Terria

Terria

Track Listings

1. Olives

2. Mountain

3. Earth Day

4. Deep Peace

5. Canada

6. Down Under the Fluke

7. Nobody's Here

8. Tiny Tears

9. Stagnant

Tracks:

Olives
Mountain
Earth Day
Deep Peace
Canada
Down and Under
Fluke
Nobody's Here
Tiny Tears
Stagnant

Tracks:

Universal
Intro (Unity) [Multimedia][Live]
Seventh Wave [Multimedia][Live]
Regulator [Multimedia][Live]
Truth [Multimedia][Live]
War [Multimedia][Live]
Hide Nowhere [Multimedia][Live]
Audio Commentary on the Making of Terria [Multimedia]

Customer Reviews:

screaming is not singing.......2007-03-23

i dont know this one didnt do it for me, a lot of screaming and pitchy notes just wasnt good enough.

A treasure chest of emotion and musical variety........2006-09-06

Well, one things for sure. You never know quite what to expect with a Devin Townsend album. After 2000's very heavy and crushing "Physicist" album really surprised me with how lacking it was in Devin-like progressiveness, experimentation and craziness, I figured he'd maybe shelved that side of his music for a while. Along comes "Terria" and it's obvious that I was mistaken in that assumption. This album holds a plethora of treasures and defies both genres and description in general. For fans of his earlier albums, I'd describe this as containing characteristics from all of them. The experimental madness of "Infinity" is present although it doesn't contain the cabaret circus freak nature of that album. There are occasional sections of heaviness that remind me of "Physicist" yet it's nowhere near as constantly barraging as that release. Finally, Devin has also utilized his slightly industrialised rock sound that made "Ocean Machine" so awesome. So there's plenty to offer on "Terria" for any fan of Mr Townsend.

But that's not to say that this is a completely successful release. A few tracks here and there are really great. "Deep Peace" could in theory be labelled a ballad and yet the lead guitar is just beautiful, the track exuding so much feeling and emotion. "Down and Under" is a fantastic instrumental based on acoustic guitars and a full sweeping symphony of sound. Yet tracks such as "Nobody's Here" and "Stagnant" just don't do a lot for me. They are solid enough yet lack the uniqueness and entertainment value that is normally a requisite of Devin's work. I guess they're just a little too straight forward for my liking.

But these are minor qualms as "Terria" is generally a solid album filled with over an hour of music that will be of interest to anyone into pretty much any of Devin's prior releases. It's not my favourite Devin album, yet after reading a fair few reviews of his work it would appear that I'm part of a minority of his fans that enjoy "Ocean Machine" and "Physicist" far more than "Infinity" and "Terria". But I guess that's the beauty of opinion.

Mountainous recording from Devon Townsend.......2006-07-06

THE BAND: Devin Townsend (vocals, guitars, keyboards & samples), Craig McFarland (fretless bass), Jamie Meyer (piano, keyboards), Gene Hogian (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (2001) 10 tracks (plus 1 untitled hidden track) clocking in at just under 72 minutes. All songs written and produced by Townsend. Included with the disc is an 18-page booklet contain song lyrics, some neat dreamy futuristic landscape type photos, one picture of Townsend, a listing of the musicians, and thank you's. A 2nd 'bonus" multimedia disc is included as well - containing 3 chapters for your PC - an album picture gallery; a "Listen to Devon" introspective - Devon himself telling the behind the scenses stuff, making of, people involved, artwork, etc; and video footage of Townsend in concert Tokyo 1999 (5 songs: "Seventh Wave", "Regulator", "Truth", "War", and "Hide Nowhere"). "Terria" recorded at various studios in Vancouver B.C. Canada. Label - InsideOut Music.

