In 1998, just after the release of Strapping Young Lad's City, Devin Townsend released a new album entitled Biomech. Biomech was originally released under the band name Ocean Machine and Townsend himself explained that Ocean Machine was the opposite of Strapping Young Lad in the way that the songs were in a more mellow and progressive style, rather than the metallic industrial thrashings of SYL. Devin saw his music in colours and explained that Ocean Machine was blue whereas Strapping Young Lad was red. Bass duties on Biomech were handled by JR Harder while the drums were performed by Marty Chapman. Townsend completed all other instrumentation on the album, which includes vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, synthesizer, all production on the album and of course all song writing duties. A video was made for the track Life, easily Biomech's most mainstream song.
In 1998, Strapping Young Lad released their first live recordings on an EP titled No Sleep 'Til Bedtime. It was just before the EP was released when Devin announced he and SYL drummer Gene Hoglan would be entering the studio to work on a new project called Infinity. It was assumed at the time that Infinity would be a new "band" similar to Ocean Machine. The music Infinity would be coloured white, according to Townsend.
When Infinity was released, it was to the surprise of Devin's fans as the artist was credited as Devin Townsend and the album as Infinity. Previously it was assumed Infinity would be the band name. The second surprise was the nude photograph of Devin that was used as the cover art. The artwork for the disc was completely white with a naked Devin crouching (covering his more "explicit" body parts) and grinning like a madman. This image was unlike we'd seen from Devin thus far, and obviously exposed a more personal side of Devin Townsend... much like the album itself. A video and single/EP was released for the stand-out track Christeen, but as with Life, Devin was dissatisfied with the outcome as he believes his music doesn't translate well to film.
It was also with the release of Infinity that Strapping Young Lad began playing songs from Biomech and Infinity as a separate set to the main SYL material. On shorter support slots, Devin's solo material was integrated with the main set.
During this era, Devin began working with Jason Newsted (who was still a member of Metallica at the time) and the pair of them, along with Tom Hunting of Exodus, completed a 3 track demo under the name IR8. After this, Devin and Jason began talking publicly about a new project they were working on called Physicist (or Fizzicist) which they claimed would be "heavier than Strapping Young Lad". The IR8 tape was leaked, and aired by a Californian radio station that James Hetfield of Metallica was currently listening to. Metallica were unhappy with Jason working outside of their band and made it difficult for him to continue with Physicist. This prompted Devin to record the album himself with his Strapping Young Lad bandmates, but as a Devin Townsend album.
Physicist's combination of speed metal with more mellow "pop" melody was a massive hit with fans and critics alike.
Townsend followed up Physicist with Terria, a warm and organic progressive album that had more atmospheric and soothing parts than crushing riffs. Terria was recorded with Gene Hoglan on drums, Craig McFarland on bass and Jamie Meyer on keyboards. The shows to promote Terria were performed by Strapping Young Lad under the name 'Devin Townsend', and featured a mixture of all Devin's solo material, with a few SYL tracks thrown in. It started to become obvious that Devin's body of solo material was more than large enough to have it's own tour.
In February 2003, Strapping Young Lad released their self titled follow up to City (SYL). A month later (March 31), The Devin Townsend Band was officially formed as a separate entity from SYL, with a brand new line-up (Devin being the only member of both bands). The DTB released Accelerated Evolution and for the first time, the two bands toured separately for their separate albums.
Accelerated Evolution was released to grandiose praise from critics, fans and musicians like Steve Vai. It is also the first album released by The Devin Townsend Band.
A live "in studio" DVD was included as a bonus with the Special Edition of the second and final Devin Townsend Band album Synchestra, released January 30, 2006 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Devin describes Synchestra thus:
"It's a really dynamic, colorful, and long thing thats been worked on now in some instances since before 'Infinity'. This record won't demand much from you, it will be an inviting and a summery nature theme. Theres some dark bits, but just for color, and nothing imposing. It plays like a movie. oh...and it's biiiiigggggggggg." (HevyDevy Forums May 31, 2005).
The video for the first single from Synchestra: Vampira - first aired online March 17, 2006.
Current Line-Up:
Devin Townsend - Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards, Programming
Brian Waddell - Guitar
Mike Young - Bass
Ryan van Poederooyen - Drums
Dave Young - Keyboards
Depth Charge
The Devin Townsend Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics of The Devin Townsend Band's song Depth Charge are incredibly enigmatic and thought-provoking, as they center around the idea of an individual exploring their internal landscape and becoming more aware of their animalistic and primal nature. The opening lines, "I know (who's behind the door...who's behind the door?) / Suddenly decide to listen to me / Falling from the interior / Who's behind the door...who's behind the door?" suggest a sense of curiosity and intrigue about what lies beneath the surface, and the repeated question of "who's behind the door" implies a desire to uncover hidden aspects of oneself.
The song continues to explore themes of sexuality, safety, and the balance between our animal instincts and our more rational, human side. The line "Reptile, the reptile in me / Animal, I'm an animal, and we're all the same, / ALL the same..." is particularly intriguing, as it suggests that we all have a primal, instinctual side to us that is often hidden beneath the surface. The chorus of the song ("Known, into the unknown, seeking the unknown, / into the unknown depths / It's ALL the same!!!") reinforces the idea that everything is interconnected and that there is no real separation between our inner and outer worlds.
In many ways, Depth Charge seems to be about embracing the full spectrum of our humanity - including the darker, more primal aspects that we often try to suppress or ignore. The closing lines of the song ("(that's all that we are...) MOTHER / (everything that we are...) FATHER / (This is all that you are...) SISTER / (every little thing that you are...) FAMILY / ...Further! / ...Further! / ...Further! / ...BRING IT ON!!!") suggest a willingness to keep exploring one's inner landscape and to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Line by Line Meaning
I know (who's behind the door...who's behind the door?)
Wondering who or what awaits on the other side of a door
Suddenly decide to listen to me,
A realization that something has changed and someone is now capable of listening
Falling from the interior
An internal struggle or change causing a fall in something
Safety, (sexuality...falling away from me)
The loss of safety and/or sexuality
Thank you for being my medium
Grateful for someone or something that serves as the means of communication or expression
Reptile, the reptile in me
A comparison to a reptile, perhaps referring to primal instincts or behavior
Animal, I'm an animal, and we're all the same, ALL the same...
A realization that humans are not above other animals and they all share similarities
So I'm sending to you this Depth Charge
The artist is sharing a deep message or emotion through the song
Known, into the unknown, seeking the unknown, into the unknown depths
A desire to explore and discover the unknown in life
Thank you for the material
Grateful for the physical or tangible things in life that aid in survival or happiness
Who's behind the door? I'm behind the door!
A declaration that the artist is the one behind the door they were previously questioning
Red line, the red line in me
A reference to a threshold, limit or warning sign within themselves
Insect or animal, though we're not the same... EVERYTHING'S THE SAME!!!
Even though there may be differences between creatures, they are all part of the same existence and universe
(that's all that we are...) MOTHER
A tribute to the role of mothers in life and their significance
(everything that we are...) FATHER
A tribute to the role of fathers in life and their significance
(This is all that you are...) SISTER
A tribute to the role of sisters in life and their significance
(every little thing that you are...) FAMILY
A tribute to the significance of family overall
...Further!
A call to go deeper, explore more and seek greater understanding
...BRING IT ON!!!
An excited, eager acceptance of whatever challenges or opportunities may come
NO ANGER
A final declaration of absence of intense emotion, potentially referencing the overall theme of seeking understanding and unity
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: DEVIN GARRETT TOWNSEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind