Addicted

Addicted is a record on which Devin Townsend pours in, without restraint, loud guitar, vocals layered many times over and bright, big melody. Turning from the quiet of the previous Ki, the sound is thick yet never claustrophobic, heading instead toward an intense sense of release — a record where pop and heaviness fuse dazzlingly. From the explosiveness of the opener “Addicted!” and the lift of “Universe In a Ball!” to the catchiness of “Supercrush!” and the speed of “Hyperdrive!” and “The Way Home!,” every song carries a full-color hook. Even within thick layers of sound, the melody is always clear, and while taking in even danceable rhythm, it lifts the listener straight up. Its appeal is that pop sense and a heavy texture coexist on the same screen without friction. It is a record on which his knack for converting chaos into pure fun rather than anguish appears most vividly — a fulfilling Devin Townsend Project work where overwhelming sound and euphoria coexist.