COMMENTS: A monumental album. An art rock/metal masterpiece. A journey by the man... the musician and the businessman. Life experiences put into music. One of my two personal favorites from Townsend; the other being the more mainstream "Acclerated Evolution" (2003). "Terria" is quite simply creative, aggresive, daring, emotional, soaring, original and consuming. "Terria" starts out with the short and mellow intrumental "Olives", some light guitar strokes, some mumbling, and birds chirping in the background... building up to the other band members joining in for a typical Townsend heavy metal ending. "Mountain" as you'll hear on disc two is about life and his dog "Happy" who had cancer. If you listen closely, you can hear him howling on this track. "Earth Day" is nine-and-a-half minute melodic rocker - one of my favorites here. The slower songs - "Deep Space" is a power ballad (if you will) and perhaps the softest song - along with "Down And Under", and "Nobody's Here"... some beautfiful moments on each (acoustic and electric guitars galore). The album closer is "Stagnant" - mid tempo rocker and catchy as all Hell. The untitle bonus track is a minute-and-a-half clowning around acoustic track followed by 4 minutes of wasted static and space. An incredible album filled with originality... like nothing else you own. Buy "Terria" and "Accelerated Evolution" together. They may not leave your CD player for weeks (5-stars).

4.5 out of 5.......2006-06-29

This album, unlike Devin Townsend's other good albums, will take several listens to get into, as it may seem mostly boring at first. However, there is a wealth of complexity to be found in it. The bonus disc has a fun new song, Universal on it, though the live content is pretty much worthless, unless you really want to see a show that has Devin shaved bald. The commentary is interesting, though, so the bonus disc is worth it overall.

The album has a very good flow, like most of Devin's solo stuff. It begins with an atmospheric track, and then goes into the heavy "Mountain", but the album doesn't really "start" until "Earth Day". The first two tracks are good, but they are more introductory pieces for me. Earth Day was the only song I really "got" on first listen, and boy is it a good one. Devin is at the top of his form vocally, and there is some really memorable drumming, riffs and lyrics (which do have a meaning, but not on the surface). Deep Peace is, well, very very peaceful, and one of my favorites on ths album. Canada is also a good one. Unfortunately I am drawing a blank and cannot remember the songs Down and Under and Tiny Tears at the moment, but I know Tiny Tears is a good one, and since I can't think of a point where the album gets boring, I would say the same of Down and Under. Fluke and Nobody's Here are great, and Stagnant is the perfect ending song to the album. To sum up, this album has great, original vocals and production, the lyrics are deep, and the rest of the music is great as well. Devin calls Terria his first mature work, and though I love Infinity, I would have to agree.

What an album.......2006-03-15

I have just recentely recieved "Terria" and "Synchestra" by Devin Townsend (although the latter flys under the moniker of "The Devin Townsend band). As my review suggests, this album has definetely captivated me:

Devin's vocals, as everyone knows never fail to impress. For those who know Strapping Young Lad, Devin has an incredible range for heavy vocals; his solo material still incorporates these harsh vocals, but in a much more "melodic" manner and his clean voice is among my top 5. The other members all have shining moments, especially Gene Hoghlan (Death, Dark Angel, etc.). He doesn't necessarily take a backseat on this album, but his drumming does not interefere with the delicacy of these compositions. The album still retains much heaviness though :). Craig McFarland's contribution will most likely be underrated, but his fretless bass adds to the "natural" atmosphere that pervades this album. As with every Townsend album, heaviness is key and no pun inteneded Jamie Meyer plays a key role with his keyboards. Many of Devin's heavy drop tuned guitar riffs are followed by Jamie's keyboard to bulk them up, adding a new dimension to the music, instead of just using a second guitar.

Lyricly, this is Devin's most mature and true albums. He even says so himself on the bonus cd. The lyrics are of a conceptual nature and are in fact about natural things that we experience everday: ex) track 5 - "Canada".

The only real drawback is not "Terria" itself, but the Bonus CD. It contains an interview conducted by Townsend himself which is quite useful and eye opening. The only problem lies within the live performances included. They have a default player that only fits a small portion of the screen and it is only CD-ROM friendly (you cannot play it on a DVD player). The footage is pretty nice and the band plays songs from previous album (Ocean Machine, Infinity, etc.) This is really dissmisable though unfortunately.

