In a recent article published in Prog magazine, Devin Townsend speaks about the tumultuous period leading up to the release of his solo album Infinity in 1998. The Canadian Progressive Metal icon, known for his complex compositions and expansive soundscapes , revealed the depth of his personal struggles during this time and how he nearly formed a cult of sorts.
Townsend’s path to Infinity was fraught with emotional and mental challenges. “I ended up thinking I knew everything, and it was my responsibility to tell everyone what they were doing wrong.”, Townsend told Prog. His burgeoning ego and sense of martyrdom almost led him to believe he was on a divine mission. This state of mind, compounded by drug abuse and paranoia, sent him into a psychological tailspin that landed him in a psychiatric hospital.
Infinity marked a significant turning point for Townsend. This is his first album released under his own name, following previous projects under pseudonyms such as Punky Brüster and Ocean Machine. The album refined his signature sound production, blending dense layers of guitars, keyboards, and vocals into a cohesive, melodic prog masterpiece. The opening track, Truth, exemplifies this with its explosive arrangement, while tracks like Christeen and Bad Devil remain among his most accessible works.
Looking back on this time, Mr Townsend expressed a desire to help others going through similar difficulties. “Try not to fall into sensationalism”he insisted. “What I’m trying to do by expressing this is to help people who are going through something similar.”
Townsend attributes part of his crisis to his disillusionment with the commodification of music. “When I moved to Los Angeles and joined Steve Vai’s band [au début de ma carrière]I was excessively naive”, he remembers. His anger at the commercial music industry fueled his intense, aggressive music on Strapping Young Lad and his other projects, but also exacerbated his personal turmoil.
Despite the difficulties, Infinity became a pivotal album in Townsend’s career. As a producer and playing most of the instruments himself, he channeled his experiences into a profound musical work. The album’s completion marked a turning point. “I remember listening to the album and thinking, ‘Oh, that doesn’t sound very good!’”Townsend laughs. “The importance I had placed on this project as a revolutionary work of art was taken away from me when I said to myself: ‘Dev, this is one record among dozens of others’.”
This humbling moment helped him see the album as part of a larger journey, rather than a world-changing masterpiece, and led him to take his first steps toward mental health.
