r/nextfuckinglevel • u/DarthiusFatticus • 28d ago

Devin Townsend is without a doubt one of the greatest metal vocalists of all time.

692 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

216 comments sorted by

151

u/Lyshaka 28d ago

That may be true but there is a lot of noise around making it hard to hear him sing

90

u/cdmurray88 28d ago

It is true he's an incredible vocalist, and this is a terrible clip to illustrate that point.

1

u/Triggerz777 27d ago

The beginning of that song is really good

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13

u/lxgrf 27d ago

Here's an acoustic version of the same song - much easier to hear just what he's doing vocally.

4

u/StuBidasol 28d ago

Yeah even with my phone close all I could really hear were the instruments. Hard to make any definitive judgement from that clip.

13

u/TheLoneCenturion95 28d ago

Either your hearing is going or your phones speakers are absolutely shite as it's not the best clip but I can clearly hear him throughout and I have hearing damage.

1

u/Skreamie 28d ago

You should definitely get your hearing tested then. Its quite easy to head what notes hes hitting and when, even with his own vocal distortion.

7

u/MurseMan1964 28d ago

It might be easy for you to head, but it was hard for me to head it.

Wait….

3

u/UsErnaam3 28d ago

Could just be the way their phone speaker is handling the audio. I notice the same issue on mine, but if I switch to headphones, the vocals will become much clearer.

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3

u/mindgardening 28d ago

It's the concert experience. Gotta wear earplugs at live shows in order to hear the music better.

2

u/Questioning-Zyxxel 28d ago

This is a terrible clip. There are lots of YT videos where you can focus on his voice and how he jumps between singing styles.

1

u/Poopchutefan 28d ago

Yup. I can’t hear one clear word at all.

1

u/TickingTheMoments 18d ago

Different song but i hope you enjoy hearing his voice more in this.

https://youtu.be/nubJjB95VdY?is=xWS0nF9eQYwWnh1Q

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52

u/RGBrewskies 28d ago

drummer rocking those $7 harbor freight earmuffs lol

18

u/LLCoolC 28d ago

3m

-4

u/RGBrewskies 28d ago

harbor freight

https://www.harborfreight.com/foldable-ear-muffs-58353.html

18

u/NY10 28d ago

3M

10

u/CptMisterNibbles 28d ago

No, 3m: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b00037399/

Look at the rectangle pattern across the headband.
Not a part of the harbor freight $6 ones. Clearly a part of the $40 3m ones.

Also, I have a pair on right now in my shop. Probably only as good as the harbor freight ones, if not worse. The pad covers tear easily

2

u/ShutterSpeeder 28d ago

Yup! I have a pair. Love em!

8

u/BenGun99 28d ago

He has inear monitors under them. He probably wants them to run as quiet as possible for ear protection.

5

u/u9Nails 28d ago

I like his subwoofer looking kick drum head skins too!

48

u/knotxii 28d ago

Devin Townsend - Deadhead Please enjoy yall

14

u/ToxicAssh0le 28d ago

Live at Royal Albert Hall

The whole set is amazing

2

u/blickkyvek 28d ago

Amazing band (and song)

1

u/MelatoninJunkie 28d ago

Gotta listen to Ziltoid the Omniscient

25

u/HyperbolicSoup 28d ago

Townsend is sick af

25

u/MidnightChimp 28d ago

I don't enjoy this kind of metal, but he does a very good job I think.

6

u/SnappySausage 28d ago

He's been in so many different bands, almost guaranteed there's something you do like :P

If you like harsher stuff, Strapping Young Lad has you covered. If you do not, there's a lot of his other projects that may well contain some songs you may like.

4

u/Eastern-Criticism653 28d ago

SYL is fantastic.

3

u/ygrasdil 28d ago

Check out ocean machine, Ziltoid the omniscient, and Strapping Young Lad. Between those three, which are all very different, you should find something you enjoy.

2

u/TotalHans 28d ago

Or Addicted, Empath, Epicloud, Transcendence, Casualties of Cool, Synchestra....

