Z²

Devin Townsend is the mad scientist of prog metal. Z2 perfectly illustrates his genius from start to finish.One thing you should understand is that this is a concept album (something very popular in prog rock)...and half of the songs center around Ziltoid. It's snarky, sci fi puppetry and a whole lot more. If you dug the first Ziltoid album, you'll LOVE this one. The non-ziltoid side of the release shines on every level. Of course, having Anneke van Giersbergen involved makes it all the better. She should certainly be a fixture in the Devin Townsend universe.This album is polished and offers something for everyone. It's deep, fat, thick, chunky, heavy, obese, roly and even a bit poly in its glorious chordal structure. Stop reading this review now and buy the album. You won't regret it (if you do, you probably aren't worthy of Heavy Devy anyway).

Three of my top ten albums for this year are from Devin Townsend. This is another two album release, similar to his double release of Deconstruction and ghost. Sky Blue picks up right where Epicloud left off, and has elements that remind me a lot of Infinity, Terraria, Ocean Machine, and Ghost. A lot of Sky Blue feels epic, and uplifting, but at times gets rather sullen.Dark Matters, the long awaited Ziltoid sequel is so awesome, and hilarious. This album is heavier and more progressive than Sky Blue. The album is full of great riffs, Devin's awesome melodies, and everything sci fi metal. The sequel is more grand, epic, and funny than the original, and it also focuses more heavily on the story than the original. Devin left it strongly hinting at a Z3, and had a great Casualties of Cool reference at the end.Devin is an incredible, and diverse song writer, and this will fit in with his immense catalog perfectly.

I have been a Devin Townsend fan for a long, long time. From Strapping Young Lad through his many individual projects, I own a good chunk of everything he has ever done. I knew that Z2 wasn't going to be like the original Ziltoid album, which was an album I thoroughly enjoyed, but I came in with an open mind as I loved the idea of Devin Townsend taking his music on tour as a big, elaborate play. I'll be honest, I badly wanted to like it, and in the end...I did. Just not as much as I had hoped.This album is strange. This isn't going to come as a shock to most Townsend fans but...strange in a way that doesn't really click with me. Lets start with the second cd, "Dark Matters", which features the play. It took a few listens but I absolutely love the cheesy, over the top sci-fi story and all the zany turns that it takes. The only issue I have is that only a few of the tracks really stand out on their own, but considering the album is meant to be taken as a whole, that isn't really a major problem.My issue, strangely enough, is with the first cd "Sky Blue". The title track is incredible, one of the best Townsend has done, but the rest just...doesn't grab me. It isn't bad, I can't think of anything on it I was classify as "bad", but few songs really stand out as "great". Perhaps my expectations got the best of me on this one, as I was expecting a more upbeat version of Townsend's "Ghost" album where this is more of a softer natural follow-up to the Epicloud album (which I have mixed feelings about as well). Overall, if you're a fan of Townsend's work then you won't be disappointed, but you likely won't be blown away either.

There is something for every Townsend fan here. I'm blown away by the scope of the three discs. I get my Epic-Project fix with Blue Skies, my Ziltoid story progression and loads of great belly laughs with Dark Matters, and for lack of a better description (sorry for how off this may be), I get a solid rock-opera with the third disc. The amount of styling, detail and art that went into the packaging alone is of great value. Mr. Townsend show enormous respect for people who love his music. I only wish more artists had this sort of production + delivery of the goods + quality + incredible value = happy customers-fans-supporters integrity and focus.This is a no brainer, I feel like I'm getting away with something, seeing as I paid so little for so much.Oh and please...Casualties of Cool part 2...pretty please? Or anything from Devin involving the incredible Che Amiee Dorval.

I've found nearly everything from Devin Townsend to be amazing. However, I haven't been impressed with this double release.Sky Blue is like a much more stripped down Epicloud. Don't get me wrong, Epicloud was an incredible record with a pleasant and strongly spoken tone. Sky Blue just seems like the watered down seconds of what Epicloud was (I also think Retinal Circus was one of those "I can do this just because" releases).Dark Matters, the "follow-up" to the kick-ass Ziltoid The Omniscient, very much has that "just because" feel. The narration and stage-like approach to it just becomes overbearing and obnoxious. It is however redeemed with the third raw version: a less post-editted filler-ridden version which is easier to listen to if you find the storytelling too much.

This outing from Mr T is in two parts. The first disk is part 2 of his "Ziltoid" story line. Not my cup of tea.The second Disk of Z2 is a completely different album called Sky Blue, totally unrelated to the first and most artists would have made it a separate release. Sky Blue is beautiful melodious metal full of awesome vocals and rhythms. For me this is a five star album on its own.

From the first Strapping Young Lad album onwards, this mad genius of all things metal and his collaborators have always delivered the creamy heavy goodness, Dark Matters; if Futurama did War Of The Worlds. Sky Blue; probably, nearly best he's been. Don't know why I typed creamy either.

Excellent album! :D Just love the whole thing - especially 'March of the Poozers' :D Amazing chorals and music but with a tongue in cheek flavour - great fun!

I do love the first CD blue sky, but not so keen on the Ziltoid CD (just find the story line annoying - would be better if it was just the music)

Bought for a present