The Moth (limited deluxe 3CD/Blu-ray artbook edition)

~ Release by Devin Townsend (see all versions of this release, 12 available)

Annotation

The Moth is Devin Townsend’s most ambitious work to date, a project that has existed in his mind as his life’s work – an immersive orchestral, choral, and theatrical project over a decade in the making. What began as a distant vision became reality when Townsend was invited to collaborate with the North Netherlands’ Orchestra and Choir.

Unlike his previous genre-hopping worlds, The Moth was conceived from the ground up as a fully orchestrated narrative. Townsend spent years relearning musical fundamentals to write the score himself: harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration rebuilt from scratch, expertly assisted by Joseph Stevenson. The result is a meticulously crafted, emotionally driven piece where every instrument and voice has space to speak.

Recorded across more than ten countries, the album brings together an extraordinary global cast: the aforementioned North Netherlands Orchestra and Choir, long-time collaborators Darby Todd, Mike Keneally, James Leach, and guests including Steve Vai, Anneke Van Giersbergen & Lynn Wu (Ou). Hundreds of musicians, engineers, mixers and artists contributed to the project’s massive creative ecosystem.

At its core, The Moth is about transformation. Through its soaring arrangements and intimate moments, the work explores self-acceptance, surrender, and the courage to face discomfort without turning away.

The Moth is about the journey—but it is also about arrival.

Annotation last modified on 2026-04-03 01:41 UTC.

Tracklist

1▶CD: The Moth
2▶CD: The Moth (The Afterlife)
3▼CD: The Moth (The War – live)
#TitleRatingLength
1Semi‐Prologue (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Semi‐Prologue (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
2:43
2War Beyond Words (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
War Beyond Words (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
33:57
3The Moth (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
The Moth (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
1:46
4Ode to My Eye (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Ode to My Eye (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
1:14
5Enter the City (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Enter the City (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
2:18
6Covered by Causes (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Covered by Causes (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
additional lyricist:
Lynn Wu
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
8:05
7Lexin (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Lexin (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
4:32
8Runaways (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Runaways (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
0:49
9A Proxy for God (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
A Proxy for God (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
1:27
10The Mothers (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
The Mothers (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
1:56
11Orion (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Orion (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
6:00
12Stay There (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Stay There (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
2:26
13Home at Night (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Home at Night (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
5:32
14Intermission (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Intermission (on 2025-03-28)
composer:
Devin Townsend and Steve Vai
publisher:
HevyDevy Records and SyVy Music
5:07
15Lexin Returns (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Lexin Returns (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
0:48
16The Clergy (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
The Clergy (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
additional lyricist:
Lynn Wu
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
1:06
17Prepare for War (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Prepare for War (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
4:45
18The Big Snit (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
The Big Snit (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
2:37
19Silver Princess (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Silver Princess (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
2:50
20A Life in Review (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
A Life in Review (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
1:29
21Metamorphosis (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Metamorphosis (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
2:26
22Stained Hearts (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Stained Hearts (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
3:59
23Let Go (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
Let Go (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
lyricist and composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
1:22
24We Don’t Deserve Dogs (The War – live)
recorded at:
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, Kingdom of the Netherlands (on 2025-03-28)
live recording of:
We Don’t Deserve Dogs (on 2025-03-28)
orchestrator:
Joseph Stevenson (Scottish composer, producer, orchestrator and multi‐instrumentalist)
composer:
Devin Townsend
publisher:
HevyDevy Records
1:59
4▶Blu-ray

Credits