4 stars

Average customer rating:

Terria
Devin Townsend
Manufacturer: Inside Out
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Ocean Machine
Synchestra
Infinity

ASIN: B00005NOIF
Release Date: 2004-09-13

Tracks:

Olives
Mountain
Earth Day
Deep Peace
Canada
Down Under the Fluke
Nobody's Here
Tiny Tears
Stagnant

Average customer rating:

Epic, Amazing, Utterly Original
A treasure chest of emotion and musical variety.
An epic and savage soundscape
Metal for the ages, Devin Townsend is a musical genius
Flawless atmospheric melodic metal

Terria
Devin Townsend
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Ocean Machine

ASIN: B00005Y2EN
Release Date: 2001-12-15

Tracks:

Olives
Mountain
Earth Day
Deep Peace
Canada
Down Under the Fluke
Nobody's Here
Tiny Tears
Stagnant

Album Description

Ocean Machine fans rejoice, Devin returns to the emotion laden riffs and orchestrated vocal lines that made Bio-Mech an instant classic. HeavyDevy Records.

Customer Reviews:

Epic, Amazing, Utterly Original.......2007-06-11

Devin Townsend really is in a class by himself....I'm guessing the man just doesn't think like the rest of us. Probably more well known for his extremely heavy band, Strapping Young Lad, Devin really deserves even more credit for his more progressive-rock and experimental side projects in the Devin Townsend Band, which are surprising, original, and completely absorbing.

"Terria" is some of the band's best work, and is quite an experience the first time around. Part of Devin's creative genius for me is his skill in production, and the way he builds simply massive walls of dense sound out of multi-tracking and layers of different instruments, which becomes very evident immediately on "Terria". The epic length of the songs and the sheer diversity of the music (crushing, repetitive rock/metal riffs suddenly give way to grandiose, almost classical melodicism),the intelligent subversiveness of the lyrics, and the originality and style of the album take a while to sink in, but stick with this lengthy epic gem and you'll be a convert. Not as heavy as SYL, but more of a modern progressive rock attitude with Devin's signature touches....a must-own album for fans of original rock and prog.

A treasure chest of emotion and musical variety........2006-10-09

An epic and savage soundscape.......2005-09-22

This is one of the five best albums ever created. With a brilliant blend of aggression, beauty and desperation. Songs like "Deep Peace" and "Nobody's Here" will haunt your dreams with their amazingly gentle vocals amid some fantastic song writing. Where as the assaulting "Mountain" and "Earth Day" have close ties to Strapping Young Lad, but they are more melodic in structure. These are the two hardest songs on the album. The rest is a rollercoaster with it's twists and turns, pushing and pulling the listener in all directions. Please don't pass on this album, I shudder to think that people have never heard it. And I can't imagine my music collection without Devin Townsend, and one of the most dynamic albums ever: Terria.

Metal for the ages, Devin Townsend is a musical genius.......2005-08-30

If you thought Strapping Young Lad was good, check out The Devin Townsend band, and I think you'll be suprised. However, this may not be for everyone, I just happen to be a HUGE prog metal fan (i.e. Tool, Opeth, Townsend, and Porcupine Tree.)

Terria is an album like no other, with high amounts of glistening reverb and guitars that only really provide as a rythm until Devin unleashes his crazy solos. In general.. the music is simply amazing. Townsend's vocals are top notch on this album, and full of emotion. There's no sense of "cheese" factor on this album, where as AE has its moments...

The keyboards provide excellently here, and are amazing in songs like "Deep Peace", "Earth Day", and "Tiny Tears", and these also happen to be my favorite songs on the album. "Earth Day" is a 9 minute epic, full of Townsend's mesmerizing vocals, and crazy screams.

On thing notable is also Devin's use of humour in his lyrics. Of course this is most evident in SYL, but he also shows it here, while at the same time there is A LOT of emotion he puts out into singing them.

Production is crisp and clear, and every instrument is audible, except some guitar which occasionaly is drowned by keyboard and other misc. sounds. Gene Hoglan sounds awesome on this album too. Sure he slows down a bit from the blistering and brutal drum attack we get from SYL, but he still shows that he's on of the best drummers in metal.

