Devin Townsend (Image credit: InsideOut Music)
Devin Townsend has announced that he’ll release a new version of his 2019 album Empath this summer.
Empath: The Ultimate Edition will be spread across 2CDs and 2 Blu-ray and, along with the original album, will feature a wealth of bonus material. It’ll launch on June 5 through InsideOut music.
The first CD will contain the full album, while the second will feature a total of 10 demos. Blu-ray one includes a 5.1 surround sound mix by Townsend, along with a stereo visualiser, while the second disc has Live In Leeds 2019, an Empath documentary, the Genesis 5.1 Missing Lesson and the official King music video.
Speaking about the new 5.1 surround sound mix, Townsend says: “On a technical level, I guess I have always been dissatisfied with the basic ‘stereo’ format in which the type of music I make gets presented in.
“Whether it’s headphones, computer speakers, stereos – or basically anything currently – I have had to figure out ways to get the work to function through two speakers. I hear things in a particularly orchestrated way, and with the amount of information that typically gets recorded per song, the result has been the dubious ‘wall of sound’ that I keep ending up with.
“But my intention has never been to make an oppressive experience, but rather something that is immersive and vast. Making it work in two speakers just simply doesn’t quite work for the vision.
“Although I’ve managed to get the point across – to varying degrees – things always have to compromise to make it all fit. Making the drums speak at the same time as orchestra, cymbals, guitars, choirs, synths etc, all with my voice on top, ends up with every conceivable frequency fighting for breathing space between those two speakers.”
Townsend adds: “Therefore, I asked the powers that be in my business world to tolerate one more ‘kick at the can’ when it came to Empath. I wanted to attempt a surround mix and follow the original vision of it being an immersive, multimedia experience for people in the ways I could best achieve at this stage. And although it’s still pretty ‘dense’, with four more sources for the sound to come from, I feel its significantly closer to the original vision here.”
Empath: The Ultimate Edition is now available to pre-order.
Devin Townsend: Empath – The Ultimate Edition
CD1
1. Castaway
2. Genesis
3. Spirits Will Collide
4. Evermore
5. Sprite
6. Hear Me
7. Why?
8. Borderlands
9. Requiem
10. Singularity: Adrift
11. Singularity: I Am I
12. Singularity: There Be Monsters
13. Singularity: Curious Gods
14. Singularity: Silicone Scientists
15. Singularity: Here Comes The Sun!
CD2
1. The Contrarian (Demo)
2. King (Demo)
3. The Waiting Kind (Demo)
4. Empath (Demo)
5. Methuselah (Demo)
6. This Is Your Life (Demo)
7. Gulag (Demo)
8. Middle Aged Man (Demo)
9. Total Collapse (Demo)
10. Summer (Demo)
Blu-ray 1
1. Castaway (5.1 Surround Mix)
2. Genesis (5.1 Surround Mix)
3. Spirits Will Collide (5.1 Surround Mix)
4. Evermore (5.1 Surround Mix)
5. Sprite (5.1 Surround Mix)
6. Hear Me (5.1 Surround Mix)
7. Why? (5.1 Surround Mix)
8. Borderlands (5.1 Surround Mix)
9. Requiem (5.1 Surround Mix)
10. Singularity: Adrift (5.1 Surround Mix)
11. Singularity: I Am I (5.1 Surround Mix)
12. Singularity: There Be Monsters (5.1 Surround Mix)
13. Singularity: Curious Gods (5.1 Surround Mix)
14. Singularity: Silicone Scientists (5.1 Surround Mix)
15. Singularity: Here Comes The Sun! (5.1 Surround Mix)
16. Castaway (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
17. Genesis (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
18. Spirits Will Collide (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
19. Evermore (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
20. Sprite (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
21. Hear Me (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
22. Borderlands (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
23. Why? (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
24. Requiem (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
25. Singularity: Adrift (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
26. Singularity: I Am I (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
