Ziltoid the Omniscient

Merkaba

<div class="IPBDescription">Heavy Metal Space Musical</div>[edit]To avert confusion, this isn't a stage musical, its an audio musical.[/edit]

Ever thought that prog-metal just takes itself too seriously sometimes? No? Well, whatever your answer...Ziltoid The Omniscient is here to make for an awesome musical and sn1ggeringly comical experience, from the crazy genius mind of Devin Townsend.

<img src="http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lbjfNUo1L._SS500_.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />


Ziltoid is a 4th dimensional alien who comes to Earth to find the 'ultimate cup of coffee, black' in order to power his galactic time machine. When us humans deliver him a foul cup of coffee, he attacks earth and then chases Captain Spectacular across the universe before the Captain has a chance to reach a 6th dimensional being that can expose Ziltoid as the nerd he really is (and thus destroying all the remaining Earthmen's impression of him being a guitar-god)...it's super silly, but ultimately the CD charts the decline and unstable nature of Ziltoid's huge ego (with the last three songs focusing on Ziltoid's conversation with the Creator).

But it's the music that matters, and considering the bizarre and silly storyline, the music is surprisingly serious (though sometimes funny also) and does a superb job of conveying a range of emotions, from Captain Spectacular speaking to his crew as an authorative and iconic figure of hope, the apprehensive calm before a huge galactic war, and Ziltoid's frustrated rage of denial at his own true nature when conversing with the Creator of the Omniverse.

The style of music swings from thrash metal, to ambient soundscapes, to cheesy melodies...whatever the current situation in the story demands, really. In that sense it really is a musical, with characters having their own musical backing, and emotions and musical sections changing on the fly to tell the story...

It's crazy stuff. You can listen to some songs on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ziltoidtheomniscient" target="_blank">http://www.myspace.com/ziltoidtheomniscient</a> - 'ZTO' is the intro-song (and the silliest), and 'By Your Command' is the first proper song, which serves as an introduction to Ziltoid and charts the consequence of the Earth's supplied cup of black coffee.

'Hyperdrive' tells the journey of Captain Spectacular as he and his crew escape from Ziltoid's clutches by going into....hyperdrive.

Anyway, in conclusion, its really really good! Don't let goofy humour put you off, that's Devin being Devin (and Canadian)! I ask that you listen to ZTO and By Your Command, and draw your own conclusion.

Testament

I love you, Devin. Two glorious bands and now a metal space opera? Hooo.

[youtube]gyVuheZx4BQ[/youtube]

This is normal Devin Townsend. It's nice to hear he's back into doing music, and seems to have shaken off his label, or at least their pressure. Last I heard he was giving it up to deal with his family because he felt pressure from the label would make things too hard.

Merkaba

Hah, I love his dancing in that video. Yes, I think he has left his label, or at least is no longer contracted to do anything else; he has said that he will be producing solo work that he will release over the internet instead.

raz0r

<!--quoteo(post=1632268:date=Jun 8 2007, 01:57 AM:name=Testament)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Testament @ Jun 8 2007, 01:57 AM) [snapback]1632268[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
I love you, Devin. Two glorious bands and now a metal space opera? Hooo.

[youtube]gyVuheZx4BQ[/youtube]

This is normal Devin Townsend. It's nice to hear he's back into doing music, and seems to have shaken off his label, or at least their pressure. Last I heard he was giving it up to deal with his family because he felt pressure from the label would make things too hard.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

As cool as some of his solo work is, I just wish he hadn't disbanded Strapping Young Lad. Now there was some awesome music.

Testament

<!--quoteo(post=1632403:date=Jun 8 2007, 05:38 AM:name=raz0r)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(raz0r @ Jun 8 2007, 05:38 AM) [snapback]1632403[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
As cool as some of his solo work is, I just wish he hadn't disbanded Strapping Young Lad. Now there was some awesome music.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

lol wut

He disbanded SYL? That's pretty cry.

