Canadian musician Devin Townsend has officially announced the release of The Moth, an ambitious orchestral project arriving May 29 via Century Media Records.
Although Townsend has stepped back from touring for the time being, he remains highly active in the studio. The Moth has been in development for more than a decade and consists of 23 songs, described as a large-scale project that is orchestral, choral and theatrical in scope.
The album’s narrative revolves around a theme of transformation. Townsend describes the story as following someone who begins to realize that long-standing behavioral patterns are no longer serving them.
He explained: “It’s a loose story following someone who realizes that old patterns of behavior are no longer serving them. By digging in and sitting with themselves, an internal conflict is revealed — one they may have been resisting or unconsciously rationalizing for years.”
Portions of the material were previously performed during two orchestral concerts in Groningen, Netherlands, where Townsend presented selections from the project in a symphonic setting.
The piece “Enter the City” serves as the official introduction to the studio version of The Moth. The track features powerful arrangements performed by the North Netherlands Orchestra and the Concert Choir of the North Netherlands Orchestra, combining sweeping strings, theatrical orchestration and Townsend’s signature heavy guitar elements.
The album includes several longtime collaborators such as Darby Todd, Mike Keneally and James Leach, along with special guest appearances from legendary guitarist Steve Vai, former collaborator on Sex & Religion, as well as Anneke van Giersbergen and Lynn Wu from Ou.
The accompanying music video features animated moths, religious imagery and scenes of construction workers, reinforcing the conceptual and symbolic nature of the project.
The Moth will be released in several formats, including standard and deluxe editions, special zoetrope vinyl pressings, and a 3CD + Blu-ray package featuring a filmed orchestral concert performance from the Netherlands.
