[The Dev]

I don't know why making heavy music fucks with me. I really don't. But in honesty, thats the theme of deconstruction.

In terms of honesty as well, I think it's important to figure out what causes you grief, and either overcome it, or abandon it for good.

I'm 37, and there's definitely something to that. When I was 20, it was Godflesh and Napalm Death, now I rarely listen to any of it. The last heavy records I bought were Obzen and the new Gojira...and (blasphemy) I didn't finish listening to either.

They're both great though, don't get me wrong...but tastes change. I think I'm in a mode where what I like about heavy music is not necessarily the metal elements. I'm using deconstruction as an exercise in extracting what still appeals to me about the genre for my future stuff.

the whole dtp is not a defining musical direction for me. Just a bunch of observations.

There's a bunch of conclusions I've drawn from it, but it's best summarized by getting older, and changing of tastes.

...that said, decon is pretty metal in parts.

I just keep doing what I do. Cheers for the attention.

I just keep doing what I do. Cheers for the attention.

You should do what you think is right thing to do. I think nobody is expecting (at least i`m not) that you`re doing something like SYL anymore. It was fun while it last. I fucking love SYL don`t get me wrong but I am more than happy to have every 6 months new DT record if the quality is good as Ki! Oh god, I am so exited about Addicted! I will fucking beat the shit out of that CD when it comes!

I'm 37, and there's definitely something to that. When I was 20, it was Godflesh and Napalm Death, now I rarely listen to any of it. The last heavy records I bought were Obzen and the new Gojira...and (blasphemy) I didn't finish listening to either.

They're both great though, don't get me wrong...but tastes change. I think I'm in a mode where what I like about heavy music is not necessarily the metal elements. I'm using deconstruction as an exercise in extracting what still appeals to me about the genre for my future stuff.

i totally get that Dev. I mean, I'm only 19, and I'm already experiencing that. When I first discovered metal I hungrily searched out the heaviest of the heavy, wanting the most intense music I could find. Which wasn't a bad thing, it helped me find SYL. But now... it's really taxing to listen to that constantly. I need some "happy" music to throw into my iPod to kind of distill all that really hard abrasive stuff, like SYL, Neurosis, Gojira, etc. Sometimes I just need some lighter fare, right now it's Ki, some Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys, the Hummer and other ambient, Baroness, the new Trans Siberian Orchestra album (which is incredible I might add),and some intrumental stuff, namely the new Pelican and Russian Circles. This whole thing is also why I'm really looking forward to Addicted... I wanna dance! I think to have so much of the aggresive is just draining at this point for me. Its that mixture, sometimes I want the intenseness, sometimes sunshine and happiness (oh man! )

Do what you truly feel like creating Dev. We'll love it.

Sure thing, I think I can totally understand the shifts in your tastes. I found myself over the last 2 years getting really worn down by metal in a few factors. I'm quite a stable, happy person, with my own problems and issues, but I don't write and play metal to get rid of some kind of carcinogenic element in me, its not a big flush. I find its elements within it that I love instead. There's a level of intensity in many factors to it that I cant find in other music. It has space for a very personal input. Effectively at this age I don't really know myself all that well, so I can't be sure. I know if I get around to touring again, I wont be listening to metal.

End of the day we can talk 53+ pages of bullshit and speculation, but it all boils down to truly subjective opinion and experience that defines what were all going to get out of this album.

How do you think you will you deal with touring with metal bands again? Bloodstock too, immersed in all that?

[Octillus]

Hey, Dev, you gotta do what comes naturally (even if in this case it takes a little prodding because you want to), I'm pretty sure that's what all of your fans who actually you know, support you and don't just download stuff and say things that aren't heavy are lame (that's not the epithet they use either). I'm sure this album will be amazing, as you haven't let us down yet, but don't go loopy over it. From the majority of the posts you've made about the album since, I dunno, when you finished addicted, you've been mentioning how hard it is to do this. With an artist like you, Dev, we know it's not necessarily straight up about how much you can sell. Obviously money has something to do with it, but it's not the be all end all. So what I'm saying is, if this is the last HEAVY thing you do, than so be it, better than killing yourself over a silly record.

Sometimes the best things are the hardest things to do, and sometimes the hardest thing to do is to let go.

[The Dev]

It'll be fine. It's hard on some levels, but we impose a lot of these dramas on ourselves (at least I know I do...) I've been reconnecting with the syl guys because they're my friends. bottom line.