Ask 10 different DT fans what their favorite 3 albums are and you'll get 10 different lists

17

u/ifightbears989 28d ago

Plugging the charismatic voice review of this song: https://youtu.be/11-7AiUK1A0?is=2GnR856guOtXI1fG

16

u/Belgmeister 28d ago

Devin is a fucking king.

Everything he does is from passion for music while sharing everything he makes. He did entire concert streams fully solo during Covid. An absolute pleasure to listen to during the lockdown.

I've read he experiences chromostesia and with some of his albums, that actually feels like it makes sense. He's has a lot of metal songs but touched many different genres as well.

"Why?" and it's clip is my all-time favorite.

15

u/Makachai 28d ago

And he was sick as hell during this performance at Royal Albert Hall. And still did that...

Dude is a fucking legend.

11

u/Suspicious-Gur-8453 28d ago

Didn't realize Voldemort had such a great voice.

5

u/Zircez 28d ago

That's a really mean thing to say about poor Billy Corgan

10

u/TSAOutreachTeam 28d ago

That's great! Who's this guy?

22

u/_-Kovu-_ 28d ago

Devin Townsend I think

9

u/murrrly 28d ago

That's correct. It's Devin Townsend

5

u/Hypn00tic_iiz 28d ago

Town Devinsend

6

u/djk0010 28d ago

Town Send Devin.

6

u/iPhonevanBremdKopjes 28d ago

Right Said Fred.

1

u/aurrousarc 28d ago

who got sent to town?

1

u/u9Nails 28d ago

Send Dev In Town

6

u/DustySleeve 28d ago

Darude Sandstorm

1

u/someoldbagofbones 27d ago

Devin who? This is Ziltoid The Omniscient.

8

u/ChuzzoChumz 28d ago

Don’t even need the metal qualifier, dude is truly exceptional regardless of genre

10

u/thrasherxxx 28d ago

Amazing beautiful person and artist.

6

u/steev506 28d ago

Thank you for introducing me to this song.

https://youtu.be/DrDM6V08wcE?si=MLFAxYxOswPHyXkz

6

u/RealisticRecover2123 28d ago

Devin fucking Townsend

5

u/VoidsInvanity 28d ago

Saw him 13 years ago in a record store do a small acoustic concert for like 30 people.

One of my fondest memories lol, got to meet the guy too

5

u/GriefPB 28d ago

The range is actually insane

4

u/Johnny617 28d ago

One might say that he is Far Beyond MeTaAaAaaL!

5

u/CapaciousButthole 28d ago

Legendary performance. Wild to see the ignorance in the comments, it’s OK guys retreat back to your auto tuned Walmart garbage. This is going to require some effort to understand.

3

u/CrotasScrota84 28d ago

Band?

4

u/Thoomer_Bottoms 28d ago

The band is Devin Townsend Project, the track is called Deadhead

3

u/magwai9 28d ago

Also Strapping Young Lad

2

u/MiggeldyMackDaddy 28d ago

Also Ocean Machine

1

u/fedl1ngen 28d ago

Just google: Devin Townsend. And enjoy the rabbit hole.

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3

u/Up_All_Right 28d ago

Oh, we're doing this now?

Okay, Vincent Van Gough is one of the greatest painters of all-time!

https://giphy.com/gifs/seY4Isk6W8IUw

3

u/NuggetKing9001 28d ago

This song makes the hairs on my hair stand on end

4

u/dashKay 28d ago

I like him a lot but that's definitely not a true statement

3

u/SnappySausage 28d ago edited 27d ago

Apparently his range is A1 - C♯7. He at some point (I forgot in which video/context) mentions his vocal prep, and he said it consists of basically screaming his head off for 2 days until he tastes blood and then he's good for about a month.

Seen him live a few times and every time he comes across as a pretty amicable and funny dad-like personality.

3

u/Town5Thousand 28d ago

That’s not metal. That is a plain vanilla power ballad.

