"hurt me, i can take it" is the lyric that sends chills down my spine every single time. And especially in this performance, you can see its hurting him a bit to get through it, which is only because he is sick during it. also really digging this reactor, he sounds like hes actually a vocal coach unlike some other channels.
When I saw him open for Gojira in Montreal he had the audience doing jazz hands and giving everyone around you hugs. I fell in love with his music during that show.
Quick note, the drummer is wearing industrial ear protection, pretty much the highest rating (think they're Peltor Optime 3s), usually used by ground crew at airports. Love your reactions
I think they're just drumming headphones. I have studio drumming headphones that cut out something like 30 dB of outside noise that look similar. They're very similar to industrial ear protection. He has a click track and likely a mix of the other instruments playing in the headphones.
Its a love song he wrote for his wife while he was going through some things. He wanted her to know how much he loves her. He is this passionate in every live performance I've seen on this track.
I thought it was about the feeling following a loss of someone close as he stated in his acoustic performance live in Leeds in 2019. He talks about it right after the funeral song. But yeah he’s just amazing when I saw him live doing that song it was just mind blowing
If you want a little more Devin Townsend vocals, you could react to "higher, live in Plovdiv". Such a great Song, with great production and an outstanding Devin Townsend. 😍
Yes, yes, yes! This song needs to be next. So much diversity in the vocals. Fry growling, fry screams, clean vocals set in classical mode... just incredible. Plus, there's less 'breaks' so more vocals for Ken to enjoy and delve into deeper than in this song.
The version performed @ Summer Breeze with Anneke is equally worth reacting to for a vocal coach imo. Two excellent singers in one go, who both complement each other and bring the total performance to a higher level. Have at it Ken! You might even end up doing more DTP live featuring Annie. :^)
I was at a live acoustic gig he did in a little venue in 2011 (I think), and basically was taking requests and joking about for like an hour and a half. One of the requests was to tell the people talking at the bar to shut up, which he gladly did 😂
One thing I find so impressive, is that you go back to his older concerts (e.g. Strapping Young Lad at Download Festival) you will notice he's struggling a bit here and there with his voice. He was told he'd blow his voice out in no time, yet 25 years later, he's only improved and in my humble opinion sounds better. Thank you for checking it out Ken! Great to see it was unblocked (for the time being). My suggestion for a follow up would be Higher at Plovdiv, Why at his quarantine concert, or Death of Music at RAH. If you only want to focus on his cleans, Funeral at EMG tv is also wonderful (acoustic)
I love watching you watch Devin Townsend. Your analysation of his vocals makes me understand what he is physically doing, much better than I have ever before. I am a self-trained vocalist myself, but I would love to learn from you, given the opportunity.
I'll third this.. If you want to see the polar opposite ability of Devin watch this one. Imagine if Devin did a song for a Disney movie, and that's what it would sound like.
Cathartic is a great way to describe this song. Devin had a wild early period of time in his musical career and when he wrote this song and other songs from this era he was going through a lot of soul searching and trying to find a new version of himself as a person and musician and you can clearly see how it affected the music and affected who he is now versus his time with Steve Via and SYL.
So glad you got this one out after all the blocks. It's already been suggested, but I'll echo the requests for his quarantine performance of 'Why' so you can see another side of him.
I thoroughly enjoyed this reaction. Thank you. Please do his rendition of the song “why?”. Preferably from his quarantine concert number one. You won’t regret it.
WHY sounds like it was written for broadway or a Disney movie. And his live Quarantine version (even though performing while sick) is both awesome and silly at the same time.
I think this is the first reaction i´ve listened to the whole way through. Suprised myself there, since low attention span is cool these days. Thanks for that. Good stuff.
Another great reaction Ken, and an incredible performance. I was thinking the same thing about him being “in” the song just before the little instrumental break, it really looks like he’s feeling the lyrics then he pops out. It was fun to hear you talk about it.
