The latest release, Z² (short for Ziltoid 2; pronounced "Zed squared") is a double album released on October 27, 2014. It consists of two albums released together: a Devin Townsend Project album, Sky Blue, and a "Ziltoid" concept album, Dark Matters, a sequel to Townsend's 2007 solo album Ziltoid the Omniscient. The main theme of the double album is, according to Townsend, "Ziltoid against the world".
The first album, Ki, was released in May 2009. For Ki, Townsend recruited veteran jazz drummer Duris Maxwell, local bassist Jean Savoie, and the former keyboardist for The Devin Townsend Band, Dave Young. Devin has also recruited Ché Dorval as an additional vocalist.
The second release was titled Addicted. Intended to be a heavy, simplistic, and straightforward rock album, it serves as the bridge from the quieter Ki to the expected zany metal tones of the album following it. The line-up for this album was Ryan Van Poederooyen (also a veteran of The Devin Townsend Band) on the drums, another member of the DTB Brian Waddell on the bass, and Anneke van Giersbergen (notable from The Gathering, Agua De Annique and Ayreon) on guest vocals.
There was an EP released in early 2011. It was only available online (free to download) and named European Tour EP. It featured five live songs, mostly consisting of material from Devin Townsend's solo albums. See more here: http://www.discogs.com/Devin-Townsend-Project-European-Tour-EP/release/2718333
The third and fourth albums were called Deconstruction (which features an array of notable metal musicians and vocalists) and Ghost. Deconstruction and Ghost were released on June 20th, 2011 for both.
Deconstruction features a number of prominent metal musicians as guest vocalists, including Mikael Åkerfeldt, Tommy Giles Rogers, Fredrik Thordendal, Paul Masvidal, Joe Duplantier, Greg Puciato, Ihsahn and other members, including the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
Conversely, Ghost has a static lineup and "is the mellowest (by far) and prettiest record I've done so far" according to Townsend. The album features Katrina Natale, Mike St-Jean, Dave Young, and Kat Epple along with Townsend himself.
The fifth album, Epicloud, features the widest array of sound for the Devin Townsend Project. A full-length pop-metal album, akin to Addicted, Epicloud boasts 13 positive, in your face, pop-metal songs that distinguish Devin from the large majority of contemporary metal bands. Epicloud's line-up features no new musicians for Devin Townsend, and sees the return of Anneke Van Giersbergen on vocals, Ryan Van Poederooyan on drums, Brian Waddell on bass, and Dave Young on guitar and additional keyboards.
On January 31st 2018, Devin stated on his Facebook profile that the Devin Townsend Project was going on a 'break', while he focuses on a number of other projects he's working on.
Transdermal Celebration
Devin Townsend Project Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Caused a slight mutation in the rift
It toppled down a nation
And left the people running for the hills
But the mutants that I see
Shine their beauty unto me
I wish you could see them
Tectonic tribulation
Formed a crust of green beyond the reef
Waves fell in formation
Cause the plants to bend with spi-ked leaves
I'm growing with the land
Time has taken my hands and let me touch them
Hey, hey
A billion miles to Mark A
Lay on the lawn, he's already home
When the morning ray hits his face
Transdermal celebration
Jets flew in formation I could see them
Dropping the crustaceans
Leaving trails of flames in their wake
But where is the mutation
Who once told me it was safe, I can't find him
Hey, hey
A billion miles to Mark A
Lay on the lawn, he's already home
When the morning ray hits his face
The song "Transdermal Celebration" by Devin Townsend Project is a psychedelic heavy metal track that describes a cataclysmic event that caused a slight mutation in the rift. The incident toppled a nation and caused people to run for the hills. The mutants that the singer sees are beautiful, and he wishes that others could see them too. The tectonic tribulation formed a crust of green beyond the reef, and the waves fell in formation, causing the plants to bend with spiked leaves. The singer grows with the land, and time has taken his hands and let him touch the land.
As the song progresses, the singer sings about a billion miles to Mark A, laying on the lawn, watching the morning ray hit his face, and feeling already home. He observes jets flying in formation and dropping crustaceans, leaving trails of flames in their wake. He wonders where the mutation is and who once told him it was safe but cannot find him.
Overall, the song explores themes of cataclysmic events, mutations, beauty, nature, and homecoming. The singer expresses a desire for others to appreciate the beauty he sees in the mutants and the land.
Line by Line Meaning
Transdermal celebration
The happening of a celebration that was applied through the skin
Caused a slight mutation in the rift
The application of the celebration caused a small change or alteration in the division, or a split between two things or groups.
It toppled down a nation
The altered rift caused the collapse of a country or nation.
And left the people running for the hills
The collapse caused chaos and fear among the people, causing them to flee and seek shelter in the hills or mountains.
But the mutants that I see
The altered individuals that the singer perceives
Shine their beauty unto me
Despite being different or changed, the mutants possess an appealing quality that the singer appreciates or admires.
I wish you could see them
The singer wants others to witness the beauty of the mutants.
Tectonic tribulation
A situation of great distress or suffering caused by the movement of the earth's plates.
Formed a crust of green beyond the reef
The tectonic movement created a layer of green substance beyond the coral reef.
Waves fell in formation
The waves moved or broke in a coordinated way.
Cause the plants to bend with spi-ked leaves
The waves' movement made the plants bow while causing their leaves to sprout spiky projections.
I'm growing with the land
The singer is developing or adapting with the environment.
Time has taken my hands and let me touch them
The passage of time has allowed the singer to interact with their environment in a tactile way.
Hey, hey
An exclamation, emphasis signal or simply a sound
A billion miles to Mark A
A reference to a distant destination or object named Mark A that is situated one billion miles from the singer's location.
Lay on the lawn, he's already home
The person referred to as Mark A is described as resting on the lawn and already feeling at home in their surroundings.
When the morning ray hits his face
The rising sunlight illuminates Mark A's face.
Jets flew in formation I could see them
The singer observes a group of airplanes flying together in a pattern.
Dropping the crustaceans
The planes are releasing or throwing down crustaceans, typically sea creatures with hard shells.
Leaving trails of flames in their wake
The planes' movement creates paths of fire behind them.
But where is the mutation
The singer questions the whereabouts of the mutation's source or cause.
Who once told me it was safe, I can't find him
The person who reassured the singer about the safety of the situation is not present.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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