Over the past decade, there have been few musicians in the progressive metal genre as consistent, prolific, and beloved as Devin Townsend. I have to admit, I was not expecting a new album this year, so when the announcement was made that the upcoming ‘PowerNerd’ was to drop later this month it was a pleasant surprise. Like most people, I assumed that his next release would be the long-awaited ‘The Moth’, which as it turns out, is going to be unveiled as two special live performances next year. But in the meantime, we have a quite good, uplifting album to get us through the coming months.

In defining the album’s title, and opening track Townsend stated, “I would say that a powernerd would be somebody that has a tendency that society has deemed weak or not valuable, whether that’s empathy or being an insular person or an introvert, and turns that into a type of personal power. It’s like, ‘OK, yeah, I’m sensitive to this, that, and the other thing, but man, I am going to pull through! I am going to do things with that sensitivity that are rooted in strength.’” It’s rather par for the course for what he’s been saying in recent years about the more uplifting approach to his songwriting. The song itself was released as a music video featuring Devin dressed as a nerdy-looking superhero. It’s amusing, heavy, and very energetic. It like most of the album is quite similar in feel and tone to his last album ‘Lightworks.’

 This is shortly followed by “Gratitude” which is also the final video put out before the release. It also happens to be one of my favorites on the album, it’s a classic Devin power ballad, with the simple message of having gratitude. More explicitly it focuses on the conscious and active act of gratitude despite what is going on in your life. In talking about the album, Devin shared that he has gone through a death in his family, and much of the album, while being largely positive and uplifting was written through a very painful part of his life. In this sense it is very similar to the latest album by Nick Cave, which is a startling uplifting album focusing on the act of joy, and having joy (or gratitude) being a personal choice, and something one can have even in the midst of grief.

The other single (and video) released is “Jainism” which is one of the more aggressive songs on the album. The name comes from the ancient Indian spiritual practice and involves pacifism and the ongoing circle of life, death, and souls in all living things. The song is a call to life, enduring the struggles and pain of life, and moving on. It reminds me a bit of his classic “Higher” though it’s not nearly as epic, or aggressive as that song.

The final “serious” song on the album is another highlight, “Goodbye.” It comes across initially as a love song for someone that the narrator is breaking up with, and saying goodbye to. In reality, it’s a song about saying goodbye to a loved one who is dying. It’s a heavy, beautiful song, and those screams will get you choked up if you’re caught unawares.

The album closes with the amusing and seemingly random “Ruby Quaker” which is an homage to Dev’s favorite beverage, which as all fans should know by now is coffee. ‘Coffee coffee I love my coffee’ are the main lyrics. It starts in a jaunty country style before twisting into a heavy chaotic barrage of metal. The title is apparently also the name of an upcoming podcast he’s doing, and also the name of a spaceship in said project. It’s certainly good for a laugh and getting stuck in your head, but not a song you’ll want to go back to time and again.

Devin Townsend never gives the audience what they expect, and ‘PowerNerd’ is no exception. While it’s not anything particularly new, it is a very solid, fun, and ultimately very uplifting, and positive album, which in a time where everything seems negative, and divided is a very welcome diversion.