Devin Townsend discography

Strapping Young Lad discography
Releases
Studio albums 5
Live albums 2
Compilation albums 2
EPs 2
Video albums 1
Music videos 7
Box set albums 1
Devin Townsend discography
Releases
Studio albums 17
Live albums 2
Compilation albums 2
EPs 2
Singles 2
Video albums 1
Music videos 10
Box set albums 2

Devin Townsend is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and record producer.

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] He also released a third electronica piece, an ambient album called The Hummer.

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, a solo metal album, Ziltoid the Omniscient, was released. Townsend put his music on hiatus for a year, doing production work for other artists. In late 2008, he began recording a five-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. After the four albums Townsend decided to continue under the Devin Townsend Project moniker and released the fifth record, entitled Epicloud, on September 18, 2012. The first album in its eponymous series, Casualties of Cool, was released on May 14, 2014.[21][22][23][24][25] The most recent work is a double concept album project called , released on October 27, 2014.[26][27]

Strapping Young Lad

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
AUS
[28]
FIN
[29]
FRA
[8]
JPN
[10]
SWE
[9]
U.S.
200

[7]
U.S.
Heat

[7][30]
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
  • Released: February 11, 1997
  • Label: Century Media

Reissued on June 5, 2007 with five bonus tracks and alternative cover art
Reissued on December 31, 2012 as a limited edition with a second disc consisting of a CD version of For Those Aboot to Rock

2003 Strapping Young Lad
  • Released: February 11, 2003
  • Label: Century Media
64 154 97
2005 Alien
  • Released: March 22, 2005
  • Label: Century Media
74 156 185 48 32 35
2006 The New Black
  • Released: July 11, 2006
  • Label: Century Media
63 17 139 164 200 8 15

Limited digipak edition features two bonus tracks

Live albums

Year Album details Notes
1998 No Sleep 'till Bedtime
  • Released: June 2, 1998
  • Label: Century Media
Live album recorded in Melbourne, Australia
2004 For Those Aboot to Rock: Live at the Commodore
  • Released: November 2, 2004
  • Label: Century Media
Live video performance recorded in Vancouver

Compilation albums

Year Album details Notes
2008 1994–2006 Chaos Years
  • Released: March 31, 2008
  • Label: Century Media
Limited collector's edition features a special package, including a poster[31]
2009 Classics
  • Released: April 1, 2009
  • Label: Century Media
Best of collection released exclusively in Finland

Box set albums

Year Album details Notes
2013 The Complete Works
  • Released: July 26, 2013
  • Label: Blood Music
A vinyl box set consisting of band's studio discography; released as four different versions, altogether limited to 700 copies[32][33]

EP albums

Year Album details Notes
2003 Tour EP
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Century Media
Limited edition tour EP of 2,500 copies, featuring tracks from Strapping Young Lad album
2007 C:enter:###
  • Released: April 19, 2007
  • Label: Restrain
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 a live version of "In the Rainy Season", a live version of "Underneath the Waves", and a cover of Melvins song "Zodiac"

Video albums

Year Album details Notes
2004 For Those Aboot to Rock: Live at the Commodore
  • Released: November 2, 2004
  • Label: Century Media
Live video performance recorded in Vancouver

Music videos

Year Title Album Director
1995 "S.Y.L." Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing Blair Dobson[34]
1997 "Detox" City
2003 "Relentless" Strapping Young Lad Marcus Rogers[35]
2005 "Love?" Alien Joe Lynch[36]
2006 "Zen" Alien Marcus Rogers[37]
"Wrong Side" The New Black David Brodsky[38]
2007 "Almost Again" The New Black Marcus Rogers[39]

Devin Townsend

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
AUS
[28]
FIN
[12]
FRA
[5]
GER
[11]
JPN
[3]
UK
[40]
U.S.
200

[20]
U.S.
Heat

[41][42]
U.S.
Indie

[43]
1996 Punky Brüster – Cooked on Phonics
  • Released: March 19, 1996
  • Label: HevyDevy

