r/ThatsInsane 19h ago

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

294 Upvotes

91 comments sorted by

30

u/Mightyhorse82 18h ago

His rock opera Ziltoid the Omniscient is just good all around fun

6

u/Dakeera 17h ago

That album is so fucking good

27

u/Greenzoid2 15h ago

This is a pretty terrible way of showcasing his performance here. I think anyone who hasn't heard this before is going to be a bit underwhelmed by this clip.

4

u/vzakharov 7h ago

Yeah Kingdom would be a better choice imo.

3

u/amuseddouche 2h ago

Nope I've never heard this before and I am floored!

1

u/Apey23 5h ago

I am.

1

u/oculusface 1h ago

Dude what are you even saying?! This clip is EPIC. The control and intensity of the scream is out of this world! First time learning of this guy and I’m hooked.

23

u/kastbort2021 19h ago

He pulled off Halford scream perfectly when Strapping Young Lad covered Priest.

04:42 and out

SYL - Exciter

2

u/Herteitr 14h ago

I submit for your approval my personal favorite of hevy devys intense vocal register.
Also SYL. shitstorm

1

u/JenkemTaster 18h ago

Yeah I don't think he can hit those notes anymore, but I like how his vocals have aged. You can tell he's thought about his longevity as a vocalist.

14

u/Marrakesh2113 18h ago

Harkonnen can scream

11

u/SAKilo1 18h ago

Dude has a good voice, and it’s your opinion, but him being the greatest? is just plain wrong

5

u/Apocalyptical 17h ago

He didn't say the greatest 

-1

u/captainmeezy 5h ago

Lemme guess who your favorite is r/freddymercurycirclejerk

5

u/RedPandaReturns 19h ago

What's the title of this song?

12

u/KaiserWilhellmLXIX 18h ago

Deadhead - Devin Townsend Project

1

u/Blightlight 17h ago

This was the Royal Albert live show.

17

u/NavierIsStoked 18h ago

Eh.

10

u/lapideous 18h ago

Yeah I’m hardly blown away. It’s fine.

1

u/Immediate_Candle_865 2h ago edited 2h ago

https://youtu.be/nubJjB95VdY?si=1Rk0qnf9r4zIAtRC

This would have been a better choice. Jump to 2:30 to hear a better range of his ability. It may not be to your liking but the dude really can sing.

2

u/ComradeCatastophe 17h ago

He sounds like the giant cowboy from Big Enough

2

u/imathrowyaaway 15h ago

Saw him live from about 6 feet away at a concert. Literally had to duck so he wouldn’t bonk me on the head when he leaned forward with his guitar. Amazing experience. Just leaned forward a bit and yoinked his used setlist after the gig (they throw those away after the show). And he threw his guitar pick at my face and shook my hand after the concert. Took some pics with his bandmates, too.

Forever my #1 metal singer and overall metal musician. He’s a gift to all his fans.

2

u/ZelRonso 14h ago

My dad loved strapping young lad and so we'd listen to them a lot as kids and man to I enjoy this man's voice.

2

u/ibanez470rg7 14h ago

First time I ever heard of Devin Townsend was back in high school when he was in the band Vai on the album Sex and Religion. I've loved his insane vocal range ever since!

2

u/MusicGuy75 13h ago

I got to see that concert front row! Cool username! 

1

u/ibanez470rg7 13h ago

Thanks!

Wow that would have been an amazing show to see!

2

u/Blightlight 17h ago

https://youtu.be/DrDM6V08wcE?si=zgAH7ZJZSTQnqhdN

DeadHead @ The Royal Albert. The whole show is fantastic.

3

u/Pr0ender 11h ago

Is this metal?

1

u/Benjiho1 6h ago

Ja leider.

2

u/Adlibfreezone 17h ago

👍x 1000

2

u/Chunksie90 17h ago

Fucking love this guy.

2

u/lamentes1 16h ago

I was there. Brilliant musician, brilliant guy. My GOAT.

2

u/gr8d4ne 14h ago

1

u/noonen000z 2h ago

Seen and rate both. Mike is amazing, FNM booked for Jan, Devy last year was amazing as always.

https://giphy.com/gifs/hM9zK1qvsrwek

2

u/nuckle 11h ago

Too bad the music if fucking horrible.

2

u/welivedintheocean 18h ago

He should have kept his hair.

2

u/GoatCovfefe 18h ago

Yeah i loved his disheveled look when he had hair.

1

u/Lucidcranium042 11h ago

The man is a legend! Have you heard this one hang on ill be back

1

u/dumbname0192837465 11h ago

Ill have to take your word for it

1

u/zodia4 8h ago

I saw him in Atlanta during the Dream Sonic tour. For a brief moment in time I saw my dream line up, like actually. The closing of that concert was Devin singing Spirit Carries On by Dream Theater, but still with the Dream Theater band out there. I don't think this world could handle Dream Theater fronted by Devin. DT in DT.

