Devin Townsend — Physicist

This might be a really cool question for the TV-show "Who wants to be a Milionaire". In the beginning of the show when they select the people who want to play the game they can ask them this: "Put these Devin Townsend albums in the correct order of heavyness, 1. Infinity 2. Ocean Machine 3. City and 4. Physicist". Well, let's see how many people get that question right. When Devin releases an album you can't be shure how it will sound like. Will it be like the last album, will it be like the previous one or something completely different?With Physicist Devin returns a bit to his heavy roots. It's definatly not a continuation of the Infinity album, but something more heavy and agressive, more in the vein of "City", the last Strapping Young lad album, only a bit tempered.

Like most Devin albums this album is full of epical keyboards/synthesizers and heavy drumming by Gene 'The Machine' Hoglan. The guitars are somewhat in the back of the mix, but still hearable. Devin's vocals are very aggressive on some songs, a lot of shouting and screaming and especially on the track called "Death" (the title is carefully chosen) he is screaming his lungs out (together with the rest of the band who are playing as fast as they can). This might be one of the heaviest tracks Devin ever released, quite good, especially enjoyable for the Strapping Young Lad fans (I consider myself one too).

The album has 11 tracks, and some tracks may sound like fillers when you first listen to them, but like with all Devin songs they develop to be diamonds in the end. I think this album might be considered as Devin's best work up to date. And since it's almost not comparable to his "Infinity" album I can't tell you if it's better. Physicist is just a must have for every Devin fan, and fans of original and powerfull metal. With songs as "Namaste", "Material", "Kingdom", "Death", and the 11 minutes long epical "Planet Rain" you just can't miss this album in your collection!

Oh and for the people who are still wondering what the correct order is for the albums in heavyness, here are the answers, from soft to hard.1. Infinity
2. Ocean Machine
3. Physicist
4. City