Band : Devin Townsend Project
Album Title : K
Label : Inside Out
Distributor : SPV - CNR
Release Date : 15/05/2009
Review : CD

 I'll be honest: The first time I sat through K I wasn't impressed. Maybe I didn't give it the attention it deserved, or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for that type of music but, throughout my first run-through of this CD, nothing really grabbed me. But this is where it gets interesting. Because, on my second and subsequent listens to this CD, I found myself enthralled.

This music is best listened to with headphones, in the middle of the night, with all the lights off. Then, its hypnotic qualities and haunting Ry Cooder-atmospheres can flow over you, envelope you and take you to Devin’s world, at least for the nearly 66-minutes of this running time. The musicianship and songwriting are captivating and the production is stunning. I wondered where my head must have been during my first listen-through and I realized that the problem wasn't with the music ... it was apparently with me.

High points are the dreamy “Terminal” the Tomahawk-esque “Disruptr”, the Elvis Presley meets Brian Setzer in Paris-Texas-end station “Trainfire” and the confrontational “Heaven send” . The pace never really picks up, yet the album is never dull. It's a very different listen and that alone makes it interesting. If you're looking for headbanging material, you're better off looking elsewhere, but K is definitely worth a listen if you're in the mood for something atmospheric and introspective. Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad) is a musical chameleon that pays attention to numerous details.

The songs are challenging and the overall presentation is worthy of serious consideration by music fans everywhere.

95/100

Cosmicmasseur.