I think the general problem with SYL (for me) was that the music was mostly built around rhythm than melody. The latter is were Devin really shines in a unique way and I think Deconstruction is a very melodic album but has the heaviness of SYL.

Thirded on weiner I'm afraid!
Also, listened to Alien today for the first time in ages, holy crap!
Forgot how mind-rapingly dense and violating that album was.
I think I definitely like Decon as much as it, but they are completely different... Decon is much easier to listen to, and much more diverse.
Still, kinda pushed Strapping into the mental closet and forget about it in the excitement of the DTP, but SYL still sounds just as good after Decon, just different (and exhausting).

I can't say I feel too much desire for SYL anymore. Not that I think that music is bad, or anything. I'm just not overly angry, and negative much these days. That's what I thought was so neat about Decon. All of things I loved about that type of metal without all of the negative misanthrope self loathing bullshit that comes with it. It's the only non instrumental really heavy metal album I've found that doesn't put me in a bad mood. I love it for that. I can rock out super hard, AND be happy!

Very nicely said. I find the same thing. I love SYL, I mean, it's what got me into Devin and it will always have a special place in my heart because of that. But the times when my mood is so that I can listen to something like Alien are few and far between anymore whereas I can always pick up Ki or Addicted or Infinity or, now, one of the two new albums and listen. Strapping is demanding, and that's not a bad thing, but, like Devin, I find I'm in a good place and Strapping isn't usually the thing I want when I'm in that place. However, have a bad day and you bet your ass Alien or You Suck are the first things I turn to throw on...,

Yeah, I pretty much 100% agree with all of this. I'm rarely in the mood for strapping any more, but if by the odd chance I am, it hasn't lost any power with age.
Decon is extreme but without anger, which makes it so much easier to digest despite the complexity. Love it!

[The Dev]

I listened to Syl on the plane. I loved some of it, so intense...seriously.

Got me thinking, I know that amount of intensity was in me, but the stamina is gone. Point blank.

The thought of being that intense at this point in my life is not only a non issue, but truly impossible.

I left Syl at it's 'peak' because I saw the signs of this happening a decade ago. I didn't Want to tarnish the legacy more than I had. Dtp and decon should be viewed separately from Syl, but I understand that may be asking a lot.

We'll see what the future holds.

I think while SYL was a major chapter of your life, it was still just a chapter of your life. I guess some people are disappointed because they can't really accept that it's over...but onwards and upwards!

You should have sung along to it at the baby on the plane. I would have.

I listened to Syl on the plane. I loved some of it, so intense...seriously.

Got me thinking, I know that amount of intensity was in me, but the stamina is gone. Point blank.

The thought of being that intense at this point in my life is not only a non issue, but truly impossible.

I left Syl at it's 'peak' because I saw the signs of this happening a decade ago. I didn't Want to tarnish the legacy more than I had. Dtp and decon should be viewed separately from Syl, but I understand that may be asking a lot.

We'll see what the future holds.

If I made you explain the syl deal again my bad, because I totally understand!
I knew Decon wasn't going to be syl, but I think I was still expecting it to top it in some way. In the end syl and decon are different beasts and should be viewed as such, imo.
syl does what it does best, and so does decon respectively.

Devin, (if you see this), a question please...

I and, it seems a few others around here are either confused or misunderstanding something about Deconstruction and I personally can't quite untangle it from the many interview and comments I've read. You just said "decon should be viewed separately from Syl" and you also say that "I listened to Syl on the plane. I loved some of it, so intense". If you don't see Deconstruction as intense how do you personally distinguish or differentiate the music on it from SYL's music - (maybe it's a question of aggression)!? If you do see Deconstruction as intense how do you reconcile it's music with music you don't wish to make or have "stamina for"?

I listened to Syl on the plane. I loved some of it, so intense...seriously.

Got me thinking, I know that amount of intensity was in me, but the stamina is gone. Point blank.

The thought of being that intense at this point in my life is not only a non issue, but truly impossible.

I left Syl at it's 'peak' because I saw the signs of this happening a decade ago. I didn't Want to tarnish the legacy more than I had. Dtp and decon should be viewed separately from Syl, but I understand that may be asking a lot.

