 In May 2007 , Townsend released Ziltoid the Omniscient , a tongue @-@ in @-@ cheek rock opera about the eponymous fictional alien . This was truly a solo album ; he programmed the drums using Drumkit from Hell , a software drum machine that uses samples recorded by Tomas Haake of Meshuggah and played all other instruments himself . Shortly after the album 's release , Townsend announced that he no longer planned to tour or make albums with Strapping Young Lad or the Devin Townsend Band . He explained that he was " burnt out on travelling , touring , and self promotion " and wished to do production work , write albums , and spend time with his family without the stress of interviews or touring . 
 In May 2007 , Townsend released Ziltoid the Omniscient , a tongue @-@ in @-@ cheek rock opera about the eponymous fictional alien . This was truly a solo album ; he programmed the drums using Drumkit from Hell , a software drum machine <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>uses</mark></a> samples recorded by Tomas Haake of Meshuggah and played all other instruments himself . Shortly after the album <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>release , Townsend announced that he no longer planned to tour or make albums with Strapping Young Lad or the Devin Townsend Band . He explained that he was " burnt out on travelling , touring , and self promotion " and wished to do production work , write albums , and spend time with his family without the stress of interviews or touring . 
In May 2007 , Townsend released Ziltoid the Omniscient , a tongue @-@ in @-@ cheek rock opera about da eponymous fictional alien . dis was truly a solo mixtape ; he programmed tdadrums usin Drumkit from Hell , a software drum machine use samples recorded by Tomas Haake of Meshuggah and played all other instruments himself . Shortly after the album  release , Townsend announced dat he no longer planned to tour or make albums with Strapping Young Lad or the Devin Townsend Band . He explained that he was " burnt outt on travelling , touring , and self promotion " and wished to do production wrk , write albums , and spend time with his family without the stress of interviews or touring .