layer after layer of Devin to remove, dissect, and analyze." Music Several songs reference or are referenced in other Devin Townsend music: "Stand" would be recalled in "Watch You" on Contain Us; "Planet of the Apes" recalls the melody of "A Monday" from Ki; "The Mighty Masturbator" reuses the coda of "Processional" from the Infinity/Christeen + 4 Demos EP. Critical reception Deconstruction was received with positive reviews from music critics. Metal Hammer described Deconstruction as "easily the most deranged, complex and sonically overwhelming thing he's ever done". Bloody Disgusting's Jonathan Barkan praised the depth and complexity of the album, writing that "It’s astounding and an absolute joy to try and dissect." He concluded that "Deconstruction is quite possibly the closest I’ve ever heard an album come to aural insanity while still being a complete joy to listen to." Exclaim!'s Laura Wiebe likewise noted that "There's so much range and depth that Deconstruction is almost visible and tactile", though she criticised the second half of the album as taking the self-deprecating comedic theme too far, "deliberately sabotaging what might otherwise be verging on brilliance". In 2021, it was elected by Metal Hammer as the 19th best symphonic metal album. Track listing Personnel Devin Townsend – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, programming Ryan Van Poederooyen – drums on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth, ex-Soilwork, Scarve) – drums on tracks 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 Paul Kuhr (Novembers Doom) – vocals on "Praise the Lowered" Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth, ex-Bloodbath) – vocals on "Stand" Ihsahn (Emperor) – vocals on "Juular" Tommy Giles Rogers (Between the Buried and Me) – vocals on "Planet of the Apes" Joe Duplantier (Gojira) – vocals on "Sumeria" Paul Masvidal (ex-Death, Cynic) – vocals on "Sumeria" Greg Puciato (ex-The Dillinger Escape Plan) – vocals on "The Mighty Masturbator" Floor Jansen (ex-After Forever, ReVamp, Nightwish) – soprano vocals on "Pandemic" Oderus Urungus (Gwar) – vocals on "Deconstruction" Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah) – solo on "Deconstruction" Florian Magnus Maier (Morean) (The Hungry Gods, Dark Fortress, Noneuclid, Alkaloid) – undertones on "Stand" and "The Mighty Masturbator" Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra Production Devin Townsend – production, recording, mixing Jens Bogren – mixing Anthony Clarkson – artwork Charts References Devin Townsend albums 2011 albums Inside Out Music albums Albums produced by Devin Townsend Concept albums