Merkaba

In Devin's defence, his reasons for disbanding SYL were pretty reasonable; he made the band as a way to vent many of his frustrations as an early 20s man...he's now in his 30s and those frustrations don't really exist for him any more (apparently). So rather than continuing to flog a dead horse, he decided...enough was enough, time to move on to new things.

And when the result is Ziltoid The Omniscient, I for one am not going to complain!

Ziltoid, Ziltoid. ZILTOID! <i>The Omniscient</i>

Omegaman

I just may have to buy this, this sounds really great.

Merkaba

Let us know what you think if you do!

Is noone else interested? I know there are many heavy-music lovers on this board, and I know you all like sci-fi <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />

TychoCelchuuu

I'm not much of a heavy metal guy. Spinal Tap is about as far as I go.

Merkaba

Not even heavy metal about coffee-drinking aliens? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/skulk.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::skulk::" border="0" alt="skulk.gif" /> *slurp*


Actually, thinking about it, describing it as heavy metal isn't precise; there are so many mixes of melodies in the album, that its probably more of a 'metal' album than -heavy- metal...the song 'By Your Command' has a good mix of the various feels of the album though. Heavy pounding guitar sections, cleanly sung melodic pieces, ambient sections...

Basically, if you don't like By Your Command, you won't like the rest of the album!

Testament

<!--quoteo(post=1632714:date=Jun 9 2007, 06:16 PM:name=Merkaba)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Merkaba @ Jun 9 2007, 06:16 PM) [snapback]1632714[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Let us know what you think if you do!

Is noone else interested? I know there are many heavy-music lovers on this board, and I know you all like sci-fi <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Awesome album is awesoooooooooome.

Merkaba

<!--quoteo(post=1632724:date=Jun 10 2007, 03:18 AM:name=Testament)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Testament @ Jun 10 2007, 03:18 AM) [snapback]1632724[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->

Awesome album is awesoooooooooome. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Say it again! Say it again! Words are useful weapons!

<i>Say it again and again and again and again and again and agaaaaain!</i>


...I am somewhat obsessed with ZTO right now.

Testament

I'd be more into it, but I'm over-gamed, over-musiced, etc, and so my interest in anything is fleeting at best now. I miss the days I'd listen to nothing but one great album for weeks.

Ziltoid will probably get more than a few listens though. By Your Command is most definitely a killer song, but since I'm a disgusting pirate because I hate going out and shopping, I have no lyric booklet.

Also, make it perfect!

Merkaba

Ah, 'tis a shame...the lyric booklet fills in a lot of the story. For example:


<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Greetings humans. I... am Ziltoid... The Omniscient...

I have come far from across the omniverse. You... shall fetch me... your universe's ultimate cup of coffee... black.

You have 5 Earth minutes.

<i>Ziltoid is currently hovering 5 miles above Qater. His forth dimensional status gives him control of time, (he can't alter it, but he can participate in it for fun) but in order to bend it, he requires the perfect fuel for time travel: black coffee - found in only one place in the universe, Earth. Having travelled through the universe in search of the perfect brew, he descends on the earth in a ferocious hail of aggression (a facade), but he wants to come off as a bad ass, so he wails and caterwauls and threatens the earth's governments that if he doesn't receive the perfect cup of coffee, he will invade the Earth.</i><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


And just for fun, Ziltoid's spoken conversation with the Omnidimensional Creator:

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
[Ziltoid] - Assuage my confusion about creation and the universe!
[Creator] - Yo, Ziltoid! What's up dude? Long time no see. Although I see everything.. What's on yer mind, bro?
[Ziltoid] - Modular forms and elliptic curves! Infinate phi revolving around infinate parallaels! Fractals of infinate reality, each cascading, gliding in an infinite wheel!

<!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Tell me the true nature of my reality!!<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->

[Creator] - You gotta chill, man...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The rest of their conversation is laid out in the song Color Your World.

Testament

Hahaha, wow. I need to find a way to buy this, Devin deserves it.

locallyunscene

I listened to By Your Command and then bought the album. I also bought a couple of albums I had been meaning to get for a while: Deltron 3030 and Dr. Octagon.