So if you're into well-put-together music, or you just like prog metal and anything manufactured by Devin Townsend, check this album out... it is simply amazing, and probably his best work. Thanks for reading.

Flawless atmospheric melodic metal .......2005-05-27

Terria is simply one of the most amazing pieces of music I've come across in ages. My first introduction to Devin Townsend was with Strapping Young Lad, but Terria is a cut above the rest. This albulm is perfectly produced and the atmospheric quality to the sound drenches the listener. My personal favorites on the CD are No ones here, earth day and stagnate but all of the songs are worth listening to over and over again. buy this alblum and make your friends listen to it. they'll thank you. SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF DEVIN TOWNSEND.

Average customer rating:

Amazing
DEVIN AT HIS BEST
A masterpiece of Melodic Devin
Awesome

Terria
Devin Townsend
Manufacturer: Sony Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005NYR0
Release Date: 2001-09-19

Tracks:

Olives
Mountain
Earth Day
Deep Peace
Canada
Down Under the Fluke
Nobody's Here
Tiny Tears
Stagnant

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring a Bonus Track: 'universal'

Customer Reviews:

Amazing.......2005-06-19

This is another brilliant album by Devin Townsend. Terria was my introduction to Devin's music, and I was floored when I heard it and still am floored by this epic album today. I soon then picked up the rest of his solo material, which is all amazing. You really can't go wrong with anyone of his solo releases if you're looking for eclectic and ambient rock/metal.

The standout tracks for me:

Mountain
Earth Day
Deep Peace
Canada

DEVIN AT HIS BEST.......2004-04-30

Before I had picked this album up, I had only known Devin for Strapping Young Lad. City, by far was my favourite of the two albums, and one of my favourite metal albums of all time. However, I was totally unprepared for the complete aural experience that would be 'Terria'. To call this album excellent would be an understatement. It has become, by far, my favourite album of all time, period.
Devin, while not being the best guitar player around, certainly has proved his worth as a songwriter. The album, not precisely metal, has so much emotion and feeling it's almost unbelievable. I think I must have listened to Terria about 100 times by now, (no joke) but I keep going back because it's one of those albums where, every time you hear it, you notice something you missed before.
Devin has to be, IMO, one of the best producers around. What goes through his mind, I have no clue, but he is insane. The way he includes so many samples and backing instrumentation without hurting the music overall is amazing. Also of note is Gene Hoglan's drumming. Fans of his are, I'm sure, used to blast beats and double-bass mayhem, but he manages to slow it down and keep it, for the most part, fairly simple. Not his best or most technically challenging drumming, but his timing and execution are immaculate.
Fans of Devin, please, do yourself a favour and go out and get this album.

A masterpiece of Melodic Devin.......2002-03-20

Well, this is the 2nd Melodic Devin CD, it is the Earth version of Ocean Machine:
1. Olives - An intro song, that gets louder towards the end then almost silent - 3/5
2. Mountain - After the silent ending of Olives, the almost death metal/grindcore scream to start this song is shocking, but the song starts to mellow out - 4/5
3. Earth Day - One of the long songs, the most vocal & most changing musically, basically, the most active song on the CD, great song - 5/5
4. Deep Peace - One of the most beautiful songs ever & on this disc, contains one of the best guitar solo's of modern time - 5/5
5. Canada - A tribute to Devin's homeland, great song, 3 mins into it is the best, great piece of music - 5/5
6. Down & Under - An acoustic & melodic 'filler' song, it gets you in the mood for the next song - 4/5
7. The Fluke - The second most 'alive' song on this CD, this shows of the talent of all the musicians after about 1min 40secs as they are like playing solos at the same time, showing time changes & difficult stuff, after that is one of the most beautiful melodies I have ever heard - 5/5
8. Nobody Here - The 'ballad' of the CD, this song is just perfect for this amazing CD, doesn't get any better - 5/5
9. Tiny Tears - The long songs continue with this one, a epic that gets more beautiful then in the last minute, hits the heaviest music on the whole disc, heavy while beautiful, it is great - 5/5
10. Stagnant - The Terria version of Life (from OM), it is the radio song from the CD, it is just catchy, & finishes the CD well - 5/5

