Devin Townsend performing with Strapping Young Lad in November 2005. |
||
| Releases | ||
|---|---|---|
| ↙Studio albums | 14 | |
| ↙Live albums | 2 | |
| ↙Compilation albums | 2 | |
| ↙EPs | 3 | |
| ↙Singles | 1 | |
| ↙Music videos | 7 | |
| ↙Strapping Young Lad discography | ||
Devin Townsend is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and record producer. As a solo artist, he has produced, written, and released fourteen full-length studio albums, one EP, one live album and two demo compilations on his independent record label, HevyDevy Records. Townsend is also the frontman, producer, and songwriter for the extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad, which has released five studio albums, one EP, and two live releases on Century Media. Since 1993, Townsend has produced and made guest appearances on dozens of albums by rock and metal artists. Townsend was recruited by Steve Vai to perform lead vocals on the 1993 album Sex & Religion.
Under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad, Townsend released the album Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing, in 1995.[1] His debut solo release was 1996's Punky Brüster – Cooked on Phonics. He formed a band under the Strapping Young Lad name to perform his next album, the industrial metal album City, in 1997. Devin started a project initially called Biomech, under the Ocean Machine moniker, to release his less metal-influenced music. It was ultimately released under his own name as 1997's Ocean Machine: Biomech.[2] This was followed by his first charting album, the 1998 album Infinity, which appeared at number 29 in Japan.[3] Strapping Young Lad went on hiatus at this time so that Townsend could focus on his solo music,[4] which had a varying lineup of supporting musicians.[2] His 2000 release Physicist reached number 80 in Japan,[3] and was followed by the 2001 release Terria which charted in France[5] and Japan.[3]
In 2002, Townsend reunited Strapping Young Lad and formed a new group, The Devin Townsend Band, as a permanent fixture for recording and touring for his solo music. The two bands recorded new albums simultaneously, and released Strapping Young Lad and Accelerated Evolution, respectively, in 2003.[6] The former was Townsend's first album to chart in the US, appearing at number 97 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.[7] Townsend also released a special edition of Accelerated Evolution which included an EP called Project EKO. The EP was Townsend's first foray into electronica, a genre which he explored further with Devlab in 2004.[2] Strapping Young Lad released Alien in 2005, which charted in four countries,[7][8][9][10] reaching 32 on Top Heatseekers.[7] In 2006, both bands released their final albums, The Devin Townsend Band's Synchestra charting in three European countries[5][11][12] and Strapping Young Lad's The New Black climbing to last place on the Billboard 200.[7]
In 2007, Townsend disbanded both Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Band to spend more time with his family and less time touring.[13][14] That year he released a third electronica piece, an ambient album called The Hummer, and a solo metal album, Ziltoid the Omniscient. He put his music on hiatus for a year, doing production work for other artists. In late 2008, he began recording a four-album series called The Devin Townsend Project, using a different musical style and band of supporting musicians for each album.[15][16] The first entry in the series, a relatively quiet rock album called Ki, was released in May 2009,[17] reaching number 26 in Finland[12] and appearing on the UK Indie[18] and UK Rock[19] charts. The second album in the series, a "commercial, yet heavy" metal album called Addicted, was released in November 2009, reaching number 36 in Finland, number 2 on the US Heatseekers chart, and became the first solo Townsend album to chart in the US Billboard 200,[20] reaching number 168. The third and fourth albums in the series, a metal album called Deconstruction and a new-age album called Ghost, were released simultaneously on June 20, 2011.