Satire concept album, parody of punk rock music

1997 Ocean Machine: Biomech
  • Released: July 21, 1997
  • Label: HevyDevy
Originally released as "Biomech" under the "Ocean Machine" moniker
1998 Infinity
  • Released: June 17, 1998
  • Label: HevyDevy
29 2003 re-release includes three bonus tracks
2000 Physicist
  • Released: June 26, 2000
  • Label: HevyDevy
80
2001 Terria
  • Released: November 6, 2001
  • Label: HevyDevy
125 81 Limited edition release includes a second disc featuring "Universal" b-side and extra video content
2003 Accelerated Evolution
  • Released: March 31, 2003
  • Label: HevyDevy
135 249 Special edition release includes a bonus disc titled Project EKO

First of two albums by The Devin Townsend Band

2004 Devlab
  • Released: December 4, 2004
  • Label: HevyDevy
Ambient soundscape produced entirely by Townsend
2006 Synchestra
  • Released: January 31, 2006
  • Label: HevyDevy
33 128 85 Special edition release includes the Safe Zone live DVD

Second of two albums by The Devin Townsend Band

2006 The Hummer
  • Released: November 15, 2006
  • Label: HevyDevy
Original pressing limited to 500 copies; the second ambient soundscape following 2004's Devlab
2007 Ziltoid the Omniscient
  • Released: May 27, 2007
  • Label: HevyDevy
Special edition release includes a second disc featuring three bonus tracks and extra video content
2009 Ki
  • Released: May 22, 2009
  • Label: HevyDevy
26 179 69 First album of the Devin Townsend Project
Addicted
  • Released: November 17, 2009
  • Label: HevyDevy
36 168 2 22 Second album of the Devin Townsend Project
2011 Deconstruction
  • Released: June 20, 2011
  • Label: HevyDevy
15 165 23 40 Third album of the Devin Townsend Project
Ghost
  • Released: June 20, 2011
  • Label: HevyDevy
15 12 40 Fourth album of the Devin Townsend Project
2012 Epicloud
  • Released: September 18, 2012
  • Label: HevyDevy
80 8 96 87 61 105 1 26 Limited edition includes a second disc titled Epiclouder, featuring 10 demo tracks

Fifth album of the Devin Townsend Project

2014 Casualties of Cool
  • Released: May 14, 2014
  • Label: HevyDevy
2 26 Townsend's country and blues rock album project featuring Ché Aimee Dorval, Morgan Ågren and guest musicians
  • Released: October 27, 2014
  • Label: HevyDevy
72 4 101 57 46 73 16 Double concept album; consisting of Dark Matters (a sequel to Ziltoid the Omniscient) and Sky Blue (sixth album of the Devin Townsend Project)

Live albums

Year Album details Notes
1999 Official Bootleg
  • Label: HevyDevy
Live album on CD-R limited release, also released on VHS or DVD-R, both recorded in Tokyo (1999) and Vancouver (2000)
2011 Live in Baltimore
  • Released: February 14, 2011
  • Label: HevyDevy
5-song live EP by the Devin Townsend Project, released as a free Internet download

Compilation albums

Year Album details Notes
2000 Ass-Sordid Demos
  • Label: HevyDevy
Compilation of demos from 1990 to 1996
2004 Ass-Sordid Demos II
  • Label: HevyDevy
Compilation of Noisescapes, Grey Skies, and Devin Townsend demos from 1991 to 1993

Box set albums

Year Album details Notes
2011 Contain Us
  • Released: December 9, 2011
  • Label: HevyDevy
8-disc box set including four Devin Townsend Project albums and both released and unreleased bonus material; limited to 5,000 copies, 500 hand-numbered copies featured a special 10" vinyl and a signed drawing
2012 By a Thread – Live in London 2011
  • Released: June 18, 2012
  • Label: HevyDevy
9-disc box set including live material of four special Devin Townsend Project concerts held in November 2011; limited to 5,000 copies

EP albums

Year Album details Notes
1998 Christeen + 4 Demos
  • Label: HevyDevy
Includes the "Christeen" single and four B-sides from the Infinity sessions
2011 Unplugged
  • Released: August 9, 2011
  • Label: HevyDevy
CD recorded as a limited edition for UK acoustic shows in July 2011

Video albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
FIN
[44]
SWE
[45]
2013 The Retinal Circus
  • Released: September 30, 2013
  • Label: HevyDevy
1 11 Live video recording of a special show held at Roundhouse, London in October 2012,
released as standard CD, DVD and Blu-ray versions alongside two limited edition box sets[46][47]

Music videos

Year Title Album Director
1996 "Life" Ocean Machine: Biomech
1997 "Christeen" Infinity
2003 "Storm" Accelerated Evolution Marcus Rogers[48]
2006 "Vampira" Synchestra Marcus Rogers[49]
2009 "Coast" Ki Konrad Palkiewicz
"Bend It Like Bender!" Addicted Konrad Palkiewicz
2010 "Supercrush!" Addicted Konrad Palkiewicz
2011 "Juular" Deconstruction David Brodsky
2012 "Lucky Animals" Epicloud Devin Townsend
2014 "Mountaintop" Casualties of Cool Jessica Cope
"Flight" Casualties of Cool Konrad Palkiewicz

Singles

Year Title Album Notes
1998 Christeen
  • Released: December 3, 1998
  • Label: USG
Infinity CD single, features "Wild Colonial Boy" and "Night" as B-sides
2011 Juular
  • Released: June 20, 2011
  • Label: HevyDevy
Deconstruction 7" blue-gray picture disc, features "Feather (edit)" as a B-side; originally only made available as a part of a limited The Calm & the Storm bundle, featuring Deconstruction and Ghost albums
2012 Kingdom
  • Released: October 27, 2012
  • Label: InsideOut
Epicloud 7" white picture disc, features "Heatwave (demo)" as a B-side; originally only made available to VIP attendees of The Retinal Circus concert as Soft Inc. EP[50]
2013 Lucky Animals
  • Released: November 29, 2013
  • Label: InsideOut
Epicloud 10" clear vinyl, features live version of "Truth" as a B-side

Other appearances

Devin Townsend has appeared on numerous albums outside of his solo material and Strapping Young Lad, often filling the role as the producer.[51]

Year Album Artist Credit(s)
1993 Sex & Religion Steve Vai Vocals
1994 IR8 IR8 Guitar
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 Zimmers 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 Zimmers Hole Producer
Controller Misery Signals
Declaration Bleeding Through
Dichotomy Becoming the Archetype
Terror Syndrome Terror Syndrome Mixing, guitar on "Spinning Backwards"
2009
Monolith Sights & Sounds Producer
The Internal Dialogue Contrive Mixing
Bury Me Alive Inhale Exhale
In Your Room Agua de Annique Writer on "Just Fine"
Guitars That Ate My Brain Various Artists Writer and performer on "Nerd Alert"
2010 Ich tu dir weh Rammstein Remixing on the song "Rammlied"
2011 Sea Shepherd EP Gojira Vocals on "Of Blood and Salt"
Noistalgia Bent Sea Producer, bass
SIN-atra Various Artists Vocals on "New York, New York"
2012 Eremita Ihsahn Vocals on "Introspection"
Burning in Water... Drowning in Flame Pitch Black Forecast Guitar and backing vocals on "Open Letter to God"
2013 We Are (single) Revolution Harmony Guitar solo
Wild Card ReVamp Vocals on "The Anatomy of a Nervous Breakdown: Neurasthenia"
2015 Batterie Deluxe Morgan Ågren Writer and performer on "F Files"