There is a hidden song after Stagnant called Humble, it is NOT the Universal song, that is on the Double CD version of Terria, Humble is a odd song, acoustic then Devin laughing, then 3 mins of noise

On the Bonus CD, there is 7 live videos from the 1999 Japan tour, & a bonus song called:
1. Universal - It starts with a banjo then kicks into a song that would suit being on Infinity, an upbeat,good song - 5/5

Overall, this CD is a 5/5, another masterpiece by this musical genius, I can't wait for the acoustic/pop record which is being released at the same time as the new Strapping Young Lad CD, at the end of 2002

Awesome.......2001-11-28

The cliche of no words being able to describe something is thrown around to often, but here even they do not do it justice. Devin Townsend is possibly THE most important man in metal and music. This man has single handedly created the perfect sound and emotion for an album. Every single track is like a tear in your eye. The solo in Deep Peace is breathtaking, and the Nobody's Here chorus is just worthy of getting on your knees and thanking this genius, 'Cause that's what Mr. Townsend is, purely and simply. If you only like Devin for SYL then you aint seen nothin, only with Terria can you see how much this man has accomplished with this album. A better album than this is not possible, it is inconceivable, period.
This album is like heroin, except that it should be taken by everyone.

Average customer rating:

Up there along with City and Infinity
Album of the 3rd millenium

Terria (Limited Edition)
Devin Townsend
Manufacturer: Iom
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005NOIG
Release Date: 2001-08-27

Album Details

Limited Double CD Edition of Canada's Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad, Steve Vai, Wildhearts), an Artist that Continues to Amaze with his Vast Array of Musical Talent and Ability to Create Experimentally Diverse and Challenging Albums. On 'terria,' Devinstands Poised to Establish Himself as One of the Most Prolific and Innovative Musicians on the Scene. The Perfect Balance Between Lunatic and Genius, 'terria' Reads Like a Musical Diary, an Insight Into the Many his Many Personality Facets.

Customer Reviews:

Up there along with City and Infinity.......2001-11-29

Devin Townsend has been gaining more and more fame as the years pass, initially from the insane demonic beast called City but now more and more for his post-SYL albums. Ocean Machine was incredible, Infinity was godlike and while I liked Phyicist I didn't think it held up to his previous work. With Terria he has once again created something so good thats its hard to describe. The songs on Terria are much longer then his usual work but at no time do they ever lag or have you wishing they would end. No one expects this to sound like SYL but even compared to Infinity or Ocean Machine it comes across as much calmer and more relaxed. Sure the songs can get somewhat heavy but there always is a peaceful easygoing feel to them. I consider City to be his best album but that dosn't mean that softer equals worse for this is just beyond words. Any fan of Townsend will be pleased without question but I could see this being enjoyed by anyone with a solid appreciation for thoughtful, well written and played music. To me its the top album of 2001 (ok, and maybe Silence by Sonata Arctica too)

Album of the 3rd millenium.......2001-10-15

Still the genius I've known him to be for several years. All of Devin's work has moved me more than any other artist in history and this album builds on that and breaks new ground.
There is an unrivalled songwriting prowess within this man. He is simply the best. No argument.
And again the question is asked: how can Devin possibly better this masterpiece? Just wait for the next album.

Average customer rating:

Raw Emotional Power.
progressive junk
And music? Well its just entertainment folks!
Quite Brilliant.
A brilliant, wild, brain-numbing adventure

Terria
Devin Townsend
Manufacturer: The Orchard
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005Y8PI
Release Date: 2001-12-11

Tracks:

Olives
Mountain
Earth Day
Deep Peace
Canada
Down Under the Fluke
Nobody's Here
Tiny Tears
Stagnant

Customer Reviews:

Raw Emotional Power........2006-02-18

Devin Townsend was always great. He showed the world his talents with fine works such as "Ocean Machine" and "Infinity", but with "Terria" he took it up a few notches. The general feel and sound of the album is undeniably Townsend. For those new to his work, he is one of the few artists that can create a 'wall of sound' that is both powerful and melodic, and often emphasises the already prevailing emotions. Many bands attempt the wall of sound effect, and end up creating messy sludge. Devin is a genius though, so its all good.