Contents |
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Notes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEU [11] |
FIN [12] |
FRA [5] |
JPN [3] |
UK Indie [18] |
UK Rock [19] |
U.S. 200 [21] |
U.S. Heat [22][23] |
U.S. Indie [24] |
|||
| 1996 | Punky Brüster – Cooked on Phonics
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Satire concept album, parody of punk rock music |
| 1997 | Ocean Machine: Biomech
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Originally released as "Biomech" under the "Ocean Machine" moniker |
| 1998 | Infinity
|
— | — | — | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2000 | Physicist
|
— | — | — | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2001 | Terria
|
— | — | 125 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — |
Limited edition release includes a second disc featuring "Universal" b-side and extra video content. |
| 2003 | Accelerated Evolution
|
— | — | 135 | 249 | — | — | — | — | — |
Released as The Devin Townsend Band; special edition release includes a bonus disc titled Project EKO |
| 2004 | Devlab
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Ambient soundscape produced entirely by Townsend |
| 2006 | Synchestra
|
85 | 33 | 128 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Released as The Devin Townsend Band; special edition release includes the Safe Zone bonus DVD |
The Hummer
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Only 500 copies released; the second ambient soundscape following 2004's Devlab |
|
| 2007 | Ziltoid the Omniscient
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Special edition release includes a second disc featuring three bonus tracks and extra video content. |
| 2009 | Ki
|
— | 26 | 179 | — | 22 | 31 | — | 69 | — |
First album of the Devin Townsend Project |
Addicted
|
— | 36 | — | — | — | — | 168 | 2 | 22 |
Second album of the Devin Townsend Project |
|
| 2011 | Deconstruction
|
— | 15 | — | — | — | — | 165 | — | — |
Third album of the Devin Townsend Project |
Ghost
|
— | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Fourth album of the Devin Townsend Project |
|
| Year | Album details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Epicloud [25]
|
|
| TBA | Ghost 2 [26]
|
Album consisting of Ghost leftovers |
| Year | Album details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Christeen + 4 Demos
|
Includes the "Christeen" single and four B-sides from the Infinity sessions |
| 1999 | Official Bootleg
|
Live album on CD-R limited release, also released on VHS or DVD-R, both recorded in Tokyo (1999) and Vancouver (2000) |
| 2000 | Ass-Sordid Demos
|
Compilation of demos from 1990 to 1996 |
| 2003 | Project EKO
|
Electronica EP included with the special-edition release of Accelerated Evolution |
| 2004 | Ass-Sordid Demos II
|
Compilation of Noisescapes, Grey Skies, and Devin Townsend demos from 1991 to 1993 |
| 2006 | Safe Zone
|
In-studio performance DVD released exclusively with the special edition of Synchestra |
| 2011 | Live in Baltimore
|
5-song live EP by the Devin Townsend Project released as a free Internet download |
Unplugged
|
CD recorded as a limited edition for UK acoustic shows in July 2011 |
|
Contain Us
|
A box set including four Devin Townsend Project albums with two CDs and two DVDs consisting of both released and unreleased material |
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "Christeen"
|
Infinity |
| Year | Title | Album | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Life" | Ocean Machine: Biomech | |
| 1997 | "Christeen" | Infinity | |
| 2003 | "Storm" | Accelerated Evolution | |
| 2006 | "Vampira" | Synchestra | Marcus Rogers[27] |
| 2009 | "Coast" | Ki | Konrad Palkiewicz |
| "Bend It Like Bender!" | Addicted | Konrad Palkiewicz | |
| 2011 | "Supercrush!" | Addicted | Konrad Palkiewicz |
| "Juular" | Deconstruction | David Brodsky |
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Notes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIN [28] |
FRA [8] |
JPN [10] |
SWE [9] |
U.S. 200 [7] |
U.S. Heat [7][29] |
U.S. Indie [7] |
|||
| 1995 | Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Reissued on June 12, 2006 with three bonus tracks, the music video for "S.Y.L." and extended liner notes |
| 1997 | City
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Reissued on June 5, 2007 with five bonus tracks and alternative cover art |
| 2003 | Strapping Young Lad
|
— | — | 154 | — | — | 97 | — | |
| 2005 | Alien
|
— | 156 | 185 | 48 | — | 32 | 35 | |
| 2006 | The New Black
|
17 | 139 | 164 | — | 200 | 8 | 15 | |
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIN [28] |
|||
| 1998 | No Sleep 'till Bedtime
|
— |
Live album recorded in Melbourne, Australia |
| 2003 | Tour EP
|
— |
Limited edition tour EP of 2,500 copies, featuring tracks from SYL album |
| 2004 | For Those Aboot to Rock
|
— |
Live video performance recorded in Vancouver |
| 2007 | C:enter:###
