[Album Review] –Devin Townsend –'PowerNerd' LP
I bring you a belated review of Devin Townsend's twenty-second studio album, PowerNerd.
This album strays slightly from my usual area of musical listening, however I've gained an appreciation for DT, and at the very least, DT is another artist worth going to see perform. I missed them in November 2023 when they toured Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane backed by Caligula's Horse.
For international fans- DT recently announced a North American tour in May 2025. No word on 'straya yet, but we'll see.
I decided against listening to Devin's audio commentary (attached to the digital version), as it may have influenced my thoughts on the album. The commentary is something I've not seen before on artist's records, and it would surely serve as an insightful listen.
The following is taken from Devin Townsend's YouTube page, an apt message of hope and encouragement for PowerNerds alike:
POWERNERD – noun
1. A person of any gender who has, through tenacity and perseverance, turned what society may deem as a ‘weakness’ into a superpower.
2. A total fucking badass.
3. You.
DT offers up an LP that is lyrically laden with messages of hope, patience, persistence and gratitude such as "Facing the end, chasing the wind, open your mind...no giving up, no giving in." And for all those Powernerds potentially gripped in personal doubt and fear— "Time for life and rock 'n roll, through all those dark years alone, time for light." These are powerful sentiments, and mirror the thoughts that this Powernerd has had in abundance, spanning decades, as long as DT's musical career (a nod to the Mental Health aspect of ISC).
Most albums will usually place their title track several songs in but the PowerNerd LP kicks off with a high- octane 'power metal' track. Complete with hair- raising lead guitar and a sound reminiscent of the 1980s, this curious addition to DT's massive repertoire could perhaps be categorised as 'party power metal' or 'progressive 80s power metal'.
On 'Falling Apart' Devin's belting of "But God, I can't deny I want to live!" really hits the mark. This one is heavy on the emotiveness, while 'Knuckledragger' is a real party anthem that possesses some Rob Zombie-like vibes, and could easily be the next single off this LP.
'Gratitude' (a running theme throughout this record) follows a shifting down of tempo and features as one of several beautifully soothing songs to come. That is, amongst the contrasting cacophony interspersed throughout.
'Dreams of Light' acts as an intermission, spanning just under a minute at 55 seconds, and 'Ubelia' exudes traces of serene soundscapes, while 'Glacier' starts with a hush before soaring to divine heights.
'Jainism' is one of my overall favourites from PowerNerd. It's a heavy-hitting track from the top, riddled with lighter lulls before DT interjects with a sporadic raspy shout of "whoa!" for added emphasis and sonic caffeine.
'Younger Lover' begins with an acoustic strum and falsetto then reminiscent of a Muse-like meandering. I especially enjoyed checking out each track's lyrics, and upon further listening most songs reveal themselves fully as they swell with depth.
'Goodbye' sounds like Coheed and Cambria, and solidifies the 'progressive' aspect to the album. It lives up to this comparison as it stretches out to just under six minutes, capturing the expansive scenescape end of a hero's journey. But wait, there's more!
'Ruby Quaker' is one of favorites on this album. I can already hear this one played to uproarious audiences live, maybe mid- set, Devin exclaiming "coffee coffee, I love the coffee..." while fan's follow along with glee. The album ends with a shout of "PowerNerd!", the perfect way to round out the record.