Standalone version of ‘The Moth (The War-Live in Groningen) out 6th November 2026
Canadian metal maverick Devin Townsend released his long-awaited, ambitious, orchestral-metal opus ‘The Moth’, earlier this year in May. A new stand-alone live version of the album, titled ‘The Moth (The War-Live in Groningen), is set for release as a CD & Blu-ray edition, as well as digital audio, on 6th November 2026.
‘War Beyond Words’ typifies the immensely broad palette that is The Moth. From the delicate opening stringed melodic motif through cinematic grandeur to pounding polyrhythms, not to mention Townsend’s unique combination of operatic grace and dexterous screams.
An album over a decade in the making, it existed in the back of Devin Townsend’s mind as his “life’s work”. Then, about six years ago, after an acoustic show in Amsterdam, Townsend was approached by the head of the North Netherlands’ Orchestra and Choir with an offer; and with that moment The Moth stopped being an idea and began to become a reality. Featuring the full orchestra and choir conducted by Jukka Isakilla, principal conductor of the Metropole Orchestra and long-time collaborator with mutual friend Steve Vai, on the 27th & 28th March 2025, The Moth was premiered live in its entirety. It is this performance documented on ‘The Moth (The War – Live in Groningen). Originally included as part of the deluxe artbook edition, this is now available as a standalone CD & Blu-ray Digipak version. Pre-order now here: https://dvn.lnk.to/
If The Moth has a central gravitational theme, Townsend names it plainly: true self-acceptance. Something sturdier than slogans, closer to a practiced willingness to face what is uncomfortable without turning away. As Devin explains: “The most obvious metaphor for change within the concept of this project was a moth: from caterpillar to an entirely different creature—one so drawn to the light that it burns itself away. What remains is immutable—only the spirit.”
At the hardest moments, when abandoning the project might have seemed rational, Townsend points to the team as the decisive factor. A host of incredible musicians and contributors participated throughout the course of this process, as well as the North Netherlands Orchestra & Choir and orchestrators Joseph Stevenson & Niels Bye Nielsen. Long time band members, that are well established names in their own right; Darby Todd (drums), Mike Keneally (guitars/keys) and James Leach (bass) all played a huge part in this performance, as well as vocal guests Anneke van Giersbergen and Lynn Wu (Ou). Even Steve Vai is credited with co-writing the delicate ‘Intermission’. Devin himself freely pays tribute to the substantial team that helped him land this behemoth of a plane at this special, and so far singular, performance from Groningen.