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
Slow Me Down
The Devin Townsend Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was waiting by the phone
Knowing that you're all alone
And I ask you when you call,
But will you wait for me?
Will you wait for me?
Cause in a while I'll never look behind
Even when I'll nearly lose my mind
Will we be making it across?
Hang on...
Want it ,need it,
My want is found and feeding,
Hanging around with a girl
'Cause I want it, need it,
So bad I can hardly breathe but it slows me down.
And through all we bear the scars,
on the soul, through the stars,
Alone...
Forever we roam.
And you ask me when you call
But will you wait for me?
I will wait for you!
Cause in a while I'll never look behind
Even when I'll nearly lose my mind
So when the devil wins that toss
Will they be making it a cross?
Hang on...
Want it ,need it,
My want is found and feeding,
Hanging around with a girl
Cause I want it, need it,
So bad I can hardly breathe but it slows me down.
Feel it in my mind and soul
Feel it in my constant lies
Feel it now, feel it go away... oh yeah
I want to go, where nobody's gone
While hanging around with that girl
Cause nobody knows where the river flows now
You're slowed me down
The Devin Townsend Band's song "Slow Me Down" is a powerful ode to longing and love. The song begins with the singer pining for their love, waiting by the phone in hopes that their loved one will call. The singer isn't sure if their love will wait for them or not, but they express their desire to be there for them regardless. As the song progresses, the singer begins to reflect on the difficulties of their relationship, the scars that they bear on their soul, and the pain that their love brings them. However, they still express their need and want for their love, even if it slows them down.
The chorus of the song, "Want it, need it, my want is found and feeding; Hanging around with a girl 'cause I want it, need it, so bad I can hardly breathe but it slows me down," serves as the centerpiece of the song, expressing the singer's deep desire for their love, while acknowledging that it comes with its own struggles and obstacles. The song ends with the singer yearning for something more, hoping to go where nobody has gone before, but ultimately stuck in limbo, slowed down by their love.
Overall, "Slow Me Down" is a powerful and emotional song that captures the complexities of relationships, the pain of longing, and the struggles that come with love.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so easy when you call
You make it easy when you call
I was waiting by the phone
I was waiting for your call
Knowing that you're all alone
I know you're lonely
And I ask you when you call,
I ask you when you call,
But will you wait for me?
Will you wait for me?
Will you wait for me?
Will you wait for me?
Cause in a while I'll never look behind
I won't look back in the future
Even when I'll nearly lose my mind
Even if I go insane
So when the devil wins that toss
When bad things happen
Will we be making it across?
Will we survive?
Hang on...
Hold on...
Want it, need it,
I crave it
My want is found and feeding,
My desire is being fulfilled
Hanging around with a girl
Spending time with someone special
'Cause I want it, need it,
Because I crave it and need it
So bad I can hardly breathe but it slows me down.
It's so addictive that it's slowing me down
And through all we bear the scars,
We have scars from our experiences
on the soul, through the stars,
Our experience is written in our soul and history
Alone...
We are alone
Forever we roam.
We will always be wandering
And you ask me when you call
And you ask me when you call
But will you wait for me?
Will you wait for me?
I will wait for you!
I will wait for you!
Cause in a while I'll never look behind
I won't look back in the future
Even when I'll nearly lose my mind
Even if I go insane
So when the devil wins that toss
When bad things happen
Will they be making it a cross?
Will they survive?
Hang on...
Hold on...
Want it, need it,
I crave it
My want is found and feeding,
My desire is being fulfilled
Hanging around with a girl
Spending time with someone special
'Cause I want it, need it,
Because I crave it and need it
So bad I can hardly breathe but it slows me down.
It's so addictive that it's slowing me down
Feel it in my mind and soul
I feel it deeply
Feel it in my constant lies
I feel it despite my deceptive ways
Feel it now, feel it go away... oh yeah
I feel it now and it's disappearing
I want to go, where nobody's gone
I want to go somewhere new
While hanging around with that girl
While spending time with that special person
Cause nobody knows where the river flows now
Nobody knows where life will take us
You're slowed me down
You're slowing me down
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bobby Bradbury
This is why I love Devin. He can make super heavy and complicated records and be great at it, and he can also make songs like this and make it gorgeous on all levels. He can master anything, and that's why I consider him to be one of the best musicians alive today.
Tasha Watchurst
Only Devin can mix metal and pop, yet still sound fucking Godly
Henric W
Hands down one of the best songs ever written.
Niko Pasanen
Sensitive side of a genius! This song clearly is among the best Devin has ever performed!
Gigatless
One of the best tracks by Devin.
Alex Robert Krueger ARK
Hell yeah dude. His music has changed my life. Love all his work. His is a hero of mine. One of the most under rated musicains ever. Devin is amazing
xstephychanx
this is by far pretty much my favourite song ever. he's my hero.
Matthew Christ
I love this song. It shows that Devin loves music. Hell, all his work, solo and side projects, show it. He is a diverse fun musician. Those kinds of people seem to be hard to come by.
- The1trueharf -
Steven Wilson is a diverse musician. Buckethead is also a diverse musician. Guthrie Govan is another diverse musician.
Madhatta
This song is my heart... describes a part of my life that changed it forever..