After performing in a number of metal bands in high school, Townsend was discovered by a record label in 1993 and was asked to perform lead vocals on Steve Vai's album Sex & Religion. After recording and touring with Vai, Townsend was discouraged by what he found in the music industry, and vented his anger on a solo album released under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad. He soon assembled a band under the name, and released the critically acclaimed City in 1997. Since then, he has released three more studio albums with Strapping Young Lad, along with solo material released under his own independent record label, HevyDevy Records. Townsend's solo albums, a diverse mix of hard rock and progressive metal, have featured a varying lineup of supporting musicians. In 2002 he formed The Devin Townsend Band, a dedicated lineup which recorded and toured for two of his solo releases.
In 2007, Townsend disbanded both Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Band, taking a break from touring to spend more time with his family. After a two-year hiatus, he began work on a four-album series called The Devin Townsend Project, with each album written in a different style. The first two entries in the series, Ki and Addicted, were released in 2009. Townsend scheduled tours throughout Australia and North America in 2010 in support of the albums, and released the next two, Deconstruction and Ghost, in 2011.
Townsend's trademark production style, featuring a heavily multitracked wall of sound, has been compared to the styles of Phil Spector and Frank Zappa. His versatile vocal delivery ranges from screaming to an opera-esque singing, and his songwriting is similarly diverse. Townsend's musical style is rooted in metal, and his albums are written to express different aspects of his personality.
Away
Devin Townsend Lyrics
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Devin Townsend's song "Away" is a track from his album "Ziltoid the Omniscient." The lyrics begin with a self-reflection on the singer's part, acknowledging that they have been acting foolishly. Then, a voice interrupts and advises the singer to stop being an idiot. The following lines reveal that the singers have made new friends, but despite that, it's still challenging for them to be back in Sweden again. The final line is a question mark, possibly suggesting that the singer is experiencing uncertainty or confusion about their current situation.
The song has a melancholic tone, conveying a sense of emotional turmoil, driving the message that it can be tough to come back to a place that holds bittersweet memories. The phrase "As above and so below" is included in the lyrics, referring to the Hermetic principle of correspondence, which states that everything in the universe is interconnected and influences each other. This phrase then could suggest that the singer might perceive themselves as a reflection of Sweden, the same way the universe is a reflection of each phenomenon.
Line by Line Meaning
(I'm an idiot.)
I acknowledge that I have acted foolishly in some way.
Well stop being an idiot then!
A reminder to oneself to stop behaving foolishly and to make better choices in the future.
Even though I've made a few new friends...
Despite having made some new acquaintances, something still feels off.
It's hard to be back here in Sweden again
Returning to Sweden is difficult for me, for reasons that are not entirely clear.
As above and so below my friend
An acknowledgement that the challenges faced on Earth are reflected in the higher realms or planes of existence.
It's hard to be back here in Sweden again
Reiterating the difficulty of returning to Sweden despite efforts to make peace with the situation.
...?
An expression of confusion or uncertainty about the current state of affairs.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DEVIN GARRETT TOWNSEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind