Devin Townsend - The Moth

Hello AOTY

A decade in the making. Id say Let’s hope it’s worth it but Devin rarely disappoints.

What is that album cover? Are they trying to make Devin look like a tired, old man?

Immediately pre-ordered a version of the album that includes the live show re-mix, which is something I haven't done in years. I've occasionally been listening to the live stream version for about a year, but of course that was mixed on the fly, so I cannot wait to hear the studio version and the live version with a proper mix.

Not quite hitting for me. Orion, Covered by Causes, Stained Hearts, Lexin were excellent. Really beautiful, fun, or unique in each their own way. It's the heavier bits that just don't quite catch on for me. Lots of short tracks that feel like filler, or rather it's the more "cinematic" passages between the longer songs that put me off. Since about 2012 or so, Devin's more bombastic moments haven't quite hit for me. This is after 2 listens in full.

That said, I wasn't super into Deconstruction or Empath, which this album matches the most. I gave both a 6/10 or 3/5 or so, solid / decent. I'd always loved Terria / Ocean Machine / Infinity / City / Alien / Synthestra / Addicted. None of the more recent records have resonated all that strongly with me.

The Big Snit is my personal highlight. Overall I enjoyed it.

Oh man this is just as awesome as I'd hoped - experiencing this live would've been completely monumental. Probably the most cohesive cinematic concept album I can think of, all the transitionary and minimalist tracks are excellent, and don't even get me started on the main highlights ("Covered By Causes", "Orion", "Prepare For War/Big Snit"). Definitely has the potential to overtake Deconstruction as my 3rd favourite Devin album. I like it more than PowerNerd as I expected, and I already love that album way more than I initially anticipated. Plus hearing Anneke again was lovely. Thanks for the early birthday present Dev

He don't miss. Loving it already at first listen. :3

Written by 24emd on 30.05.2026 at 06:07

experiencing this live would've been completely monumental.

Yes, it was. Seeing a metal band live accompanied by an orchestra has been a dream of mine ever since I discovered that that is a thing. The stage was just big enough to fit everyone (Devin was mostly standing in one raised spot of about 1m2 in the middle) and the sound was immense and overwhelming. I just love the sound of Devin's singing backed up by a huge choir.
However, I do wish the album had come out first, since it is so much to take in on first listen. I get that logistically it made more sense to have the North Netherlands Orchestra do the studio recordings and the live show in the same week though.
I'm actually surprised at the lukewarm reception here. Or maybe I just like it more because it is tied to this experience, who knows?

I’ll just say this: Listening to this just once is a mistake.

Written by Nicko's Nose on 01.06.2026 at 23:58

I’ll just say this: Listening to this just once is a mistake.

I'm genuinely considering giving this a 10 after my third listen. I'm picking up the CD tomorrow, can't wait to blast it through my speakers.

Enticing, heavily immersive and majestic.

I finished disc one and undoubtedly Devin did create a surreal experience.

Written by A Real Mönkey on 12.03.2026 at 12:21

A decade in the making. Id say Let’s hope it’s worth it but Devin rarely disappoints.

At least it went better than Blind Guardian's album Legacy of the Dark Lands or Chinese Democracy

I tried listening to this album in full, but once I got to Covered by Causes, I just kept replaying that one. The previous tracks offered minimal enjoyment in comparison. If the whole album rose to the level of Covered by Causes, The Moth could've been a near-masterpiece.

I've never listened a Devin Townsend album and I like this a lot. Is it too late to check out his intimidating back catalogue, or do I still stand a chance?

Also, a technical question which is very relevant for an album like this in digital. Anyone knows a modern android music player (with raw file/folder support and not just tag-based) that knows how to prebuffer the next track before finishing the previous one? I'm so sick of gaps between tracks that are supposed to flow into each other seemlessly. Good old dead Winamp does it right...

Written by Kirinyale on 15.06.2026 at 12:48

I've never listened a Devin Townsend album and I like this a lot. Is it too late to check out his intimidating back catalogue, or do I still stand a chance?

What? You need to absolutely listen to it right away! Start with his first album, it is amazing.

I utterly adore this album, but I am a Devin obsessive and I can absolutely see how it wouldn't land with some people.

It isn't an album of songs, and I don't think it's fair to judge it as one. It is one long piece of music, some sections of which can stand alone as separate songs (Orion, Covered by Causes, Lexin), but it is something you do have to put on and listen to all the way through, and as with all Devin, it gets better the more you listen to it - you will find something new or spot a new connection every time.

Weirdly, I sort of undermined my own excitement; I watched the livestream to death last year, and so the album has ended up feeling like something I already know very well rather than totally new, but I got that feeling last year, I suppose. So many moments give me goosebumps, and if you do enjoy it, I'd highly recommend listening to the orchestra/choir only version, as their parts are sufficiently well arranged to stand on their own.

Album of the year for me, if not the decade. To me, it feels much stronger and more cohesive than pretty much anything he's done since the original DTP quartet of albums. I'm conscious I say that while giving it a 9, not a 10 - it has its lulls and odd moments that I don't enjoy as much as others, but that's to be expected with something of this scale. That doesn't detract from the overall experience - and it is an experience.