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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
DEVIN'S BEST YET!!!!, 17 April 2003
When looking at an artist like Devin Townsend, it's difficult to say what's good and what's bad, for one reason - there is very little bad. Instead you have to draw comparison between what good there is. Devin's previous solo efforts, Ocean Machine, Infinity, Physicist and Terria, have all shown different sides to the man, not least Terria, with its lush sounds and warm production. However, one listen to Accelerated Evolution blows everything Devin has done previously out of the water.
Opening with the melodic metal of Depth Charge, Devin starts the album as he intends to finish - with a bang. Storm continues the CD, with its uplifting and powerful vocal line and guitar parts. Random Analysis, possibly the least interesting of the tracks on offer, is nonetheless fantastic, incorporating Devin's trademark heaviness and melody. Deadhead, Suicide and Traveller all hit the mark perfectly until we reach Away, with its gorgeous guitar-based intro and soft vocal parts. Sunday Afternoon and Slow Me Down close the album perfectly, with more of Devin's heavy melodic metal. Whilst being a very heavy band, DTB prove better than any previous Devin Townsend release what the man knows how to write best - a chorus. 10 out of 10 for the sheer brilliance of it all, a faultless prog-melodic-metal album, and Devin's best to date.
Featured with this Limited Edition version of A.E is a three-track CD of Devin Townsend's Project EKO, an ambient-techno project. While this is good for what it is (the three tracks are superbly crafted and definitely please the ears), this doesn't really appeal to me as a piece of Devin's work. I like it, but it's not what I would listen to if I wanted to hear Devin. That said, it's a good thing that it was released, rather than leave Devin fans scouring eBay and mp3 sites across the net for it.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
(3.5) High Expectations Unfortunately, 26 Dec 2006
The booklet I received when purchasing a different artist on the InsideOut label described Devin's `Accelerated Evolution' as `extraordinary and innovative'. Descriptions such as innovative, experimental, `pushing-the-border' etc are unfortunately thrown at anything Devin produces now due to his previous works (Terria, Infinity), which thoroughly deserve such credentials, quite simply AE is a rather simplistic, dare I say straightforward progressive metal/rock album.
Don't get me wrong though, the album still has its fine moments, but really lacks the coherence and consistency in artistic approach Devin has become renowned for. Songs such as `Depth Charge', `Random Analysis' and `Suicide' are all solid, with typical Devin sounding guitar riffs and the wonderful mixture of melodic and shouting/screaming vocals that lace every Townsend record. `Deadhead' is probably the most progressive piece and certainly has some creative moments, the guitar playing especially shines, which leads me onto `Away'. I've read some reviewers slating this as a poor Vai rip-off, personally this is one of my favourite moments on the album, the main guitar theme is fresh and the variations of it are equally compelling.
The rest of the album is rather forgetful to be brutally harsh. The problem is I have to come to expect so much diversity and innovation from Devin's work, and tracks such as `Storm', `Traveller' and `Sunday Afternoon' are just too simplistic and become old quick.
This album will no doubt attract some new fans with its more accessible material, if you are new and you find yourself agreeing with me on the better tracks on the album (dare that happens), I seriously recommend purchasing Devin's earlier solo efforts, most notably his masterpiece Terria.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Could be Awesome, 15 Mar 2006
I was drawn to buying this album because of Devin's ability to know exactly what he wants to achieve with lyrics and his ability to lay down many voice tracks to create an awesome sound. I listened through the album mainly enjoying the starting 3 tracks. After listening a few more times i couldn't help getting bored with it. Now obviously if you listen to something or do something to much its not gonna be as good as the first few times but the reason is simply that the songs are too long and dont progress in any way. This isn't that im against long tracks. i'm a DT fan and seriously enjoy long progressive tracks. The thing is though he makes such awesome riffs and the sound is awesome... but it's overused. The songs just go on and on. Before you know it the riff you were loving at the start of the track has turned into a throbbing pain in your ears. I'm not saying that his songs need to progress on top of the beginning riffs and go off in random ways or anything. I simply think it's better suited to making the tracks short sweet 3-4 minute songs of pure metal genius. A real shame but still a good listen to any heavy fans.
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