Highly respected guitarist and vocalist, renowned for his skills as a producer and for pushing the very limits of creativity with a series of musical ventures. Devin Garret Townsend arrived on the Rock scene via a whole slew of appearances with an array of diverse artists. At only 19 years old Townsend was picked by guitar guru STEVE VAI to front his 'Sex & Religion' album and subsequent world tour. This exposure would land further high profile terms with both THE WILDHEARTS and FRONTLINE ASSEMBLY. Townsend would also work with METALLICA bassist James Newsted's IR8 project and donate tracks to tribute albums in honour of JUDAS PRIEST and RUSH. In particular, Townsend employed BASIC 4/4 members guitarist Jed Simon, bass player John Randahl Harder and drummer Marty Chapman for a live rendition of 'Sinner' for a Century Media JUDAS PRIEST tribute. Besides a solo career he also fronts his own act STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, debuting with the aptly titled 'Heavier Than A Heavy Thing' record.

As a solo artist Townsend debuted with the 1997 'Ocean Machine - Biomech' opus. This album, released in Europe on the short-lived USG label, was originally credited under the OCEAN MACHINE banner. He would also gain credits as co-producer of Atlanta heavyweights STUCK MOJO's 'Pigwalk' album. However, during November of the same year Townsend voluntarily entered a mental institution in order to restore some balance to his chaotic lifestyle.

He returned with November 1998's 'Infinity'. Notably the track 'Cristeen' was written by Ginger of THE WILDHEARTS, the man also putting in a studio session appearance. Ex-DEATH drummer Gene Hoglan, having become a mainstay of his STRAPPING YOUNG LAD band, contributed drums whilst Christian Olde Wolbers of FEAR FACTORY supplied bass, Chris Valag additional vocals and Andy Codrington embellished things with saxophone. Although the music certainly created a stir, so too did the album cover, a photograph of a naked Townsend.

Following on from this, the June 2000 'Physicist' album experimented with conflicting soundscapes and industrial collages. Employed for these sessions would be Jed Simon on guitar, bassist Byron Stroud with the ever reliable Gene Hoglan manning the drums.

The man leapt back into the public eye with a typical whirl of activity. Not only was Townsend working on his own 'Terria' project with Hoglan and MIRV's Craig McFarland but also involved in Hoglan's JUST CAUSE act and producing records for FRYGIRL and ZIMMERS HOLE.

Townsend would act as producer for Swedish act SOILWORK during October 2001 as well as for Reno Metalcore act DECEMBER's 'The Lament Configuration'. Taking his solo band out on the road he hooked up with KILL II THIS and GODFLESH for a package tour of Britain during December 2001.

2002 saw Townsend put his efforts into three projects, a new STRAPPING YOUNG LAD album plus two solo efforts with provisional working titles of 'Eko' and 'Relationships'. He would also act as co-producer for LAMB OF GOD's second album 'As The Palaces Burn'. Activity on the live front found Townsend employing an all new look band unit of EVENLIGHT guitarist Brian Waddell, bassist Mike Young, keyboard player Dave Young and the STATIC IN STEREO and BIF NAKED credited drummer Scotty McCargar.

Word of a heavyweight Doom project involving Townsend would be leaked in early 2003. The band, TREE OF THE SUN, also incorporating Dale Crover of the MELVINS and erstwhile KYUSS bassist Scott Reeder. Meantime Townsend aired the fresh solo record 'Accelerated Evolution' to unanimous praise amongst the global Rock media. Working with him on the studio for this outing would be a band unit of guitarist Brian Waddell, bassist Mike Young, keyboard player Dave Young and GOD AWAKENS PETRIFIED drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen. Early editions of 'Accelerated Evolution' came complete with a bonus disc of 'Project EKO' material.

October 2003 found the band touring across Canada with familiar road partners STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and ZIMMER'S HOLE. The following month Townsend's band hooked up with New Jersey's SYMPHONY X for a round of US dates. Following these dates Townsend confirmed he was to donate guest vocals to 'The Human Equation' album from conceptual Dutch project AYREON. On the production front he would schedule desk duties with THE HEAVILS and MISERY SIGNALS.

In mid 2004 drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen announced the recording of a solo album, this opus set to include such guests as GOD AWAKENS PETRIFIED singer Jeremy Glen, DARKANE and NON-HUMAN LEVEL guitarist Christofer Malmström, DEVIN TOWNSEND and 10 WAYS FROM SUNDAY rhythm guitarist Dave Young with bass supplied by Michael Manring, ex-MESHUGGAH man Gustaf Hielm, the TESTAMENT and SAVATAGE credited Alex Skolnick on guitar and ex-ANNIHILATOR member Russell Bergquist. Yet another project for the drummer would be a Prog-Rock conceptual outing from LALU entitled 'Oniric Metal', a union with French composer Vivien Lalu of SHADRANE, Russell Bergquist on bass, the Dutch ARABESQUE, SHADRANE and ELYSION credited guitarist JOOP WALTERS and BROKEN GLASS vocalist Martin LeMar.

Townsend scheduled August time in the studio to cut a new album entitled 'Synchestra', these sessions once again being crafted by a band unit of Dave Young on keyboards, Mike Young on bass, Ryan van Poederooyen on drums and Brian Waddell on guitar. The band's 2006 season of live campaigning opened up in the USA during February alongside OPETH and DARK TRANQUILLITY.

Townsend returned in 2007 with the album 'Ziltoid The Omniscient'. This concept piece was described with a statement "a four-dimensional alien has come to earth and is currently hovering five miles above Qatar. Beaming messages to the earth, including video, music, and words, His Omniscient-ness has one dimension up on us humans, allowing him control over time. But, in order to bend time he requires the perfect fuel — BLACK COFFEE — found in abundance on only one planet in the omniverse... Earth." In keeping with Townsen's unconventional approach, the album was backed by a puppet show.