"Terria" is essentially a sophisticated, emotional delve into Devin's personal life at the time. His lyrics are thought provoking, ranging from sincere anger and resentment 'take your seat/after all your just talking meat' to reflective, self-harming moods, 'to feel like there's nobody here/to feel like theres no more fear'. Poignant lyrics are only powerful if delivered properly, and well, Devin has one hell of a voice box in him. His range and diversity is superb, delivering the lyrics with a great deal of panache and sincere inner torment.

Musically "Terria" is a tour-de-force of Devin's own style of hard rock/metal fused with some progressive elements. "Earth Day" is a fine example of everything sumptuous about this album, overtly progressive in style and structure; the song weaves in and out of themes, each as compelling as the next and all complemented by an overwhelming vocal performance. Certainly one of the defining moments in the album. "Deep Peace" is another fine progressive styled song, starting softly and gradually building to a great climax, the guitar solo is jaw-droppingly good.

My other personal highlights include the fun rocking "Fluke" which has some wonderful bridge work and a powerful chorus where Devin shouts 'FREAK! / FLUKE!' Most 'rocking' song on the album. The two ballads that approach the end of the album, "Nobody's Here" and "Tiny Tears" are two superb songs. The former is a rock ballad epic, no messing around, nothing terribly experimental, just a few great hooks where Devin sings his heart out, spilling overboard with emotion, 'I feel like there's nobody here' he yearns. The latter is a more experimental take on a rock ballad, but once again has some powerful distressing lyrics and vocals. Stunning way to draw a close to the album.

If you're a fan of progressive music in any form, this a must have. If you want something innovative with actual sincere emotion, I recommend this very highly.

progressive junk.......2005-02-21

save your money. if your looking for progressive rock pass on this crap. this cd is junk. spend your money on dream theater or some other prog groups with talent.the other reviews with 5 stars must have been written by DEVINS family members.

And music? Well its just entertainment folks!.......2004-05-20

Calm, quiet tinny music opens. You hear someone saying seemingly random words in a strange voice through a distorted microphone. The background music changes to a tinny buzzing sound. Upon the voice saying "Olive?", a clean guitar chord is struck. This builds up into the cacophonous wall of noise that is "Olive".

Terria is one of the densest, most heavily layered and most interesting albums I've ever heard. It isn't catchy, yet something draws you back to it. It isn't especially technical most of the time, yet the instrumentation hypnotises you. You find sound effects, samples, pieces of music and god knows what else buried in the mix that you didn't hear the first, second, third... hell, twenty-seventh time you listened. Perhaps the most incredible thing is that the music is still fairly easy to listen to once you've got your head round it, despite the massive amount of things going on.

And what does it sound like? Well, there is more variety here than a lot of bands have in their entire catalogue. That isn't to that this is a psuedo-eclectic mish-mash of ideas thrown together - these songs still have a common sound. They still feel like a complete album. The don't sound like they could ever be separated, put into a different order or like there's anything missing. But the variety is abundant. Strange mixtures of progressive rock and industrial can be found, alongside epic metal assaults and soothing, emotional soundscapes. This music is damn near impossible to either accurately describe or do justice with words.

This definately isn't for everybody. You need a varied music taste and an open mind to boot and even with that it may not be your thing. I've recently bought Accelerated Evolution and while I don't think it is on quite the same level as this, I recommend it before this (to metalheads at least) as it is definately more accessible. But for anyone willing to a chance with some of the most intense but also most beautiful music money can buy, I'd highly recommend this masterpiece.

Quite Brilliant........2003-06-26

For those who are only familiar with Devin Townsend's work with Strapping Young Lad, this (and any of Devin's other solo stuff) may come as a bit of a surprise. This is quite a huge departure from the all-out metal assault of SYL. While some of the heaviness is still there, this is generally much more calm and laid-back. The whole album has a very peaceful and earthy (hence the name) feel to it.

