DEVIN TOWNSEND shares “Gratitude” solo commentary video

Devin Townsend recently announced the release of his upcoming new studio album, “PowerNerd,” which will be available worldwide on October 25th. Townsend’s career is one of many different eras. He was the leader of Strapping Young Lad, the lynchpin of the Devin Townsend Project and the co-architect of the country duo Casualties of Cool, all while maintaining his prolific and acclaimed solo project. Now the newest era of the polymath begins with PowerNerd.

He recently debuted the uplifting new single “Gratitude,” along with a video that follows Devin as he explores the beautiful Canadian forests. He then released a video that offers some insight into the song. Check it out below.

“It was a conscious thing,” Devin says of his brand new album, the music for which he wrote in just 11 days. “I thought, ‘I’ve spent so much time overthinking every aspect of my job – what would happen if I didn’t?’ Maybe I would have a chance to be a little more direct about what I’m trying to do. I really wanted to see if I could break through some of the meandering.”

However, this aggression is far from the only thing that PowerNerd’s 11 episodic tracks radiate. In comparison, “Dreams Of Light” is an atmospheric and dynamic four-minute ballad. “Younger Lover” calms down from an explosive opening to lush verses of synths and vocals, while “Falling Apart” and “Jainism” add texture after texture in addition to the gentle, acoustic introductions.

While PowerNerd’s music was written in less than two weeks, the lyrics were refined over a much longer period of time into a narrative of strength and healing. On “Falling Apart,” Devin tells himself to “keep the tension under control.” “You have to believe that things will only get better,” the following song “Gratitude” proclaims emphatically. These encouraging messages can even be found in the title of the record.

Devin offers as a definition: “I would say that a power nerd is someone who has a tendency that society deems weak or not valuable, be it empathy, an isolated person, or an introvert, and who turns that into some kind of personal power transformed.” . It’s like, ‘OK, yeah, I’m sensitive to this, that, and the other, but man, I’m going to get there! I’m going to do things with that sensitivity that’s rooted in strength.'”

Townsend previously shared the following video explaining his definition of a PowerNerd:

PowerNerd will be available in various formats including a limited edition 2CD+Blu-ray artbook (featuring the album, bonus tracks and Devin’s first Dolby Atmos mix), limited edition 2CD digipak in O-Card, standard CD, gatefold LP and digital album. Pre-order here

The album’s artwork was created by long-time collaborator Travis Smith.

PowerNerd tracklist:

“PowerNerd”
“Falling apart”
“Knuckledragger”
“Gratitude”
“Dream of Light”
“Ubelia”
“Jainism”
“Younger Lover”
“Glacier”
“Goodbye”
“Ruby Quaker”

Video on the topic of “Jainism”:

“PowerNerd” video:

PowerNerd not only expresses strength through adversity, but also opens the door to Devin’s immediate future. His positivity and incisiveness are soon juxtaposed with the follow-up The Moth, which he describes as “orchestral, over-the-top, dark and uncomfortable”, and the “extraterrestrial weirdness” of the finale Axolotl. Both works have already been written and together the trilogy will express the staggering range of this man’s musical talent.

PowerNerd lineup:

Devin Townsend – vocals, guitars, synthesizers, bass and computers
Darby Todd – drums
Diego Tejeida – keyboards, synthesizers
Mike Keneally – Additional keyboards
Jean Savoie – Additional bass
Aman Khosla – Additional vocals
Tanya Ghosh – Additional vocals
Jamey Jasta – Additional vocals

(Photo – Tanya Ghosh)