DEVIN TOWNSEND

Empath Live In America INSIDEOUT

JMN

The latest in the prog metal magus’ Devolution series. Even before its Covid-related derailment, the 2020 North American tour Townsend undertook in support of his 2019 album Empath was unique. Featuring a pared-down incarnation of his formidable Order Of Magnitude band, it was a raw, spontaneous affair, the nightly setlist partly assembled in real time according to audience whims, and performed with joyous gusto by Townsend and company. “Everything’s terrifying lately, right?” says Townsend at the top, before citing “listening to metal and telling your mom you love her” as possible cures. Between-songs banter is a speciality, but the main pull of this mostly Montreal and Boston-recorded LP is of course the dazzling, heavy-riffing theatricality of Townsend’s music: here including such firm fan favourites as Supercrush! and operatic sci-fi stomper…

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Prog (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 142

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