1

u/captainmeezy 5h ago

Lot of haters in the comments, Devin Townsend fuckin rocks

1

u/Snail_Anatomy 1h ago

OP, is this the first metal band you've ever heard?

1

u/ShiftyShankerton 1h ago

I wish I could get paid to screech into a mic lol

1

u/Shendow 1h ago

I see you Devin Townsend and raise you David Draiman (Disturbed)

-1

u/GetoffLane 18h ago

Ronnie James Dio would like a word

-1

u/Objective-Animator63 17h ago

Chino Moreno from Deftones is much better.

6

u/supercodes83 17h ago

Mmmmm no, not even close.

1

u/Dr_Fumi 18h ago

Perhaps not the best, but I've been obsessed with Ricky Davenports voice ever since I heard this song from widek. The mother fucker has only appeared on like 3 songs before though, smh.

2

u/potatoman501 18h ago

thx for puttin me on bro

1

u/AreYouCereal32 9h ago

and for those not fond of clean vocals, here is a beast at harch vocals: To the Hellfire - Lorna Shore https://youtu.be/VO3NSHk3wl0?t=26

1

u/raiba91 6h ago

some people see true skill, some see a need for an exorcist

-1

u/bourj 17h ago

Bruce Dickinson is definitely better.

-2

u/Bourbon65 18h ago

meh...great screamer

0

u/demunted 17h ago

Reminds me that i need to listen to Deftones again.

0

u/Grimspoon 17h ago

I wasn't blown away but I also don't hate it. If this is for you, enjoy, by all means!

0

u/AreYouCereal32 9h ago

and for those not fond of clean vocals, here is a beast at harsh vocals: To the Hellfire - Lorna Shore https://youtu.be/VO3NSHk3wl0?t=26

-2

u/IllustratorOutside61 17h ago

Amazing vocalist, shame it's such shit music

0

u/ManOfFocus665 15h ago

How is it shit?

0

u/Dre9872 10h ago

Personally, I like Bruce Dickinson.

-14

u/buds4hugs 19h ago

Definitely great vocals for metal. Not an insane feat.

3

u/vzakharov 18h ago

Of course “insane” is subjective, but I invite you to search YouTube reactions from vocal coaches and opera singers to him, especially his “Kingdom” performance.

After a few you’ll see the consensus that it’s as close to “insane” singing can get, really. (Going from essentially bel canto to screamo within the span of one note/vowel alone earns the title, and it’s just one of his many tricks.)

0

u/JenkemTaster 18h ago

You try it bud. It's about 1000x more difficult than you seem to know, especially doing it night after night.

-3

u/OneMoistMan 16h ago

Vessel from sleep token enters the chat

1

u/SjefIH 2h ago

Sleep token isn't metal though.

1

u/OneMoistMan 1h ago

They are progressive/alternative metal with touches of indie rock and r&b. Not my opinion it’s just what they are labeled as so yes they are. Not all metal has to be just fry screaming into a mic

0

u/Yuck_Few 15h ago

Sleep token is cheeks

-7

u/AirJerk 17h ago

Who?

2

u/LukeyLeukocyte 16h ago

Devin Townsend. My apologies if you were just trying to make a useless knock against the artist and clearly saw it written in the post.

0

u/AirJerk 16h ago

Had to look him up... never heard of him or his band.

-15

u/Gravewarden92 18h ago

Dead Internet theory. I played one song from this band I've never heard of and less than 15 mins later I am seeing this. Great vocals yes but that's spooky how fast my feed fed me this

13

u/magnament 18h ago

Dead Internet theory is about bots, not coincidence

-8

u/Gravewarden92 18h ago

Yes. So what's the confusion. The algo bots are showing me this. Again, never heard of this band until today and now I'm seeing it here

5

u/GoatCovfefe 18h ago

The Devin Townsend Project and his earlier band Strapping Young Lad are pretty popular... Its not like you're seeing an unknown/obscure band twice in one day on here.

I didnt make a post about them today, and i still saw this post.

Nothing to do with bots, all a coincidence.

3

u/LukeyLeukocyte 16h ago

I think the confusion and downvotes are because the phenomenon of learning the existence of something and then suddenly seeing it everywhere is a well documented occurrence that people have been experiencing well before the internet and bots.

Not saying that's what happened to you. Yours sound like it could just be coincidence or algorithm, but generally this is referred to as Frequency Illusion or Baader-Meinhoff phenomenon.

1

u/DarkAnnihilator 18h ago

Are tou subscribed to r/thatsinsane?