Canadian vocalist/guitarist/producer Devin Townsend is featured in a new interview with the UK-based Independent discussing his forthcoming double-album Z² - Devin Townsend Project release:
Townsend: "The first disc, Sky Blue, is the next step up from Epicloud but the melodies aren't as basic, it's a lot more melancholy, it's maybe a little more washed out colour wise, it's not as vibrant, but it really speaks for the fact that I couldn't do a happy record right now, that's not where I was at.

My view on the second disc, Dark Matters, is different again. Seven years have gone by since the first Ziltoid. That was a really psychological record for me and he was a representation of me at that time, you know, I'd just had a kid, I was coming out of drugs and quitting my band, Strapping Young Lad, stuff like that. I just don't care about that stuff as much as I did.
I've got other kids around me now like, my sister's kids and my neighbour's kids and they became really interested in Ziltoid and started giving me ideas for the story. So Z² ended up being like a story for kids, just with really savage music, orchestras, choirs and all that stuff. I started thinking about 'Who am I trying to reach with this record?'"

Go tothis locationfor the complete interview.

Following the announcement of the long-awaited new Devin Townsend Project album, Z², and the subsequent lightning-fast sell out of London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall venue for his show on April 13th next year, they can now reveal an extensive run of European shows for 2015 which will include support from Periphery and Shining. They have already announced US dates with Animals As Leaders.

Devin had this to say: "Now that the recording and mixing for Z2 is finished, it's time to gear up for touring again! There's a bunch of events coming up, and one of them that I'm extremely proud to announce is a European headlining tour with support from the incredible Periphery and the insane Shining!
That's a heck of a lineup I think, each band is doing something unique from each other, yet are really well defined. It will be an opportunity for us to explore our back catalogue as well as the Z2 albums, Sky Blue and Dark Matters (from the upcoming double album, Z2).

One of the greatest things about doing this for as long as I have is that we get to do these sorts of awesome events. I can't even begin to express how honoured I am to share the stage with these incredible bands, and to have such overwhelming support from the audience lately. It's honestly just an absolute pleasure to do this.
So it is with great pride I invite you to the show! Hopefully we come near you, let's do this!"

The new double-album, Z², will be released on October 28th in North America, and October 27th in Europe. A new album trailer can be found below:

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Tour dates:

November (with Animals As Leaders and Monuments)
17 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
18 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
19 - Kelowna, BC - Level Nightclub
21 - Edmonton, AB - Union Hall
22 - Calgary, AB - The Gateway
23 - Saskatoon, SK - O'Brians Event Centre
24 - Winnipeg, MB - The Garrick Centre
25 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
26 - Chicago, IL - Metro (Toontrack sponsored with show recording)
28 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall
29 - Cleveland, OH - House Of Blues
30 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre

December (with Animals As Leaders and Monuments)
1 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
3 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
4 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
5 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
6 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
8 - Atlanta, GA - Center Stage
10 - San Antonio, TX - Backstage Live
11 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Bar N Grill
13 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre
14 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
15 - Mesa, AZ - The Nile Theatre
16 - Los Angeles, CA - The Mayan
17 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency Ballroom

March
5 - La Cigale - Paris, France
6 - Substage - Karlsruhe, Germany
7 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
8 - Live Club - Milan, Italy
10 - Backstage Werk - Munchen, Germany
11 - Arena - Vienna, Austria
12 - A38 - Budapest, Hungary
13 - Majestic - Bratislava, Slovakia
14 - Roxy - Prague, Czech Republic
16 - Stodola - Warsaw, Poland
17 - Gruenspan - Hamburg, Germany
18 - Voxhall - Århus, Denmark
19 - Rockefeller - Oslo, Norway
21 - Rytmikorjamo - Seinajoki, Finland
22 - The Circus - Helsinki, Finland
24 - Debaser Media - Stockholm, Sweden
25 - Amager Bio - Copenhagen, Denmark
26 - Matrix - Bochum, Germany
27 - Effenaar - Eindhoven, Holland
29 - O2 Academy - Bristol, England
30 - O2 ABC - Glasgow, Scotland
31 - Academy - Manchester, England