DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT: 'Deconstruction', 'Ghost' First-Week Sales, Chart Positions

Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STEVE VAI, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR, GWAR) released "Deconstruction" and "Ghost" the third and fourth in a series of albums to be made available under DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT moniker on June 21 (one day earlier internationally) via InsideOut Music.

First-week sales and chart positions in the U.S.:

* "Deconstruction":

Sales: 3,500
The Billboard 200 chart: #165
Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart: #5

* "Ghost":

Sales: 2,200
Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart: #12

"Deconstruction" and "Ghost" complete Devin's tetralogy album concept a great journey through Townsend's different states of musical moods which he started in 2009 with the albums "Addicted" (2009) and "Ki" (2009).

Townsend tapped Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, PARADISE LOST, BLOODBATH) to mix "Deconstruction". The sessions took place in late February at Fascination Street studio in rebro, Sweden. The CD features guest appearances by a number of well-known metal musicians as well as two drummers Ryan Van Poederooyen (TERROR SYNDROME, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND) for the "crushing stuff," and Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK, SCARVE, ABORTED) for the "inhuman stuff."

"Deconstruction" track listing:

01. Praise The Lowered (feat. Paul Kuhr of NOVEMBERS DOOM) (6:02)
02. Stand (Feat. Mikael kerfeldt) (9:36)
03. Juular (feat. Ihsahn) (3:46)
04. Planet Of The Apes (feat. Tommy Rogers) (10:59)
05. Sumeria (feat. Joe Duplantier, Paul Masvidal) (6:37)
06. The Mighty Masturbator (feat. Greg Puciato) (16:28)
07. Pandemic (feat. Floor Jansen) (3:29)
08. Deconstruction (feat. Oderus Urungus, Fredrik Thordenal) (9:27)
09. Poltergeist (4:25)

"Deconstruction" guest musicians:

* Mikael kerfeldt (OPETH, BLOODBATH)
* Ihsahn (EMPEROR)
* Tommy Rogers (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME)
* Joe Duplantier (GOJIRA)
* Greg Puciato (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN)
* Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER, REVAMP)
* Oderus Urungus (GWAR)
* Paul Masvidal (CYNIC)
* Fredrik Thordendal (MESHUGGAH)

"Ghost" track listing:

01. Fly (4:15)
02. Heart Baby (5:55)
03. Feather (11:30)
04. Kawaii (2:52)
05. Ghost (6:24)
06. Blackberry (4:53)
07. Monsoon (4:37)
08. Dark Matters (1:57)
09. Texada (9:30)
10. Seams (4:04)
11. Infinite Ocean (8:01)
12. As You Were (8:47)

A detailed track-by-track review of "Deconstruction" can be found at RadioMetal.com.

A detailed track-by-track review of "Ghost" is available at this location.

Devin previously described "Deconstruction" as "brutal in a lot of parts, but pretty glorious in others. It rides the fence of negativity but ultimately ends supremely positive."

Even though "Ghost" is the fourth album to be made available under DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT moniker, Devin recorded it third, because "Deconstruction" (the third album) was "a nightmare technically and I wanted to make something lovely before diving into that," Devin previously said.

According to Devin, "'Ghost' is the mellowest (by far) and prettiest record I've done so far" with a "very wonderful vibe."

Townsend has announced the first two special shows in U.K. for November 2011 for a unique DVD recording.

On his recent mostly sold-out European tour, Devin already performed some of the new material and if you have followed Devin through his career, you will know that he is always up for pushing the limits to higher levels. After releasing "Deconstruction" and "Ghost" in June, Devin Townsend will return to London U.K. in November 2011 to play a set of very special shows dedicated to his four-album concept and which will be captured live on DVD.