My goodness, where do I begin? Well, to put it simply, Devin Townsend is a genius. He has such a great sense of space, and is capable of writing a long composition that never gets boring. The whole album is just so...big. The guitars and keyboards create such an overwhelming sense of ambience, almost giving the impression of a thick fog slowly settling over you. But it's not to say that the album is bleak or dreary. Quite the contrary. The music is strangely euphoric, and can make you feel really good, even if the songs themselves aren't exactly happy (it sounds weird when put into words, but the feeling makes perfect sense).

And Devin's brilliance doesn't stop at his compositional skills. He is also an excellent and fairly unique singer. He can go from screaming, to growling, to a multitude of softer voices, and he always sounds amazing. On "Earth Day", he sounds angry and demented, while on "Deep Peace", he sounds calm and subdued, slightly resembling David Gilmour. And, to top it all off, he plays a pretty mean guitar. He didn't do much in the way of leads with SYL, but here he proves his expertise in that area. His solos are impressive in their complexity, but still have a great sense of feel to them. The epic lead on "Deep Peace" is worth a special mention. Probably one of the best solos I've ever heard. Yes, it's really that good.

Drummer Gene Hoglan definitely deserves a mention as well. One listen to any of his work with Death or SYL will tell you that he's an insanely fast drummer, but here he chooses to lay back a bit, opting instead for more intricate and textured drumming. Kind of reminds me of Martin Lopez of Opeth. Now of course, everything he does is awesome, I'm not trying to say otherwise, but his performance here definitely proves his versatility as a musician. This guy can play it all.

It's difficult to pick favorites, but I would say that the last three songs, "Nobody's Here", "Tiny Tears", and "Stagnant" are the highlights for me. The album really reaches a powerful climax here, but musically and vocally. Devin's vocals are awesome all the way through, but it's not until these songs that he really lets loose. The man can really sing. "Earth Day" is a bit weirder than the rest, and thus may take a few listens for some to appreciate. I like it, though. There is also a hidden track, which is perhaps the weirdest of them all. It's very bouncy and upbeat, but also very garbled and distorted. It sounds a like a country song being played under water. I don't really consider it part of the album, just a funny little afterthought. The lyrics overall are a bit bizarre, but somehow they manage to fit the music perfectly.

I've bought a lot of great albums here lately, but this one definitely stands out as one of the very best of those. While it does occasionally sound a bit like a heavier version of Pink Floyd ("Deep Peace" and "Nobody's Here" would fit comfortably on "The Wall"), this album has a sound that is very fresh and original. While so many prog metal bands out there are just trying to emulate Dream Theater and Queensryche, Devin is a true artist, who creates a style that is all his own.

This may not be for everyone, but if you're looking for something different, pick this up right away. Meanwhile, I'll be buying up the rest of his catalog.

A brilliant, wild, brain-numbing adventure.......2003-05-26

Imagine a world of previous achievements "Infinity" and "Ocean Machine" blended together and a fresh progressive sound added to the mix. You're getting close to Terria. It also has a lot more variation from previous albums, with songs sounding almost as agressive as Strapping Young Lad to nice relaxing, emotional ballads, to odd experimental songs. The songs aren't as silly and crazy as Infinity, but some still have a slight touch of that. Also, they have a much more structured, full, and lush sound than Ocean Machine.

Devin's brilliance never fails to amaze me, on many many repeated (addicted) listenings, and so far, all throughout his career even though i am quite new to his CDs besides Terria. Some may not like it, maybe they expect it to sound like other bands, which is the opposite of what it sounds like. Devin definately creates his own genre that sounds like no one else, and can be quite hard to appreciate and to acquire a taste for it. In case you didn't know, the music is mostly comprised of guitars, synths, and Devin's vocals.

The first 2 songs are a good example of the more experimental, bizarre side of Devin's work. "Olives" is a short intro (leaves a horrible first impression of the CD) and "Mountain" seems messy and unstructured but it's fun to listen to.