There's no spiritual qualms about playing with metal bands or anything. Every human is just trying to get by, and we all adopt defense mechanisms. I either like someone or I don't. The whole 'project' part of this dtp thing includes the reconnection and the facing of the things we fear the most, because ultimately...those things are the uncomfortable truths about our own nature we try to suppress. We are the 'devil' (if you choose to think of it that way.)

Yeah, it's all subjective. I do this because I'm compelled to. I truly feel good when people enjoy it, but don't lose any sleep over it when they don't for whatever reason.

Life keeps us humble, and my connection to heavy music is ultimately because I'm predisposed to it. Is the reason 'why' truly important? ...well there's the point to deconstruction (without giving it away.) I just need to document that discovery as a part of this whole purge.

I'm lucky to be able to do it, and I'll do it until I can't justify it.

You know, I've read in many interviews that quite a few metal bands actually often avoid listening to metal later in their careers, especially during tours and stuff. I listen to it and create it for the excitement, and my love for it has only gotten stronger over the years, but I can definitely see it as something that could get very tiring as you get older, perform constantly, etc.. I don't think I'll ever grow out of it, but certainly I can see myself ultimately having a somewhat more emotionally balanced music selection.

Lots of people love SYL, and a lot of them are still bummed by the band breaking up, but the way I see it is that, would you guys really want to hear a bunch of Strapping albums made out of some sense of obligation as opposed to true emotional commitment? If (and a big if) Devin were to ever get the band back together for another album, I'd want it to be because he genuinely feels the time is right and has something to say that only SYL could say best.

The first tape I bought at 7yo was 'killers' Iron Maiden, 34 now, still love metal, (extra fussy 'bout it, but love it when it's good).
Good intense metal albums should only be 30 mins. Or have good lulls, (breathing spaces).
On an extremely personal note, any pharmaceuticals influencing you these day's Dev? Or did they go too, with all the other substances?

The first tape I bought at 7yo was 'killers' Iron Maiden, 34 now, still love metal, (extra fussy 'bout it, but love it when it's good).
Good intense metal albums should only be 30 mins. Or have good lulls, (breathing spaces).

Well I wouldn't be so strict on the time limit, but I definitely agree that with extreme metal, less is more. One of my favorite albums is by a deathgrind band from Australia, and it only clocks in at like 26 minutes.

I just keep doing what I do. Cheers for the attention.

That´s really all I need, what I like about your music is that spiritual-emotional intense parts, so, If you feel like doing Deconstruction, then do it, if not, just don´t, I´m afraid that if you make music just for the sake of pleasing fans, or whatever reason not including YOU, it won´t be as good as other albums..

The fact that so many people in the age of 30 and up quits listening to metal gives me chills. I think they simply don't need the strengh of it anymore, their to sofisticated. Heavy music is a factor in my system to keep me the way i am and make my day pass, calm music is also a part of my system but in another way. Both are so important i can't make it without them.

Good intense metal albums should only be 30 mins. Or have good lulls, (breathing spaces).

Well I wouldn't be so strict on the time limit, but I definitely agree that with extreme metal, less is more. One of my favorite albums is by a deathgrind band from Australia, and it only clocks in at like 26 minutes.

Yeah, shoulda said approx. 30 mins. I bought Gadget, 'The funeral March', surprised me when I saw the total playing time at the end of the first listen, but there's so much goin on, it seems like it plays longer.

Dev, have you read or seen Tuesdays with Morrie?
It encompasses everything you just said beautifully.

What I am interested to know is if what you said in the past about writing music which is just like SYL, but not SYL still holds true:
Is Deconstruction achieving what Strapping Young Lad tried to achieve?

What you mentioned about tastes changing is so true. I've only been into metal for about four years, when I first started out, Rammstein and Children of Bodom were my favourite bands. I hated anything with blastbeats, but now I'm into prog, prog and more prog mixed with brutal, heavy, technical death metal.
Tastes are tastes, people change.

Sorry for the rant, but at the end of the day, Devin Townsend is Devin Townsend, no matter what.

i try not to have strapping young lad in mind when I think about what Deconstruction will sound like, but I cant help but think of the song "Thalamus" from zen. It comes to mind because it's a really REALLY heavy song that isn't exactly a metal song in some sense. I dont headbang to it and throw up the horns. So I wonder if Deconstruction will be like that.

Devin it's an excellent news. The brutality is not for you. The melodies are better for you. But Do what you want. I can't wait Addicted. Have a nice day