References

General
Specific
  1. Ankeny, Jason. "Devin Townsend Biography." Allmusic. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Turner, Tracy. "Devin Townsend Biography." HevyDevy Records. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 (Japanese) "Music Releases". Oricon. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  4. Gramlich, Chris (February 2003). "The Reluctant Return of Strapping Young Lad". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Devin Townsend." Les Charts. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  6. G., Mike (September 2003). "The Devin Townsend Band: No Holds Barred." Metal Maniacs.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 ""Artist Chart History – Strapping Young Lad". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Strapping Young Lad". Les Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Strapping Young Lad". Swedish Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Strapping Young Lad". Oricon. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Townsend, Devin Band". Musicline.de. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Devin Townsend." Finnish Charts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  13. "Devin Townsend Says Strapping Young Lad Is Over For Good". Blabbermouth.net. March 20, 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  14. Bowar, Chad (2006). "Strapping Young Lad Interview: A Conversation With Frontman Devin Townsend". About.com. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  15. ""Devin Townsend to return this summer with Ki". Blabbermouth.net. March 20, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  16. Rausch, Jan (April 7, 2009). ""Video interview with Devin Townsend". Toazted. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  17. "Devin Townsend – Ki". InsideOut Music. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  18. "Top 30 Independent Label Albums" (May 31, 2009). BBC Radio 1. Retrieved and archived June 6, 2009.
  19. "Top 40 Rock Albums" (May 31, 2009). BBC Radio 1. Retrieved and archived June 6, 2009.
  20. 20.0 20.1 "Blabbermouth.Net - The Devin Townsend Project'S 'Addicted' Lands On Billboard Chart". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  21. Neilstein, Vince (February 6, 2012).Devin Townsend is a casualty of cool, announces another record in the worksMetalSucks
  22. Devin Townsend's Twitter
  23. Devin Townsend's Twitter
  24. Devin Townsend's Twitter
  25. The Casualties of Cool Pledge campaign has started." Devin Townsend official Facebook page. February 22, 2014.
  26. Townsend, Devin (January 16, 2012).Just finished writing track one for Z2. Twitter
  27. Devin Townsend's Twitter
  28. 28.0 28.1 Strapping Young Lad and Devin Townsend chart positions in Australia:
  29. "Strapping Young Lad". Finnish Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  30. "Strapping Young Lad Enter Billboard Heatseekers Chart". Blabbermouth.net. February 20, 2003. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  31. "Strapping Young Lad: New 1994–2006 Chaos Years Trailer Available." Blabbermouth.net. May 30, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  32. "Blood Music: Strapping Young Lad "The Complete Works" 7-LP." Facebook. March 21, 2013.
  33. "Strapping Young Lad box sets". Blood Music Webstore. April 17, 2013.
  34. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing (CD booklet). Strapping Young Lad. Camden, London, England: Century Media Records. 2005. p. 12. CM 77559-2.
  35. "Strapping Young Lad Re-Sign with Century Media, Begin Work on New Material." Blabbermouth.net. March 30, 2004. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  36. "Strapping Young Lad > Music Videos > Love?". MTV. MTV Networks. March 22, 2005. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  37. "Strapping Young Lad > Music Videos > Zen". MTV. MTV Networks. January 24, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  38. "Strapping Young Lad > Music Videos > Wrong Side". MTV. MTV Networks. June 7, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  39. "1994–2006: Chaos Years [CD/DVD] > Credits". Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  40. Devin Townsend Project – Albums. Officialcharts.com. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  41. "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  42. "Devin Townsend Project: Ki First-Week Sales Revealed" (June 24, 2009). Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
  43. "Independent Albums". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  44. http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/virallinen-lista/dvd/2013/41
  45. "Veckolista DVD Album - Vecka 46, 15 november 2013". www.sverigetopplistan.se. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  46. Townsend, Devin (October 9, 2012). The Retinal Circus on DVD and Blu-ray, scheduled release Q2/2013. Facebook.
  47. Townsend, Devin (August 12, 2013). The Retinal Circus, now available to pre-order. Facebook.
  48. "Devin Townsend Band: Storm." Cinestir Films. September 14, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  49. "Devin Townsend Band: Vampira." Cinestir Films. January 27, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  50. "Devin Townsend Project - Soft Inc. 7" Rare PIC DISC VIP ONLY". CollectorsFrenzy. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  51. "HevyDevy Records – Discography". HevyDevy Records. Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2008.

External links