The real fun begins at "Earth Day." I absolutely LOVE this song. It is one of my top 20 favorite songs, and thats out of a pretty nice size collection. "Mountains" fades out really softly, and then suddenly "Earth Day" starts with an unsuspecting attack of immense sound walls flowing into your ears. This song goes all over the place, with many changes in the sound and the vocals, with totally wild, brilliant, melodies and vocals. It is overwhelmingly epic sounding. Sometimes I wish this track was later, or even last, on the CD because whenever I play this CD I look forward to this song way too much. This song is definately meant to be heard LOUD, with it's incredibly full and lush, but heavy sound. It's the heaviest song on the album, and I think the longest. This song might take someone a long time to "get" because it's just so "out there," much moreso than most of Devin's work that is already far enough "out there." I wish I could do a better job of explaining what the song actually sounds like, but I just can't.

Next, we have "Deep Peace," when juxtaposed to "Earth Day" is extremely laid back and relaxed. It starts out with an acousitc guitar and is one of the softest songs. Somewhere in there is a very interesting, long solo. "Canada" is more of a medium-paced catchy tune. I don't really know what to say about "Down and Under," it's a good mostly instrumental song.

"The Fluke" is a fast, catchy, joyful, epic song. This song also goes all over the place. As another reviewer said, the climax is around 3:25 when there is vocals on top of each other and it sounds fantastic. This song then slowly fades out into some static experimentation and right into "Nobody's Here," a suprisingly emotional, heart-melting, sincere ballad. Dev's vocals really standout here as he sings mostly softly and then a little powerful during the chorus. It has harmonious synths and perfect underlying piano melodies. Definately one of the most solid songs he has ever made.

"Tiny Tears" is another amazing slow-paced song with awesome vocal performance and emotion. It contains an outrageous solo at about 4:45. I can't say anything else because there's too much to say.

"Stagnant" is probably my 3rd favorite song, a very joyful, upbeat song to end the album. Very catchy and will stick in your head after it ends, weather you like it or not.

"Terria" is, in my opinion at least, Devin's most accomplished and solid work, and is one of the most creative artists today. Remember it will usually take a long time to get used to but is extremely rewarding. Music? It's just entertainment folks.

Listen to My Song
Average customer rating:
Listen to My Song

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000GEU3HA
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Terria (Bonus CD)
Average customer rating:
Terria (Bonus CD)
Devin Townsend
Manufacturer: Japanese Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music
General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music
Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00006AGC8
Release Date: 2003-02-18

Tracks:

Olives
Mountain
Earth Day
Deep Peace
Canada
Down And Under
The Fluke
Nobodys Here
Tiny Tears
Stagnant
Universal (Bonus Track)
Sit In The Mountain (Bonus Track)
Man (Bonus Track)
Intro - Unity (Live In Tokyo 1999) (Video)
Seventh Wave (Live In Tokyo 1999) (Video)
Regulator (Live In Tokyo 1999) (Video)
Truth (Live In Tokyo 1999) (Video)
War (Live In Tokyo 1999) (Video)
Hide Nowhere (Live In Tokyo 1999) (Video)
Bad Devil (Live In Tokyo 1999) (Video)
Christine (Live In Tokyo 1999) (Video)

Album Description

Ocean Machine fans rejoice, Devin returns to the emotion laden riffs & orchestrated vocal lines that made Bio-Mech an instant classic. This limited edition Asian pressing includes a bonus enhanced CD which contains 3 bonus audio tracks, 'Universal' (previously available on the Japanese version), 'Sit In The Mountain' (Korean only bonus track), 'Man' (Korean only bonus track) plus a 33 minute enhanced video entitled, 'Devin Townshed Live In Tokyo 1999' which contains, 'Intro (Unity)', 'Seventh Wave', 'Regulator', 'Truth', 'War', 'Hide Nowhere', 'Bad Devil' & 'Christine'. Includes sticker. Packaged in a DVD case. 2002 Dope Music/Asia release.

Album Details

Asian Version featuring a Bonus CD with Three Additional Tracks: 'universal', 'sit in the Mountain', and 'man', and Over 33 (7 Track Performance) Minutes of Footage Live from Tokyo, Japan.

Average customer rating:

Terria
Townsend , and Devin
Manufacturer: Inside Out
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000LX20Y0

Music Info: