's Twitter]
• The song "Silent Militia" is inspired by music of will.i.amZ² liner notes and is based on the song "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" by Dead or Alive[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/526073998396772353 Devin Townsend's Twitter][https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/526015083269193728 Devin Townsend's Twitter][https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/524191138920402944 Devin Townsend's Twitter][https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/527482854377533440 Devin Townsend's Twitter]
• The song "March of the Poozers" is inspired by the song "On Earth" by Samael
• The song "Earth" is inspired by Sergei Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf"[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/526531246487515137 Devin Townsend's Twitter]
• The song "Ziltoid Goes Home" is inspired by the music of Soilwork
• The song "Rain City" directly references "Bastard" from Ocean Machine

• Devin Townsend – vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming
• Dave Young – guitars, keyboards
• Brian Waddell – bass
• Ryan Van Poederooyen – drums
• Mike St-Jean – keyboards, programming
• Morgan Ågren – additional percussion
• Kat Epple – flute
• Anneke van Giersbergen – vocals
• Chris Jericho – vocals (as "Captain Spectacular")
• Dominique Lenore Persi – vocals (as "War Princess")
• Mark Cimino – vocals (as "Poozer")
• Chris Devitt – vocals (as "Planet Smasher")
• Bill Courage – narrator[https://twitter.com/dvntownsend/status/529687785104756736 Devin Townsend's Twitter]
• Marina Bennett – additional voices
• Adyson King – voices on "Warrior"
• Maria Werner & Jazz-A-Fire (Jasmin Kramer) – voices on "Z²" (as "excited women on Earth")
• Randy Slaugh – orchestrations, string arranging
• Florian Magnus Maier – orchestrations
• Eric Severinson – choir and orchestra conducting, additional voices
• Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra
• The audience at Utrecht Tivoli, August 5, 2014 – backing vocals on "Z²" and "March of the Poozers"
• Universal Choir – additional vocals on "Before We Die", "Z²" and "Dimension Z"

• Devin Townsend – production, recording, mixing, engineering, additional mastering
• Jason Van Poederooyen – additional mixing, additional engineering
• Sheldon Zaharko – additional mixing, additional engineering
• Dave Young – additional engineering
• Mike St-Jean – additional engineering
• Randy Slaugh – orchestral engineering
• Andy VanDette – mastering
• Anthony Clarkson – artwork, layout
• Tom Hawkins – photography

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