Well, this album was an undertaking - Devin Townsend never skimps on material, and it came with a bonus album. I funded the bonus option via Pledgemusic, along with apparently every other metal head in existence (it ended up being like 550% funded - but that means a ton of money for Z2!!!!). This is one of Townsend's most melodic and chill offerings. The main album is a concept album about a person getting stranded on an alien planet that is sentient and feeds off of fear... in the style of downbeat country. It sounds a lot like the soundtrack to The Drowned Man (for the western sections). It is weird, but works oddly well, if a bit bloated with self-indulgent ambient sections. The woman he got to do the majority of the vocals is an incredible singer, and she is really what makes this album great.

The bonus album is leftovers from Townsend's previously released Ghost. You can tell these songs were the nucleus for what became the Casualties of Cool tracks. While individual songs don't standout, as a chill and somber listening experience, it excels as a whole. Nice music for thoughtful reflection.

3.5/5 - Very good album. Different than anything he's released while still have a Devin sound, I can't wait to see what he puts out next... because it is a sequel to Ziltoid the Omniscient (which is one of the best metal releases ever!).