Ken, you should watch some of his quarantine concerts, listen to his podcasts, etc. He is an extremely talented as well as an interesting and fascinating individual. One of my favorite people on the planet.
As a metalhead, I love how much you love Devin Townsend. I know you've reviewed him before, but every time you see him, you make it seem like it's the first time, because there's just that much depth to him as an artist, but also because you are just so fascinated with him, and I'm so happy for you, because he brings me the same joy. As a point of reference, I've been following him for years and I feel the same way every time too :D
I see quite a few people recommending Devin's performance of "Why" from his Quarantine show, but I'd like to suggest another version. "WHY?" (Order of Magnitude - Official Promo Video) was just dropped a few days ago, and it's a great showcase of several elements you enjoyed here. Devin's personality really shines through, and he has some fantastic and hilarious interactions with the audience, and of course his voice is amazing, as always! (Disclaimer though - there is some swearing towards the end of the song.)
Its simple i see devin i watch and i click like. Go further down the devin rabbithole you won't be disappointed! From insane brutal metal, to super chill bluesy vibes in his project "the casualities of cool"
The video got unblocked, yaaaassss!! Apparently he has synesthesia and can "see" music which is super cool. I can't get enough of his music atm. I think you'd love his music video for Spirits Will Collide, but the song Why would be cool to listen to for sure, a bit different to what you might expect :)
Loved you reaction video. It made me smile. The venue in the Royal Albert Hall is divided in two parts. The first part is the Ziltoid musical which is amazing to say the least. If you love the music of Devin Townsend as much as I do this is something you have to watch. The song Deadhead was recorded in the second part of the concert where they played songs from Devin's long standing career. Another good watch is the "Retinal Circus". Another great musical. You won't be disappointed. First time I heard Devin singing was in 1993 on Steve Vai's third Album "Sex and Religion" I never lost track of him since I heard that record. I'm listening to his music for 30 years and I'm still getting chills and shivers running down my spine. Never tired of listening to his music. Keep up the great work. My best wishes to you.
This DVD has several sound engineers credited, but Devin is rather famous for producing/mixing/mastering his own material typically. This signature sound his band has, a big part of that is how involved he is in the recording process.
The way your eyes visibly lit up at the opening scream is exactly why Im 2 hours into your vids at 3 in the morning. You seem like such a genuine guy. Im also picking up some of your cuss replacements so all my friends with kids dont shout at me 😂
If you like the vocal range here, you’d probably enjoy Opeth. The song Harlequin Forest (live at Royal Albert Hall is great but studio is good too) showcases Mikael’s range and ability. Definitely not the same as Devin but comparable in terms of skill.
Mikael doesn’t necessarily have a great vocal range, but he has incredibly consistent vibrato, a nice head voice, and killer screams (maybe not after Ghost Reveries, but before then no doubt). Also, he’s a songwriting genius so I don’t care too much about the lack of crazy vocal parts. It’s definitely a good suggestion tho, especially for the cleans. They’ve just gotten better and better over time.
You know why you love him Ken Lavigne? Well besides of course that he is one of the most amazing performers on the planet... He is a Canadian treasure. He is from Vancouver, BC. You need to check out his CBC Recordings!!
Devin also did an acoustic concert of sorts and mixed it himself for CBC Music; the track "Hyperdrive" from that performance is an excellent showcase of just how much control he has over his voice.
I'd love contributors like you to really give a good break down of these different styles of vocals and how to do it right vs how to do it wrong, make a good chance to compare different clips of singers etc.
Hey man! I've seen one or 2 of your videos b4 this ... NOW -- I'm a sub because you recognize the brilliance of Devi!! Well-Done & Congratulations on my Sub!! Domari Nolo PA III
this is more than 2 hours into the set btw. i'd recommend listening to death of music, it's like the 2.5hour mark of this show and he's still performing like crazy.