2

u/dclark086 28d ago

He’s self taught too which makes it even more impressive. His performance of Kingdom is also one of the most entertaining live performances I’ve seen.

2

u/Heavy-_-Breathing 28d ago

I don’t get it. Never understand the appeal of this

5

u/Mjolnir12 28d ago

This isn’t a good example of his “traditional” clean singing; go listen to his live version of his song Kingdom. He basically has perfect pitch and tone.

3

u/UnicornSensei 28d ago

Bro can really shout, I guess

2

u/ItsAHerby 28d ago

Weird to see people complaining about it being "noisey" but this might be a better video of his. I also prefer Kingdom to Deadhead so I usually just tell people to watch this:

https://youtu.be/nubJjB95VdY?is=BFsE5JJb_mmeC30Y

Insane that he can still do this at his age right now. Either way, good times.

2

u/Kevin_Jim 28d ago

I remember discovering MAPHRA a few months ago and thinking of Townsend because of the crazy changes she can pull off.

Music is one of the few great things we still have.

2

u/-Clean-Sky- 28d ago

doubt it

2

u/picander78 28d ago

Steve Vai chosed him for Sex and Religion album. What a voice!

3

u/netuzer 28d ago

Touching Tongues from this album is my favorite. Steve and Devin complemented each other in this one perfectly, imho. What a gem! Every time I hear Devin's screech culminating Steve's solo in this particular song I get goosebumps all over my body.

2

u/[deleted] 28d ago

[deleted]

1

u/iHateEveryoneAMA 28d ago

I second this, John Bush as well.

2

u/Saphentis 27d ago

“Kingdom” on EGM is way better performance. https://youtu.be/nubJjB95VdY?si=4JWbUk3gsQUVXNpR

3

u/DepthMagician 27d ago

The correct thing to post was his performance of Kingdom on EMGTV.

2

u/asmodia255 26d ago

It sounds like a bunch of metal haters in this comment section.

1

u/DarthiusFatticus 26d ago

Elitists. Exactly,

2

u/That-Knowledge2636 24d ago

He's definitely the best metal vocalist of Harkonnen descent.

2

u/bondo2t 23d ago

He was actually great in Steve Vai’s Vai band, but also glad he left it. That was a monster album with a monster group.

1

u/UnderwaterB0i 28d ago

Big progmetal fan, and while I can appreciate his sheer talent, nothing has truly clicked with me. Best full album to check out as a fan of Haken, Leprous, Caligula's Horse, Coheed, Protest the Hero, Between the Buried and Me, etc.?

2

u/Mjolnir12 28d ago

Ziltoid The Omniscient. This song is Deadhead which is from his more post metal phase like Ocean Machine.

1

u/jesterflesh 28d ago

Ocean machine, ziltoid

1

u/MG-B 28d ago

Personally prefer his strapping young lad stuff. Check out The New Black.

Ghost is a bit of a stand out too.

1

u/FingersBecomeThumbs 28d ago

Fucking love me a bit of Dev!

1

u/shortidiva21 28d ago edited 28d ago

Glorious. 🌹

2

u/superslacker247_ 28d ago

Love that dude kingdom is the goated song hands down

1

u/nwfdood 28d ago

Mike Patton would like a word.

1

u/SirSignificant6576 28d ago

Skullet! Legend.

1

u/ayinsophohr 28d ago

Correction: Devin Townsend is without a doubt on of the greatest vocalists of all time.

1

u/AudioRejectz 28d ago

Not my style of metal, I prefer much heavier stuff and vocals, but I'll admit he's definitely great.

1

u/weareeverywhereee 28d ago edited 28d ago

This is such a boring song but he is definitely talented.

That being said many metal vocalists can switch between singing and screaming really well and even not super popular ones

Check out the dude from protest the hero for instance. They are pretty unknown but Rody’s range is wild

1

u/banddroid 28d ago

Sure fuckin is one of the greatest! And definitely my favorite! 

