Ethereal and realistic in equal measure, Devin Townsend’s ‘Transcendence’ is a truly captivating sonic adventure through the human psyche.

If your heart is racing one minute and then floating above your human shape on a gust of mortal freedom, you’re listening to the Devin Townsend Project. This seventh full-length is a beautiful compilation of ambient metal to demonstrate that the genius of this Canadian and his surrounding contributors knows no earthly bounds, as if that needed clarification.

A consuming out-of-body experience beckons throughout opener ‘Truth’ with towering atmospherics to morph seamlessly into its successor ‘Stormbending’, a twinkling treasure of lofty cries and authoritative rhythms. “Time is a human construct,” Devin remarks somewhat ironically through a 5-minute sci-fi journey.

Soon enough, the cavernous despair and stunning fretwork of ‘Failure’ raise an important question – does Devin Townsend know how phenomenal it is being Devin Townsend? The beautifully unpredictable ‘Secret Sciences’ and the swaying astronomical harmony of ‘Stars’ fully showcase an ambient project at its absolute creative peak.

You can almost hear a cavalry taking up arms through the title track, booming and boundless in its approach. Beyond a first half of sadly forgettable repetition of the track title, ‘Higher’ later projects itself in the same way, expanding into a commanding and lofty opus worthy of its 9:40 length.

Despite being the shortest chapter, ‘Offer Your Light’ charges with a furious electronic pace to offset the choral dream state amid ‘From the Heart’ and the self-assured closer ‘Transdermal Celebration’ that takes a bow with grace and poise.

There’s no musical event quite so dominating and absorbing as a Devin Townsend Project record, and the same majestic formula applies for ‘Transcendence’, an epic exploration of Devin Townsend’s masterful presence.

4.5/5

’Transcendence’ by Devin Townsend Project is released on 9th September via InsideOut Music.

Devin Townsend Project links: Website|Facebook|Twitter

Words by Ali Cooper (@AliZombie_)