That was very cool, Ken. Thanks very much. Can I donate to your patreon for a request? Devin Townsend "The Death Of Music" live from Royal Albert Hall. Dev's a fellow musical theater fan, and this performance features all of the textures and aspects of his voice,. It's his vocal masterpiece in my opinion, and I would love to know your thoughts and analysis.
It's awesome that you're saying that as an audio engineer you'd have to know Devin and his universe really well... Cause Devin, this mad genius, is also his own sound engineer XD so there's that!
I mean it's a very typical show for him, I've seen him live twice with his solo project and once with Strapping young lad, And for anyone like me that really gets invested in the music, it's an emotional roller coaster in the best kind of way, where it just puts you in another world. He's a really engaging performer, and his sets are hypnotic.
Not bad for a guy who never wanted to be a singer and has never had any training, right? He has more vocal variety than I've heard from any other vocalist. I just saw on his IG -- in reference to this song -- he referred to his screaming as "getting his nuts caught in his zipper." He's entertaining AF -- so funny. As a sub to your channel, I appreciate your reaction as always, the funny phrases you come up with, and the gratitude you have for the people behind the scenes. You are my preferred vocal coach to watch and learn from. Oh yeah, he produces and mixes professionally -- for other bands as well -- so I'm sure he had a very strong vision for that part of this performance. Plus, he's Canadian so I gotta love him.
Great reaction to a great artist. You must listen ... "In my time of need", "Hope leaves" and "Windowpane" by Opeth. These guys are metalheads but you'll be very surprised with the clean vocals into these songs.
I always interpreted the bit in the middle as meaning, "yeah, love can really suck, but if it starts getting to you, just pick a tempo and start writing some music to let it out"
A looong time ago I saw Townsend playing as Strapping Young Lad in a tiny venue in Pittsburgh PA. The venue had a capacity for maybe 300 tops, and there was about 100 people there. SYL were the headliners, and when they finally come out during their intro, Townsend starts looking over the crowd and says "We are Strapping Young Lad. Though we are not strapping, and we certainly are not young. But we are lads! Ironic, is it not?" He then puts his hand like a cap over his eyes and squints like he's trying to see farther into the crowd. He then says "And I would like to thank... both of you... for coming out tonight."
He has a few vids on his official channel, where he's laying down vocals. You can hear him without the effects, and see him well-lit and up close for that technique.
The opening riff is hauntingly Beautiful. Please play Funeral, Bastard, and The Death of Music from the same concert. 🤯🤯🤯FYI... This was an almost 3 hour set and getting over a cold. He's perfection.
The sound engineer that mixes Devin's tracks is called: Devin Townsend.
"hurt me, i can take it" is the lyric that sends chills down my spine every single time. And especially in this performance, you can see its hurting him a bit to get through it, which is only because he is sick during it. also really digging this reactor, he sounds like hes actually a vocal coach unlike some other channels.
okay so who wants to tell him Devin was sick during this performance?
I was looking for this comment before doing it myself
@@franciscoborjaescobarsuare5802 same here. Decided to check first
who else wants to tell him this is over an hour into to set? i think death of music is pushing 2 hours in.
@@countbleck35 I think we should make him watch the whole thing and realize that one himself
@@zachyeet1806 I don't think he can take it.
When I saw him open for Gojira in Montreal he had the audience doing jazz hands and giving everyone around you hugs. I fell in love with his music during that show.
To Lucky Animals? Yeah that’s a DT move =)
Quick note, the drummer is wearing industrial ear protection, pretty much the highest rating (think they're Peltor Optime 3s), usually used by ground crew at airports. Love your reactions
I think they're just drumming headphones. I have studio drumming headphones that cut out something like 30 dB of outside noise that look similar. They're very similar to industrial ear protection. He has a click track and likely a mix of the other instruments playing in the headphones.
@@ChasingKillersMusic No, it's a 3M Peltor Optime 105 H10A. I have one.