|
— |
Released as 7-inch vinyl EP on the German label Restrain Records, limited to 500 hand numbered copies, including Japanese-only bonus tracks "C:enter:###" and "In the Rainy Season", a live version of "Underneath the Waves", and a cover of Melvins song "Zodiac" |
| 2008 | 1994–2006 Chaos Years
|
32 |
Also available as a limited collector's edition in special CD/DVD package, including a poster[30] |
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "S.Y.L." | Blair Dobson[31] |
| 1997 | "Detox" | |
| 2003 | "Relentless" | Marcus Rogers[32] |
| 2005 | "Love?" | Joe Lynch[33] |
| 2006 | "Zen" | Marcus Rogers[34] |
| "Wrong Side" | David Brodsky[35] | |
| 2007 | "Almost Again" | Marcus Rogers[36] |
| Year | Album details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | IR8 / Sexoturica
|
Guitars on IR8, a collaboration with Jason Newsted and Tom Hunting |
Devin Townsend has appeared on numerous albums outside of his solo material and Strapping Young Lad, often filling the role as the producer.[37]
| Year | Album | Artist | Credit(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Sex and Religion | Steve Vai | Vocals |
| 1994 | Millennium | Front Line Assembly | Guitar on "Division of Mind, "Vigilante" and "Sex Offender" |
| 1995 | Hard Wired | Front Line Assembly | Guitar on "Circuitry", "Modus Operandi", "Transparent Species", "Barcode" and "Condemned" |
| Alien Love Secrets | Steve Vai | Spoken word at the end of song "Juice" | |
| 1996 | Working Man – A Tribute to Rush | Various Artists | Vocals on "Natural Science" |
| Convergence | James Murphy | Vocals on "Since Forgotten", vocals and keys on "The Last One" | |
| Fire Garden | Steve Vai | Vocals on "Whookam" | |
| Pigwalk | Stuck Mojo | Producer, vocals on Animal and Violate
Guitar on Inside my head |
|
| 1997 | Urge | The Wildhearts | Vocals on "Kill Me to Death" |
| Stillborn | Unit:187 | Guitar, vocals | |
| Loaded | Unit:187 | Producer | |
| GRRRR!! | Various Artists | ||
| Bound by Fire | Zimmers Hole | ||
| A Tribute to Judas Priest – Legends of Metal | Various Artists | Vocals, guitars, keyboards and production on "Sinner" | |
| 1998 | Anarchic Airwaves | The Wildhearts | Guitar |
| Remix Dystemper | Skinny Puppy | Guitar on "Worlock (Rhys Fulber – Eye of the Beholder mix)" | |
| 2001 | Music for them Asses | The Almighty Punchdrunk | Producer, guitar, synthesizer |
| Legion of Flames | Zimmer's Hole | Producer | |
| Someone Please Kill Me | Frygirl | ||
| Violate This | Stuck Mojo | Producer, vocals on "Wrathchild" and "Shout at the Devil" | |
| Finger It Out | Just Cause | Producer | |
| 2002 | Evenlight | Evenlight | Producer, vocals on "Los Bad Guy 'Os" and "Pay", guitar on "Rat in a Maze" and "Tapper" |
| The Lament Configuration | December | Producer | |
| Symbol of Life | Paradise Lost | Vocals on "Two Worlds" and "Small Town Boy" | |
| The De-Evolution of Yasmine Bleeth | Sir Millard Mulch | Spoken word on "The Great Strength of Our Order" | |
| Natural Born Chaos | Soilwork | Producer, vocals on "Black Star Deceiver" and "Soilworker's Song of the Damned" | |
| A Tribute To The Beast Vol.2 | Various Artists | Producer, vocals on "Wrathchild" (with Stuck Mojo) | |
| 2003 | As the Palaces Burn | Lamb of God | Producer, guitar on "A Devil in God's Country" |
| 2004 | The Human Equation | Ayreon | Lyrics and vocals on "Day Three: Pain", "Day Eight: School" and "Day Sixteen: Loser" |
| Heavilution | The Heavils | Producer | |
| Ten Ways from Sunday | Ten Ways from Sunday | ||
| Of Malice and the Magnum Heart | Misery Signals | Producer, vocals on "A Victim, a Target" | |
| 2005 | How to Sell the Whole F#@!ing Universe to Everybody... Once and for All! | Sir Millard Mulch | Spoken word on "The Great Strength of Our Professional Affiliations/How to Spend Music Industry Currency" |
| Undoing Ruin | Darkest Hour | Producer | |
| 2006 | Beyond Hell | Gwar | Producer, vocals on "Tormentor" |
| 2007 | Deliver Us | Darkest Hour | Producer, guitar on "Full Imperial Collapse" |
| If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say, Start a Band | Removal | Vocals on "Layers of the Union" | |
| Iron Gag | A Life Once Lost | Guitar solo on "Detest" | |
| Sworn to a Great Divide | Soilwork | Vocal production | |
| Summon in Thunder | Himsa | ||
| 2008 | When You Were Shouting at the Devil... We Were in League with Satan | Zimmer's Hole | Producer |
| Controller | Misery Signals | ||
| Terror Syndrome | Terror Syndrome | Mixing, guitar on "Spinning Backwards" | |
| Declaration | Bleeding Through | Producer | |
| Dichotomy | Becoming the Archetype | ||
| 2009 | TBA | Advent | Mixing |
| The Internal Dialogue | Contrive | Mixing[38] | |
| In Your Room | Agua de Annique | Writer on Just Fine | |
| 2011 | Sea Shepherd EP | Gojira | Vocals on "Of Blood and Salt" |
| SIN-atra | Various Artists | Vocals on "New York, New York" |
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