3/7/19 UPDATE – In the latest “Empath” documentary, Devin Townsend goes in-depth on what he calls the “Frankendrummer” made up of no less than the talents of Morgan Ågren (Mats And Morgan, Frank Zappa, Fredrik Thordendal), Anup Sastry (Monuments, Periphery), and Samus Paulicelli (Decrepit Birth, Abigail Williams). He also speaks on the location where “Empath” was created and many of those who took part on the ambitious project.

2/28/19 UPDATE – An all new “Empath” update has arrived! See for yourself in the video here:

2/13/19 UPDATE – Part 4 of this series has surfaced! You can enjoy for yourself right here:

2/6/19 UPDATE – The third part of the documentary just hit! See for yourself right here:

1/30/19 UPDATE – The second edition of this Devin Townsend documentary series for “Empath” has been released! This time around, it was titled “The End” and can be viewed just below. Look further down the page and you’ll find the first part + more info on the new LP!

Devin Townsend is in the process of releasing a documentary series to… well… document his work and headspace towards the new album “Empath” – which is set for release on March 29th, 2019 with pre-orders currently available to those who CLICK HERE.

Part one of the documentary series can be found right here:

Here’s the statement that came strapped with the new video:

Canadian heavy music artist Devin Townsend has recently announced the release of his forthcoming new album ‘EMPATH’ for the 29th March 2019.

He also revealed that in the lead up to the album’s release, Devin will walk fans through how Empath came together with a series of documentary episodes recorded as phone conversations during the course of the albums recording.

Devin previously commented:

“Hello everybody, this is Devin Townsend and I would like to formally announce that after almost a year and a half of working, I have finished Empath. Now this record has taken me down a lot of very interesting psychological and technical avenues and the process was documented from the very get-go by a series of documentary videos that I have done, that outline everything from the gestation of the idea to the actualisation of it, through all the existential ups and downs that went on. As such this record is different to any record that I have released thus far, and trying to get people on board for what it is versus what it isn’t, I think needs to be dealt with in a different way. Stay tuned for the making of Empath – the video series.”

Over the past few years, the success that Devin has slowly worked for has fortunately come with the power to control his own creative destiny. The recent successes with the DVD from a sold-out Royal Albert hall, or his 2012 ‘Retinal Circus’, or last year’s ‘Ocean Machine’ live DVD with the Orchestra and Choir of State Opera Plovdiv has put him in a position where with the new album ‘EMPATH’, he will once and for all define himself as a musical force outside of any particular genre classification.

On this album Devin has decided to see what would happen if all the styles that make up his current interests were finally represented in one place. To finally shake the fear of expectation, and just do what it is he was meant to do creatively, EMPATH, true to the name, is about allowing the audience a feeling for a variety of musical emotions. The musical dynamics represented on this single album are broad, challenging, and immense. To approach this sort of work with a long history of what makes heavy music ‘heavy’, allows this to be done with a type of power rarely heard.

Joining Devin on this album is Frank Zappa alumni Mike Keneally as music director, as well as Morgan Ågren (Mats And Morgan, Frank Zappa, Fredrik Thordendal), Anup Sastry (Monuments, Periphery), Samus Paulicelli (Decrepit Birth, Abigail Williams), Nathan Navarro, Elliot Desagnes, Steve Vai, Chad Kroeger, Anneke Van Giersbergen, Ché Aimee Dorval, Ryan Dhale and the Elektra Women’s Choir.

A bold statement with massive production values and dynamic, uncompromised musicality. This is a statement about not only pursuing creative freedom in a conservative scene, but also trying to show that heavy music is truly a valid musical tool.

Links: Facebook // Twitter // iTunes // Merch