Ryan suffers from Tinnitus. He has in-ears under the Protection
Always appreciate a guy who can go from that angelic voice right into the demon in the same sentence freaking nuts lol and then right back to clean
Mikael Akerfeldt and Devin are the kings of that shit, it’s so awesome to listen to.
Its a love song he wrote for his wife while he was going through some things. He wanted her to know how much he loves her. He is this passionate in every live performance I've seen on this track.
I thought it was about the feeling following a loss of someone close as he stated in his acoustic performance live in Leeds in 2019. He talks about it right after the funeral song. But yeah he’s just amazing when I saw him live doing that song it was just mind blowing
Devin is so underrated. He deserves so much more.
If you want a little more Devin Townsend vocals, you could react to "higher, live in Plovdiv". Such a great Song, with great production and an outstanding Devin Townsend. 😍
That song saves lives
Yes, yes, yes! This song needs to be next. So much diversity in the vocals. Fry growling, fry screams, clean vocals set in classical mode... just incredible. Plus, there's less 'breaks' so more vocals for Ken to enjoy and delve into deeper than in this song.
The version performed @ Summer Breeze with Anneke is equally worth reacting to for a vocal coach imo. Two excellent singers in one go, who both complement each other and bring the total performance to a higher level. Have at it Ken!
You might even end up doing more DTP live featuring Annie. :^)
I do not know why more people do not react to Higher... it is really a great song.
This particular performance always brings me to tears cause it's so amazingly well done. Devin has such an phenomenal voice!
Pure epicness!! ❤
Same
Devin loves to troll his audience...and himself all the time...also as great as Deadhead is, Higher at Plovdiv is pure excellence.
First time I saw em, 'DJ Ziltoid' played Barbie Girl and Venga Bus on a loop for an hour before they started.
I think Deadhead at Plovdiv is better as well.
@@artemesia1906 lol
@@blanekelly5102 everything at Plovdiv was good 😂
I was at a live acoustic gig he did in a little venue in 2011 (I think), and basically was taking requests and joking about for like an hour and a half. One of the requests was to tell the people talking at the bar to shut up, which he gladly did 😂
Devins voice can topple a mountain.
Devin: "WHOOOOOOOOOA"
Ken: "whoa"
Devin does the best "WHOOOOOAAH's"! :D
One thing I find so impressive, is that you go back to his older concerts (e.g. Strapping Young Lad at Download Festival) you will notice he's struggling a bit here and there with his voice. He was told he'd blow his voice out in no time, yet 25 years later, he's only improved and in my humble opinion sounds better. Thank you for checking it out Ken! Great to see it was unblocked (for the time being). My suggestion for a follow up would be Higher at Plovdiv, Why at his quarantine concert, or Death of Music at RAH. If you only want to focus on his cleans, Funeral at EMG tv is also wonderful (acoustic)
he lives a much healthier life now, which is why he sounds better now than he did while he was a mess and abusing substances.
Try Death of Music from the same concert. I promise you'll be blown away.
I second that. Funeral and Death of Music are master pieces!!!
This! (or the Plovdiv version of it)
The Plovdiv one is better, I've not seen Devin so affected by anything while on stage before!!
Bastard too. Gives me goosebumps.
Some of Devin's best vocals.
You’ve barely scratched the surface of what this man has done. 30 albums worth of genre defying greatness over 30 years of a career.
Devin mixes all of his stuff by himself :) and all of his live performances too. You are literally listening to his own mixing in this video ✨
I love watching you watch Devin Townsend. Your analysation of his vocals makes me understand what he is physically doing, much better than I have ever before. I am a self-trained vocalist myself, but I would love to learn from you, given the opportunity.
Check out the reaction of this from the charismatic voice she also goes into the mechanics of the vocals
Check "Devin Townsend - Why / Quarantine Show" please.
I second this 200%
I'll third this.. If you want to see the polar opposite ability of Devin watch this one. Imagine if Devin did a song for a Disney movie, and that's what it would sound like.