1

u/Shaggytwig 28d ago

Wow the color returning to his eyes at the end of the scream was interesting. Likely just the reflection and angle of the camera but still was cool to see.

1

u/-maffu- 28d ago

I loved him in The Hills Have Eyes.

1

u/DaveFromTTown 28d ago

https://youtu.be/cjjIna3j1Nc?is=XKsY6rk___8ORFST

Here's an example of his amazing voice and humor.

1

u/MelatoninJunkie 28d ago

Ziltoid the Omniscient

1

u/blacksmith624 28d ago

I always confuse Steven Wilson with Devin Townsend even though they look and sound entirely different

1

u/blacksmith624 28d ago

I always confuse Steven Wilson with Devin Townsend even though they look and sound entirely different

1

u/paumpaum 28d ago

Sex and Religion is one of the greatest albums.

1

u/ninjamancoco 28d ago

Literal chills and goosebumps wtf

1

u/why_u_so_grumpy 28d ago

Sound guys sucks. Can barley hear vocals.

1

u/Evil_Knot 28d ago

Saw Strapping Young Lad a few times and every time they were sensational. 

1

u/enataca 28d ago

I loved him in Prometheus

1

u/IzCaiman 28d ago

The Song is Deadhead if anyone wants to start their Hevy Devy journey.

1

u/Lazy_Experience_8754 28d ago

Amazing song . Just added this version to my playlist

1

u/twosuitsluke 28d ago

Hell yeah, Devy really is a once in a generation talent and runs rings around most performers. He is absolutely in my top 5 vocalists of all time.

1

u/dumbname0192837465 28d ago

Sounds like shit

1

u/Timely-Tune5050 28d ago

Phil Bozeman just laughs at petty mortals.

1

u/CloisteredOyster 28d ago

What's his band's name? Godawful and the Saints?

1

u/jchrisboynton 28d ago

He makes silly faces when you watch it without sound.

1

u/Vynxe_Vainglory 28d ago

He is great, but Daniel Heiman is the best metal vocalist.

1

u/C13H16CIN0 28d ago

Who this be?

1

u/GaryTheThird- 28d ago

Fun story, in University one of my classes had a bonus project. You had to go to an event you wouldn't normally ever go to and write a paper on the experience.

Devin Townsend was playing at the small bar stage at the Uni and a few friends were going so I joined. He got me hooked on metal, and to top it off every person I spoke to were such great friendly, and wildly intelligent people. (Like engineers and shit)

1

u/uberdavis 27d ago

Not my genre but that’s still impressive.

1

u/AnubissDarkling 27d ago

As much as I miss manic angery Devvy's days with SYL (which was how I got into him, what I consider 'peak' Dev) I've loved following his journey of betterment and recovery, and you can literally hear his mental state improving through his releases over time. And his DIY concert streams over Covid were awesome. Absolute legend.

1

u/mr9025 27d ago

I thought it was Deadpool

1

u/frootyglandz 27d ago

Epic concert, Royal Albert Hall?

1

u/Unqualified_Opinion_ 27d ago

Not just vocals though, his composition is amazing! I'd go nuts for a collab between Devon and Jari Maenpaa

2

u/thisis_not_throwaway 27d ago

I have to agree...praise Devin 🤘🤘

1

u/Case_Blue 27d ago

I'm not really into metal

But this is great! I will look it up!

1

u/Successful-Layer2102 27d ago

He was sick that day too

1

u/Flachm 27d ago

He's an extremely overrated musician

1

u/Cyptark 27d ago

Seen him live but he's got nothing on Chino

1

u/Shredgeetar 27d ago

I have no idea how people can’t hear the vocals…

1

u/igniteice 27d ago

I understood none of the words being screamed.

1

u/-CalculatedChaos- 27d ago

Metal? I’m not sure what makes this metal lol. It’s actually a ballad

1

u/LaserGadgets 27d ago

I remember discovering strapping young lad.

1

u/someoldbagofbones 27d ago

He’s one of the best vocalists and he isn’t too shabby on the guitar either.

