Review: Devin Townsend Project - Ghost

I have never listened to any of Devin Townsend's stuff before this. I do know that Strapping Young Lad played metal, and this new stuff from his more solo oriented project wasn't metal, so I wasn't taken aback by the style of this album. In fact, I was looking forward to it since I liked Opeth's Heritage release so much. However, I find Ghost pedestrian and disappointing. I really want to stress that I'm not criticizing this album because it doesn't rock out. Then again, maybe I am in a way. While I don't think music has to feature power chords and blast beats in order to rock it should have feeling, emotion, conviction in what it's doing. It's got to believe and make me a believer as well. Ghost just doesn't do that for me at all. It sounds like something you hear piped over the sound system at a New Age book store. I don't even see a point in discussing any of the songs in particular since none of them stand out to me, other than some of the lyrics that border on ridiculousness. It's not completely terrible. The music is well executed. The whole thing is just too tranquil. Actually, it's not that it's tranquil, it's boring. I would only listen to this if I wanted something really mellow that I didn't really have to pay any attention to. Something truly terrible I would never listen to again. Not recommended. ** out of 5.