Devin Townsend deserves to be much more than a cult favorite. I would imagine he has a larger following in and around Vancouver, B.C., where, I believe he resides or used to, according to CD liner notes. What a shame. He may have a larger audience with Strapping Young Lad, the brilliant chaotic metal outfit that gave us some of the cleverest and innovative metal to emerge in years. Those who like SYL probably have investigated his other material, and like myself, found incredible praise for "Ocean Machine" and ordered it. My regret is that I have not discovered this man's music earlier, so I might have enjoyed his work that much longer. Like Opeth and Porcupine Tree, Townsend is blessed with more talent than anybody since the Beatles, and that's saying a lot. Not that he sounds like these two bands, which he doesn't, but as far as astonishing quality over and over, joins them in the best in the business of hard rock/metal. "Ocean Machine", like all masterpieces, must be taken as a whole, although as the album progresses, we find Townsend giving an emotional performance that nearly brings you to tears, so sincere and touching his delivery. "The Death Of Music" closes out the original set and we sure hope that day never comes, which it won't as long as Devin's heavy but melodical genius continues to flourish. Guitars are heavy, but we find real hooks and tempos that one can grasp, as oppose to flail like a fish out of water, which is what one gets when the blast beat takes over. Rather, we find rich keyboards, a wall of sound that envelopes rather than bludgeons, and moments of beauty so absent in much of today's music. It's heavy music with heart, songs being the stars, which they should be. This is music that truly separates the men from the boys. Spread the word.