Z²

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Z² (pronounced “zed squared” or “zee two”) is a double album by Devin Townsend and his Devin Townsend Project. It was released on October 27, 2014 and runs about 117 minutes.

What it is
- The release combines two albums: Sky Blue, a rock‑oriented set, and Dark Matters, a heavy metal concept album that acts as a sequel to Ziltoid the Omniscient (2007). The main idea of Dark Matters is “Ziltoid against the world.”
- Z² is sometimes described as Townsend’s heaviest work and is built around the Ziltoid character, though Ziltoid himself appears less than expected.

Background and development
- Townsend announced Z² in 2009 and hinted at big, ambitious plans.
- The project included Ziltoid Radio, a one‑hour show hosted by Ziltoid, which aired seven episodes from August 2013 to January 2014 before being removed.
- Townsend released related Ziltoid TV videos and said he had written more than 70 ideas for the project by mid‑2013.
- Recording began May 2, 2014, in Los Angeles and was planned to include a live show, a graphic novel, and a documentary, in addition to the two albums.
- On February 26, 2014, it was announced as a double album: Sky Blue (main disc) and Dark Matters (the Devin Townsend Project disc). The project also planned audience‑participation choir parts.

Live show and reception
- The Z² show took place at the Royal Albert Hall on April 13, 2015.
- Z² won the Juno Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year in 2015.
- In 2024, Loudwire named Z² one of the 10 “wackiest” progressive metal albums ever.

Editions
- Basic jewel case: both albums on CD.
- Limited digipak: expanded artwork, both albums on CD, plus a bonus CD of Dark Matters without its dialogue.
- Vinyl edition: double gatefold with four records, plus both albums on CD.
- Japanese limited edition: bonus DVD of the Loud Park concert in Saitama (October 2013).

Track notes
- All tracks are written by Devin Townsend.
- The original tenth track, “Through the Wormhole,” has been removed from some versions because it consists mainly of dialogue.