Devin Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer from New Westminster, Canada, born in 1972. He works across ambient, metal, progressive, progressive metal and progressive rock, and his solo work often leans toward progressive metal.

Career

Townsend first performs in several metal bands while at school, then comes to wider attention in 1993 when a record label asks him to sing lead vocals on Steve Vai’s album Sex & Religion. After working and touring with Vai, he channels his frustration with the music industry into a solo album released under the name Strapping Young Lad, then assembles a full band around that project. Strapping Young Lad begins in 1994 and continues until 2007, with Townsend as founder, songwriter, vocalist and guitarist. The band releases City in 1997, followed by three more studio albums.

Alongside Strapping Young Lad, Townsend releases solo material through his independent label HevyDevy Records. His solo albums combine hard rock and progressive metal and feature a changing line-up of supporting musicians. In 2002 he forms The Devin Townsend Band, a dedicated group that records and tours for two of his solo releases. In 2007 he disbands both Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Band, then takes a break from touring.

The Devin Townsend Project

After a two-year hiatus, Townsend starts work on The Devin Townsend Project, a four-album cycle in which each record is written in a different style. The first two albums in the series are Ki and Addicted, both released in 2009. He later releases Deconstruction and Ghost in 2011.

Style

Townsend’s production is known for a heavily multitracked wall of sound, a method compared with Phil Spector and Frank Zappa. His vocals range from screaming to operatic singing, and his songwriting covers a wide range of approaches. His work is rooted in metal, and his albums are written to express different aspects of his personality.