I'll fourth this. That performance is pure gold in all regards, showmanship, vocal performance. Damn.
Yes please!
1000% yes
I love how your face glows while listening to Devin. He's the boss. Greetings from Argentina :)
The way your face lights up when you hear something amazing is priceless!!!!
Cathartic is a great way to describe this song. Devin had a wild early period of time in his musical career and when he wrote this song and other songs from this era he was going through a lot of soul searching and trying to find a new version of himself as a person and musician and you can clearly see how it affected the music and affected who he is now versus his time with Steve Via and SYL.
Thank you for doing this, I've never heard anything like it. Very well done.
So glad you got this one out after all the blocks.
It's already been suggested, but I'll echo the requests for his quarantine performance of 'Why' so you can see another side of him.
I thoroughly enjoyed this reaction. Thank you. Please do his rendition of the song “why?”. Preferably from his quarantine concert number one. You won’t regret it.
WHY sounds like it was written for broadway or a Disney movie. And his live Quarantine version (even though performing while sick) is both awesome and silly at the same time.
Speaking of "Welcome to my living room"!
Order of Magnitude DVD performance is much better vocally!
I think this is the first reaction i´ve listened to the whole way through. Suprised myself there, since low attention span is cool these days. Thanks for that. Good stuff.
Another great reaction Ken, and an incredible performance. I was thinking the same thing about him being “in” the song just before the little instrumental break, it really looks like he’s feeling the lyrics then he pops out. It was fun to hear you talk about it.
I really loved your analysis and reaction, I'm subbed! I really love Devin's tone, beautiful performance he is unique! I knew him with Kingdom
Ken, you should watch some of his quarantine concerts, listen to his podcasts, etc. He is an extremely talented as well as an interesting and fascinating individual. One of my favorite people on the planet.
I already know this is going to be good. 🤘 Starting video...NOW
As a metalhead, I love how much you love Devin Townsend. I know you've reviewed him before, but every time you see him, you make it seem like it's the first time, because there's just that much depth to him as an artist, but also because you are just so fascinated with him, and I'm so happy for you, because he brings me the same joy. As a point of reference, I've been following him for years and I feel the same way every time too :D
There is a recent live video of Devin singing Bring Him Home from Les Miserables in Eindhoven Netherlands. It is phenomenal, I highly recommend it.
Oooh! I HAVE to see that! :D
Thanks for this very sharp reaction and analysis of this brilliant performance. You observe, process and comment very keenly. Much appreciated!
Devin is an amazing writer and artist and performer. The one time I met him he was also totally genuine and a funny cool dude.
So glad to finally see this one go up. Love Deadhead. This whole concert is incredible. You should definitely do more Devin Townsend soon.
love your videos !! Love the way your face illuminates each time he's explodes ! Devin is the king
I see quite a few people recommending Devin's performance of "Why" from his Quarantine show, but I'd like to suggest another version. "WHY?" (Order of Magnitude - Official Promo Video) was just dropped a few days ago, and it's a great showcase of several elements you enjoyed here. Devin's personality really shines through, and he has some fantastic and hilarious interactions with the audience, and of course his voice is amazing, as always! (Disclaimer though - there is some swearing towards the end of the song.)
Its simple i see devin i watch and i click like. Go further down the devin rabbithole you won't be disappointed!
From insane brutal metal, to super chill bluesy vibes in his project "the casualities of cool"
Yes! You absolutely have to check out "Higher, live in Plovdiv" - you're guaranteed to love it!
that sound is so HUGE!! thank you for doing this, mister Lavigne
The video got unblocked, yaaaassss!! Apparently he has synesthesia and can "see" music which is super cool. I can't get enough of his music atm. I think you'd love his music video for Spirits Will Collide, but the song Why would be cool to listen to for sure, a bit different to what you might expect :)
“What the fish fork!?!” Haha greatest reaction ever
Loved you reaction video. It made me smile.