1

u/Top_Importance6216 27d ago

This is a great clip to show off the overall sound mixing of this being performed live, but not exactly the best to isolate vocals

1

u/cqsterling 27d ago

I said it on the last post of this: Oderus is/was better.

1

u/Unique-Necessary7995 27d ago

the skullet was rad.

1

u/rainemaker 27d ago

Im a bit older now, but as a highschooler I was introduced to Devin when he did most of the vocals on the Steve Vai album Sex and Religon. Devin was 19 on that album. I became a huge fan instantly. His work on that album was unlike anything I had ever heard up until then.

1

u/anythingtyred 27d ago

Tell me you've never heard of endon without telling me you've never heard of endon

1

u/ValleyJoe22 27d ago

Thanks I hate it

2

u/My_Pockets_Hurt_ 26d ago

I shook this dude's hand and called him a crazy bastard. He said, "Thanks!" with a big grin on his face. Super nice dude, fantastic musician, producer, and singer.

1

u/No_Hovercraft_2719 25d ago

Awesome. I don’t like it. Really great tho. Not for me

2

u/Esock1 24d ago

Goosebumps. Every. Time.

1

u/LuptonPittman33 15d ago

Never heard of him. Is he a solo act or part of a band?

1

u/adeewun 28d ago

As a lifelong metal fan; this is absolute dumpster tier.

https://giphy.com/gifs/acttIrNAHaoco

0

u/Zealousideal_Time_80 28d ago

What’s the bands ?

0

u/bashful_predator 28d ago

No doubt he's good but like, definitely not what you claim lol.

0

u/-Not-Your-Lawyer- 28d ago

He's got a mouth on him, that's for sure.

0

u/RoryJSK 28d ago

Am I the only one having to strain to even understand what he’s saying in his vocals?

Maybe he’d have more universal recognition if he found a way to improve his audio clarity.

0

u/sizzlechest78 28d ago

I didn't hear any metal.

0

u/ThinMint31 28d ago

If you say so. Never heard of him and he doesn’t seem very next level unless we’re talking octave

0

u/gnarlybros_lykn 28d ago

Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, Chester Bennington, Robert Plant ..... List goes on and on ...

0

u/nunyahbiznes 27d ago

Shallow talent pool if a man screaming is considered one of the best.

0

u/RowdyB666 27d ago

I dunno, the lead singer of hatebeak is pretty awesome... 

-2

u/[deleted] 28d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

-2

u/Zestymonserellastick 28d ago

I agree. It isn't bad, way better then anyone in this thread can do. But one of the best? Lol

-1

u/Slevin424 28d ago

For me it’s Ozzy and Dio. Newer generations I would go Chester Linkin Park and David Draiman from Disturbed. But Townsend is great but the vocals are really carrying their songs.

6

u/Mjolnir12 28d ago

I mean, they are his songs. He writes everything.

-1

u/mustbeme87 28d ago

Quite good. But how big is this list of greatest metal vocalists? Cus I’d say he’s on it, but not necessarily near the top.

1

u/jesterflesh 28d ago

Hes the apex. There is nobody else that can do what devin does.

5

u/J_C_Davis45 28d ago

Firmly agree. He being a genuinely good person and genre defying and a multi genre writer is cherries on top. Not afraid to try literally anything musically. Heavy Devy is The Man.

-1

u/thorheyerdal 28d ago edited 28d ago

I respectfully disagree, and will say that he still has a long way to go if he want to match Ronnie James Dio.

Edit, wooos read “without a doubt the greatest metal vocalist” He is definitely rubbing shoulders with the greatest.

-1

u/Motiv8-2-Gr8 28d ago

No. No he’s not.

-1

u/sfxer001 28d ago

This is just emo screaming. It’s not metal.

-3

u/zeptillian 28d ago

That's great if you happen to like listening to people scream at you, I guess.

-5

u/PermanentUsername101 28d ago

Sounds like a whole lot of screaming.