Devin Townsend is well known as a workaholic and as nutty professor. If you listen to his music, this impression strenghtens. Besides his mainband STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, where he creates pretty hard music, the lax Canadian works regularly with his selftitled solo project.

"Terria" is already the fourth solo disc of Devin Townsend and already released in 2001. If you recognize that Devin handles with his agressions in STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, then it's obvious that he uses his other emotions in his solo records. "Terria" is truly a rollercoaster of feelings. If you listen the first time to the music, you will be overrunned by it as there are many elements to point out. Besides the already known Metal trademarks, every song offers wonderful synthie- and keyboard pictures. If you listen to songs like "Mountain" or "Earth Day", you will be reminded soon of progressive "master bands" like THRESHOLD or ARENA. Though, the music of Townsend is 100% individual and remarkable.

Songs like "The Fluke" or "Nobody's Here" take you on a journey through unknown dreamworlds. You just float on sound carpets, always escorted by Devin's sometimes melodic, sometimes crazy and partly agressive voice. The most tracks on "Terria" are longer than 5 minutes and no second gets you bored. With every spin, you will find new aspects. The lyrics are also worthfully to read, you don't find out everything but very much about the inner life of the songwriter Devin Townsend.

Besides the lyrics, the Canadian played also all guitars and he was partly responsible for some keyboards and samples. Also to mention is, that the boss produced it by his own and partly he did also the engineering and mixing. Who knows Devin's records, knows that he is famous for quality and a strong sound. By the way, nobody other than drum monster Gene Hoglan (e.g. ex-DEATH/ex-DARK ANGEL) was behind the kit, he plays the drums on STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, too. On the bass, there is the more unknown Craig McFarland and the remaining piano and keyboard parts are provided by Jamie Meyer.

To sum it up, you have to say, that "Terria" is as hardly accessible as well as his other Devin Townsend records. You need some spins to understand the material, that's not caused by quality rather the complexity is responsible for that. Listened to it sometimes, you don't get it out of your mind. This music is like a virus, at first, you don't feel it and then, he grips you with all its power. "Terria" is absolutely the best work of Townsend until now. Fans, who like Prog Metal, crazy stuff or also STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, should strictly check this disc out. (Online May 16, 2003)