The venue in the Royal Albert Hall is divided in two parts. The first part is the Ziltoid musical which is amazing to say the least. If you love the music of Devin Townsend as much as I do this is something you have to watch. The song Deadhead was recorded in the second part of the concert where they played songs from Devin's long standing career.
Another good watch is the "Retinal Circus". Another great musical. You won't be disappointed.
First time I heard Devin singing was in 1993 on Steve Vai's third Album "Sex and Religion" I never lost track of him since I heard that record. I'm listening to his music for 30 years and I'm still getting chills and shivers running down my spine. Never tired of listening to his music. Keep up the great work. My best wishes to you.
VERY happy this is finally available to watch. Such a brilliant performance and your reaction is great as usual
gotta do funeral/bastard/the death of music all from the royal albert hall, that's 3 songs there is a vid with 3 right in a row
Heavily enjoyed this one Ken. You're the best
Devin is the KING of vocals!
💪 😎 👍
True!!
Brilliant song and nice comments 👍
Excellent!
I've watched your reaction, more than any other!
Devin is amazing as a performer and as a composer!
This is one of the 'must have' blu-rays, I picked up this autographed by the man himself. Treasure in every aspect
Such a good Dvd.
This DVD has several sound engineers credited, but Devin is rather famous for producing/mixing/mastering his own material typically. This signature sound his band has, a big part of that is how involved he is in the recording process.
I really love how it seems that lately he is finally having the attention he deserves. He really deserves that recognition and he is so underrated...
The way your eyes visibly lit up at the opening scream is exactly why Im 2 hours into your vids at 3 in the morning. You seem like such a genuine guy. Im also picking up some of your cuss replacements so all my friends with kids dont shout at me 😂
Devin Townsend, the man of many faces and voices.
If you like the vocal range here, you’d probably enjoy Opeth. The song Harlequin Forest (live at Royal Albert Hall is great but studio is good too) showcases Mikael’s range and ability. Definitely not the same as Devin but comparable in terms of skill.
Mikael doesn’t necessarily have a great vocal range, but he has incredibly consistent vibrato, a nice head voice, and killer screams (maybe not after Ghost Reveries, but before then no doubt). Also, he’s a songwriting genius so I don’t care too much about the lack of crazy vocal parts. It’s definitely a good suggestion tho, especially for the cleans. They’ve just gotten better and better over time.
Yes! I love Opeth Harlequin Forest live at the RAH! It's fantastic
FYI, I believe this song was the encore after a 2 hour set AND he had a cold that day.
Devin is a musical phenomenon!
You know why you love him Ken Lavigne? Well besides of course that he is one of the most amazing performers on the planet... He is a Canadian treasure. He is from Vancouver, BC. You need to check out his CBC Recordings!!
I like how you focus on the vocals. So many reaction folks don't focus as much on that.
Devin also did an acoustic concert of sorts and mixed it himself for CBC Music; the track "Hyperdrive" from that performance is an excellent showcase of just how much control he has over his voice.
Devin Townsend is my spirit animal😁😁😁
WOWIE!!! That was amazing!
As someone else said, the song Higher from is quarantine concert. Very clean vocals with only some fry / scream at the end
You should listen more he is a genius.
I really enjoy that opening guitar part.
Very nice to see someone take a look at one of his songs other than the Kingdom video that he does by himself.
Deadhead from Tuska Open Air Metal festival (2010) is without a doubt the best version. He was on fire
Welcome to Devy's wall of sound. It's so cool and vindicating that everyone eventually notices all the great thing he does in much the same way
I'd love contributors like you to really give a good break down of these different styles of vocals and how to do it right vs how to do it wrong, make a good chance to compare different clips of singers etc.
love it!
Love your channel
Hey man!
I've seen one or 2 of your videos b4 this ... NOW -- I'm a sub because you recognize the brilliance of Devi!!