27. Singularity: There Be Monsters (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
28. Singularity: Curious Gods (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
29. Singularity: Silicone Scientists (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
30. Singularity: Here Comes The Sun! (Stereo Mix Visualizer)
Blu-ray 2
1. Empath Documentary
2. Empath Album Commentary
3. Genesis 5.1 Mixing Lesson
4. Acoustic Gear Tour
5. Intro (Live in Leeds 2019)
6. Let It Roll (Live in Leeds 2019)
7. Funeral (Live in Leeds 2019)
8. Ih-Ah (Live in Leeds 2019)
9. Deadhead (Live in Leeds 2019)
10. Love? (Live in Leeds 2019)
11. Hyperdrive! (Live in Leeds 2019)
12. Terminal (Live in Leeds 2019)
13. Coast (Live in Leeds 2019)
14. Solar Winds (Live in Leeds 2019)
15. Thing Beyond Things (Live in Leeds 2019)
16. King (Official Video)
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- Devin Townsend - Synchestra - Brown Vinyl - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £49.99, $61.49, €56.49 (New Item) (arrived 12-Jan-2023 09:38)on February 2, 2023 at 7:45 pm
THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND Synchestra (2010 UK 13-track vinyl double vinyl LP, pressed on brown coloured vinyl and limited to just 1000 copies, with gatefold picture sleeve. Eigth solo album from the metal mastermind, originally released in 2006. It was the second and final album to be recorded with The Devin Townsend Band, and features a guest guitar solo from Steve Vai. Both the sleeve and vinyl on this copy are in spectacular, near 'as new' condition BOBV246LP)
- Devin Townsend - Snuggles (Beautiful Dream) - Orange and Blue Swirl Vinyl - US - vinyl LP - £39.99, $49.19, €45.19 (New Item) (arrived 12-Jan-2023 09:32)on February 2, 2023 at 7:45 pm
DEVIN TOWNSEND Snuggles (Beautiful Dream) (2021 US 12-track double LP, with gatefold picture sleeve and pressed on Orange and Blue Swirl Vinyl. Second of a two part release by the Canadian guitar virtuoso, as a more reserved companion to the chaos of The Puzzle. Although not sealed, both the sleeve and vinyl remain in near mint condition)
- Devin Townsend - The Puzzle - Red and Black Splatter Vinyl - US - 2-LP vinyl set - £39.99, $49.19, €45.19 (New Item) (arrived 12-Jan-2023 09:21)on February 2, 2023 at 7:45 pm
DEVIN TOWNSEND The Puzzle (Limited edition 2021 US Online Exclusive 20-track double LP, with gatefold picture sleeve and 12-page booklet, pressed on Red with Black Splatter Vinyl. First of a two part release by the Canadian guitar virtuoso, as a chaotic companion to the more reserved Snuggles album. Features guest musicians Mike Keneally, Steve Vai, Plini, and more. Although not sealed, both the sleeve and vinyl remain in near mint condition)
- Devin Townsend - Galactic Quarantine - Light Blue Vinyl + CD - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £34.99, $43.04, €39.54 (New Item) (arrived 12-Jan-2023 09:13)on February 2, 2023 at 7:45 pm
DEVIN TOWNSEND Galactic Quarantine (Limited edition 2021 UK/EU 15-track double LP, with gatefold picture sleeve and pressed on Transparent light blue vinyl. Live compilation from the guitar virtuoso, recorded during lockdown in place ofhis cancelled 2020 touring plans. Although not sealed, both the sleeve and vinyl remain in near mint condition. This copy comes with a CD of the entire concert)
- Devin Townsend - Lightwork - Multi Format Box Set - US - vinyl box set - £95.00, $116.85, €107.35 (New Item) (arrived 12-Jan-2023 09:06)on February 2, 2023 at 7:45 pm
DEVIN TOWNSEND Lightwork (Limited edition 2022 UK/EU box set edition of the thirteenth studio album from Devin Townsend made up of material assembled during the pandemic. Comprised of an Orange Vinyl Triple LP of Lightwork and Nightwork[exclusive to this set] as well as both albums on CD, the Lightwork Blu-ray featuring 5.1 surround sound mix and album commentary, 36-page perfect bound book, 2 x artcards, and a postcard SIGNED by Devin Townsend, all contained insidea sturdy lift-off lid box. Produced by Garth Richardson [Biffy Clyro, Rage Against The Machine] and includes a guest appearance from Nile Rodgers of Chic on HoneyBunch, as well as a host of other musicians. Although not sealed, this copy remains in near mint condition. Recommended)
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