Devin Townsend - Terria
Released: 2001

Metal-Observer.com

'For those who have never heard of Devin’s work, I could try comparing him to numerous other bands, saying that his music is an amalgamation of many different style and genres etc… but again, it wouldn’t be worth it, especially considering that he has such an individual writing style.'

'For me “Terria” hits the mark. Rarely does an album showcase such beauty and aggression, as well as every emotion in between joined together musically, with such concord and flawlessness so as to make one wonder how they ever managed without it.'

Chronicles of chaos

"the music on _Terria_ is calmer, smoother and more melodic. The same could perhaps be said about the composer himself? The album starts with an appropriately weird instrumental and then leads into the thundering, doom-like opening of "Mountain". Enter Townsend's vocals and you have the combination of heaviness and beauty that he is so renowned for"

"Genius...pure genius! Devin gets better and more creative with each new release. Makes you wonder, can he really top himself after a release such as Terria? a challenge indeed. Great guitar work, chilling synth work and vocals containing harmonies rarely heard in metal. Lets not forget the the superb drumming by Gene Hoglan"

"The mixture of gentle sounds and sad melodies with heavy pounding guitars and drums makes Terria so special and original. But as you will hear in the song ‘Earth Day’ it still remains in the end ‘just entertainment folks’. I must say this is not easy listening music, it is very complex and needs time and a few spins to get to appreciate it but ones you do you will enter an indescribable dream world"

"On ‘Terria’, Devin once again invites us into his mental and emotional world, expressing and sharing his feelings, and thereby touching our own. It is not possible to listen to his music without feeling anything at all; it’s so overwhelming , you can do nothing but surrender to it and let it engulf you"

"This album just reeks of ‘save the environment philosophies’, and the album art is no exception, however, regardless of lyrical content and depictions displayed through the album, “Terria” is quite gnarly. “Terria” is a trip to the earth’s heart and why she cries out in pain. With choice cuts like ‘Canada’ and ‘Fluke’ you can do a helluva lot worse than pick up this emotion driven baby."

"Terria, is the latest effort from this wunderkind, although his age probably doesn’t warrant that description anymore. And it is most closely compared to one of his earlier projects, Ocean Machine. Whereas SYL was metered chaos, the newer Devin Townsend is soulful and deliberate"

"The music itself has so much depth, totally enthralling to hear, there are many good leads mixed in with the songs that always flow and never take up the guitar hero persona."

"Terria is surely the result of Townsend's pop nightmares, deceptively sweet with the caveat that he could lash out and impale you with his guitar at any given moment."

"This album is absolutely brilliant and is currently taking my number one spot for best release of 2001! Just remember not every Devin release is for everyone, but I promise you this, if you get into this record you will love it to bits. This is a genuinely breath-taking release!"

"Townsend's guitar playing has also never been better. Compared to the length of the whole album, there is very little soloing or technically exceptional playing, but now and then he'll throw in a creative or emotionally charged aggressive solo"

"Mr. "Divine" Townsend is great and open minded, very good in what he does and who knows maybe one day he'll find his way back to Mighty Metal. But don't be afraid Terria isn't that far away from Infinity or Ocean Machine Biomech. but it takes quiet some time to get into it."