Band:	Devin Townsend
Album:	PowerNerd
Style:	Progressive metal
Release date:	October 25, 2024
A review by:	omne metallum

01. Powernerd
02. Falling Apart
03. Knuckledragger
04. Gratitude
05. Dreams Of Light
06. Ubelia
07. Jainism
08. Younger Lover
09. Glacier
10. Goodbye
11. Ruby Quaker

Do you like... coffee?

Throwing his proverbial hat into the ring to become Tim Horton's newest spokesperson, Devin Townsend's audition tape PowerNerd is one that sees Canada's greatest export remind the world how he ascended to the throne and claimed the guided coffee cup. Managing to continue the artful balance of quality and quantity, PowerNerd is another enjoyable batch of the mad man's ideas, though one that seems to have smoothed out the wacky edges that defined his previous efforts.

PowerNerd continues the change in direction that Lightwork signalled; while the manic maestro does not delve into the pop aspect as much as he does on the former album, it is a more toned down experience compared to an Empath. Is this a bad thing? Well, a Devin album is like a box of chocolates... it doesn't matter what ones you get, it's chocolate, you'll enjoy them either way. While this makes for an easier listening experience, it does so at the expense of the sensory overload of trying to digest all on offer that normally typifies a new Devin Townsend album experience.

While the opening title track might give you the wrong impression as to the sound of the album, its upbeat, frenetic sound being at odds with PowerNerd's largely mid-paced composition, it does give you a solid marker as to the quality offered throughout the album.

Although the album does lack the wild and weird compositions that Devin Townsend is somehow able to bend and shape into his greatest works, it does contain several tracks that will make regular appearances on playlists for years to come. The pop-infused rage of "Knuckledragger" is a song that will instantly imprint itself on that grey marshmallow in your skull, while "Gratitude" is a triumphant and bombastic burst of positivity that we could all use in our lives, both having choruses that are simple yet oh, so highly effective. "Ruby Quaker" is, well, probably the best ode to coffee you will hear.

With the usual Devin production work, PowerNerd sounds powerful and well polished; its wall-of-sound bursts are employed to good use across tracks like "Glacier". The use of these bursts and volume shifting is what dilutes the pop aspect of PowerNerd's sound compared to Lightwork.

PowerNerd benefits from being a singular listening experience; while you can listen to the tracks individually, it makes for a more enjoyable experience when taken as a whole. A track like "Goodbye" can stand on its own merits, but there is something about hearing it as part of a bigger picture that elevates the enjoyment you can derive from it. While it doesn't require the repeated listens that a track like "Genesis" did, to really hear and understand the different facets of its sound, it does take time for the songs to really sink their hooks into you.

So, sit back and pour yourself another cup of joe, as nothing pairs as well with a new Devin Townsend album than the coffee shakes.