We'll see what the future holds.

I must say, I'm still not certain why this is a problem. SYL is super-awesome-great-unique - and how I found out about Mr. Townsend in the first place. But Devin is not just SYL. Evidently, and quite happily, Devin has other musical talents to express. Actually when one feels that he or she has done all they can with any project it takes a lot of courage to say the project is finished and move on.

I think the lovely Tonya has the right idea. Surely people should be happy for him that he's not given up music all together to become a professional basket weaver or road hump or something...?

[Octillus]

That guy who told you Deconstruction was a turd and ruining your legacy on twitter is a liar and an asshole.

I can honestly tell you that there's tons more new folk in my life personally who are interested in DTP than any of the people I knew who were into SYL.

OH. THAT. I appreciate folk may have different opinions on different things but that comment was FUCKING rude.

If anything, I think it's cool to watch it unfold. I mean, Dev's career has been a really happy, and entertaining story. A lot of musicians seemed to get wrapped up in something they hate, and their career ends with them being pretty bitter. To see all of this come out right, and with Dev happy is just awesome. I don't see why anybody would want otherwise. whether you like what's being put out or not, it's what makes him happy. I think that should be enough to at least admire. Who doesn't wanna be happy? Who doesn't want others to be happy? I get that sometimes you get sad, and just want a series of down endings (Empire Strikes Back), but you can't beat seeing everything work out in the end ( Return of the Jedi, Dev's career)


(not saying it's over, it's still going strong. You get the point, though.)

If anything, I think it's cool to watch it unfold. I mean, Dev's career has been a really happy, and entertaining story. A lot of musicians seemed to get wrapped up in something they hate, and their career ends with them being pretty bitter. To see all of this come out right, and with Dev happy is just awesome. I don't see why anybody would want otherwise. whether you like what's being put out or not, it's what makes him happy. I think that should be enough to at least admire. Who doesn't wanna be happy? Who doesn't want others to be happy? I get that sometimes you get sad, and just want a series of down endings (Empire Strikes Back), but you can't beat seeing everything work out in the end ( Return of the Jedi, Dev's career)


(not saying it's over, it's still going strong. You get the point, though.)

Well said man

I get that sometimes you get sad, and just want a series of down endings (Empire Strikes Back), but you can't beat seeing everything work out in the end ( Return of the Jedi, Dev's career)

Somehow I feel this ties in with the hidden Star Wars references in the Ghost cover.

Somehow I feel this ties in with the hidden Star Wars references in the Ghost cover.

The "O" is clearly a negative of Jar-Jar Binks.

I left Syl at it's 'peak' because I saw the signs of this happening a decade ago. I didn't Want to tarnish the legacy more than I had. Dtp and decon should be viewed separately from Syl, but I understand that may be asking a lot.

We'll see what the future holds.

The only thing that is going to lessen the comparisons is time. It may be a long, long time. People are just going to have to get over it, and there is nothing anyone can do about that. There are people who are still pissed that Sammy Hagar joined Van Halen, or that Metallica made the black album. Or "Load." Or "Reload." Or "St. Anger," or "Death Magnetic," yet they are still buying the albums. Some people will always hold out hope that the band they used to know and love will be back, and make music as great as they did at their peak.

I'm sure you've noticed, but quite a few folks also ask why Devin doesn't make another "Ocean Machine" or "Terria." With some folks, you'll just never win. You just have to keep moving on, even if it means alienating your entire fanbase. Some will follow, some will never forgive you, and some new folks will give you a shot. It is kind of like friends and family. We grow as people, we start doing our own thing, and sometimes the folks closest to us in our lives just cannot accept that. They always want you to be the kid you were in high school, or that crazy cousin, or whatever. They may criticize you and try and tear your new world down in order to make you appreciate the way things used to be, all in hopes that you will revert and be who they want you to be. Who you used to be.

"Dude, why do you want to do that? That's just stupid! Remember when we were kids, and we used to want to do this? We should so do that! Wouldn't that be awesome? It would be so much better than the shit you are doing now."

Change is brutal for some folks.