Well-Done & Congratulations on my Sub!!
Domari Nolo
PA III
Best performance 😎
this is more than 2 hours into the set btw. i'd recommend listening to death of music, it's like the 2.5hour mark of this show and he's still performing like crazy.
That was very cool, Ken. Thanks very much. Can I donate to your patreon for a request? Devin Townsend "The Death Of Music" live from Royal Albert Hall. Dev's a fellow musical theater fan, and this performance features all of the textures and aspects of his voice,. It's his vocal masterpiece in my opinion, and I would love to know your thoughts and analysis.
Another awesome Devin live song is "War". There even is an Official Live Video on the tubes.
oh yes, more devin please.
It's awesome that you're saying that as an audio engineer you'd have to know Devin and his universe really well... Cause Devin, this mad genius, is also his own sound engineer XD so there's that!
I mean it's a very typical show for him, I've seen him live twice with his solo project and once with Strapping young lad, And for anyone like me that really gets invested in the music, it's an emotional roller coaster in the best kind of way, where it just puts you in another world. He's a really engaging performer, and his sets are hypnotic.
Devin Townsend = Good ole Canadian Boy!!
Not bad for a guy who never wanted to be a singer and has never had any training, right? He has more vocal variety than I've heard from any other vocalist. I just saw on his IG -- in reference to this song -- he referred to his screaming as "getting his nuts caught in his zipper." He's entertaining AF -- so funny. As a sub to your channel, I appreciate your reaction as always, the funny phrases you come up with, and the gratitude you have for the people behind the scenes. You are my preferred vocal coach to watch and learn from. Oh yeah, he produces and mixes professionally -- for other bands as well -- so I'm sure he had a very strong vision for that part of this performance. Plus, he's Canadian so I gotta love him.
2:00 The face you make when you realize Devin Townsend just touched your soul.
I think you would really like Devin Townsend - Higher. The live orchestra is just great!
Strapping Young Lad - Love? to hear a different side of Devin.
So happy this got unblocked. Thanks, Ken!
There's lots of calm, relaxed metal out there, you just need to know what to look for! 😁
Said it before...he was sick during this performance...suffering from a cold.
Not too shabby.
And not to forget , Dev was sick that night and THATS still how amazing he is 🤘🏻
Great reaction to a great artist. You must listen ... "In my time of need", "Hope leaves" and "Windowpane" by Opeth. These guys are metalheads but you'll be very surprised with the clean vocals into these songs.
I always interpreted the bit in the middle as meaning, "yeah, love can really suck, but if it starts getting to you, just pick a tempo and start writing some music to let it out"
A looong time ago I saw Townsend playing as Strapping Young Lad in a tiny venue in Pittsburgh PA. The venue had a capacity for maybe 300 tops, and there was about 100 people there. SYL were the headliners, and when they finally come out during their intro, Townsend starts looking over the crowd and says "We are Strapping Young Lad. Though we are not strapping, and we certainly are not young. But we are lads! Ironic, is it not?"
He then puts his hand like a cap over his eyes and squints like he's trying to see farther into the crowd. He then says "And I would like to thank... both of you... for coming out tonight."
You should take a listen to Zeal & Ardor- Gravedigger's Chant live in London. And I would also HIGHLY suggest Devin doing Higher live at in Plovdiv.
He has a few vids on his official channel, where he's laying down vocals. You can hear him without the effects, and see him well-lit and up close for that technique.
Even more impressive - He was sick
Thanks man, every time your analysis is well funded and understandable for people who are firmly requested NOT to sing ;-)
Alternative title: man questions is sexuality for 11 minutes straight
He's totally trolling the audience! He is very much a joker on stage and will quite often make funny comments even during a song!
The opening riff is hauntingly Beautiful. Please play Funeral, Bastard, and The Death of Music from the same concert. 🤯🤯🤯FYI... This was an almost 3 hour set and getting over a cold. He's perfection.