Live Review: Devin Townsend Project, Periphery

The six piece technical metal act Periphery take the stage and showcase why they are one of metal's best current bands, opening with Psychoshpere and Make Total Destroy.

In their tenth year of existence they display many influences, however, it is easy to see why they are revered by many of metal's newer acts. Throughout Periphery's set, it is clear that many people are here just as much for Periphery as they are for Devin Townsend. The band's three-guitar assault blasts through a ten-song set that shows both the mellow and heavy sides to their sound. The crowd erupts as Icarus Lives! comes smashing through the speakers, but as the set progresses through 22 Faces, Four Lights and Stranger Things, most of the punters are content with a simple head-bang. Towards the end of the set, Spencer Sotelo singles out an audience member and tells everyone to give him some room: he is in charge of the circle pit. The Bad Thing, Alpha and Graveless round out this furious set and the now-very-full room patiently await the men of the hour.

The LED backdrop showcases adventures of a four-dimensional alien. Puppets can be seen dancing across the top of the eager crowd. The glorious men that make up Devin Townsend Project now take centre stage and a sea of horns can be seen from front to back. Rejoice, Deathray and Namaste open this phenomenal display of musicianship. The poppy crowd favourite Addicted leads into March Of The Poozers, New Reign and Ziltoid Goes Home. The whole show to this point has been jokes, laughter and a spectacle of amazing metal. The classic and emotionally charged Bastard gets the older fans screaming their lungs out and then Devin Townsend Project move seamlessly into a perfectly timed Grace, which sees lyrics displayed in a huge font on the backdrop so everyone can scream along to this operatic masterpiece. Last night, technical difficulties triggered an impromptu sing-along of Ih-Ah!, which got everyone's vocal cords ringing, so, being the showman that he is, Townsend repeats this tonight. Kingdom and the cheesy classic Life almost wrap up this set, but not before the absolutely beautiful The Death Of Music intimately hugs every single person in the room. This experience is a special one and the relationship that Devin Townsend Project have with their fans is something most bands could only wish for.