Devin Townsend Band - Accelerated Evolution
Released: 2003

Progarchives.com

"This album is a tour-de-force from beginning to end. I can see why some people may be turned off by the screaming; for me it is one of the highlights of everything Devin has done. He meshes beautiful, heartfelt singing right alongside high-pitched, toneful screaming like it was nothing"

"Devin simultaneously wrote and recorded his new solo project, simply titled The Devin Townsend Band while he was working on SYL. Accelerated Evolution may be the polar opposite of the latest Strapping Young Lad, but that was Devin’s intention. It seems that by splitting his creativity, he was able to search deeper and let it all out. "

“Accelerated Evolution” kept me concentrated for its full 55 minutes, offering quite some variety, recognisable melodies, fabulous guitar work and – of course – Townsend’s usual dose of musical aggression. There’s no really weird stuff on this disc, so those who disliked Hevy Devy’s bizarre trips in the past can give him another try"

"Devin Townsend is the master of his universe and he is in some fine company in that realm. Brian Waddell (guitar, arranger), Ryan Vanpoederooven (drums arranger), Dave Young (keyboards, arranger) and Mike Young (bass, arranger) form a unified and lethal unit around Townsend’s earth shattering vocal style. The one thing that struck me with accuracy right between the eyes was the consistency of this album. Everything about it is good"

"In the grand scale of Townsend projects, this new Devin Townsend Band seems as though they are poised to create very intriguing music in the future. I hesitate to call this as magnificent as Ocean Machine and definitely not as wild as Infinity but for those fans who prefer the more introspective, challenging topography of Terria, this is a must have."

"the quality of Devin's writing and production is consistently improving. This has quickly become my favorite record of his, and one that I can listen to from beginning to end over and over again. Each song has plenty of captivating characteristics to perpetuate my interest through the entire record"

"Stirring metal with a progressive edge, there are a multitude of influences heard here - from Swedish death metal to alternative metal - yet the beauty of it all is that Townsend and crew build the basics around these and create a totally unique amalgamation."

"Accelerated Evolution" displays the more laid back side of Mr. Townsend. You still have your occasional high-pitched scream here and there, but the bulk of the album consists of smoother sounding clean vocals. Devin's vocals are exemplary on this album, making him even more of a showcase than he already is. His range is quite amazing"

"Being a one-man musical revolutionary machine would seem to be a demanding and pressing job, but Devin shoulders that very weight with the utmost of ease. Every song on Accelerated Evolution is an advancement for the whole of music in general, and with that being said, you can't miss out on this album."

"Accelerated Evolution" never wonders into the realm of overproduced, too technical music. Devin's goal with this release seems to be taking the listener on a journey far away, yet deep inside one's own being...taking time for introspection and analysis of oneself"

"This album seems a bit more personal than SYL, and even a bit poppy in some places ("Slow Me Down") but many tracks retain the heavyness and oh so metal sound we love so much ("Deadhead"). Those already farmilliar with Devin's past works will surely not be dissapointed with this one, and if you're not already farmilliar with his projects, then what the hell is wrong with you eh? If nothing else this album will solidify Devin's place as a guitar god."

"Even though it still falls in the metal spectrum, this is the polar opposite of Strapping Young Lad, but really not that far removed from Devin's other projects, Ocean Machine and Devin Townsend Band. Accelerated Evolution is a nice excersice in ambience, although double bass kicks and screams now and then send it into the insane, prog-tinged heaviness"

“Accelerated Evolution” is a record that closely follows on the heels of “Terria” but is shy of the environmental themes. The astral atmospheres and laid back progressive sequences are all here, but opened up more, allowing for the music to really incorporate a dreamy, and more importantly, a relaxed aura. If Strapping Young Lad was the angry bull dog that Devin needed to unleash on the world, then “Accelerated Evolution” is the shy poodle that just happened to eat 2 kilos of hash cookies and is now feeling the results."

"No longer does Devy draw inspiration from apocalyptic death-metal, but rather chooses to tone down the aggression, and increase the atmosphere – with the handy use of the keyboards. Described by Ian Hardy as “Heavier than Terria, lighter that Physicist, not nearly as off the wall as Infinity, Accelerated Evolution picks up where Ocean Machine left off, drowning us in a majestic not-quite-pop-metal romp”.