Editing Accelerated Evolution (section)

==Release==
''Accelerated Evolution'' was released in March 2003 on Townsend's independent label, HevyDevy Records. It is distributed in Canada by HevyDevy, in Japan by [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]], and in Europe and North America by [[InsideOut Music|InsideOut]]. The album art was created by [[Travis Smith (artist)|Travis Smith]], who also did the art for ''Terria'' and ''SYL''. InsideOut also released a special edition of the album which contained a 3-track EP called ''Project EKO'', Townsend's first foray into [[electronica]].<ref name="justin-20031002">"Justin" (October 2, 2003). "[http://www.metalstorm.ee/pub/interview.php?interview_id=15 Devin Townsend interview]." ''[[Metal Storm (webzine)|Metal Storm]]''.</ref> The album reached number 135 on the French albums chart<ref name="lescharts">{{in lang|fr}} "[https://archive.today/20130127165111/http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=45086&cat=a The Devin Townsend Band – ''Accelerated Evolution'']." ''Les Charts''. Retrieved May 27, 2009.</ref> and number 249 on the Japanese albums chart.<ref name="oricon">{{in lang|ja}} "[http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/510678/1/ アクセルレイティッド・エヴォルーション/デヴィン・タウンゼンド]." ''[[Oricon]]''. Retrieved June 1, 2009.</ref>

Prior to the formation of the Devin Townsend Band, Townsend had represented his solo releases live with the Strapping Young Lad lineup; the band would play one set of Strapping Young Lad songs and one set of Devin Townsend songs.<ref>Gibson, Doug (June 26, 2005). "[http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=14203 Interview with Strapping Young Lad's Jed Simon]." ''Metal Underground''.</ref> After the release of ''Accelerated Evolution'', Townsend began touring with The Devin Townsend Band, at times separately from Strapping Young Lad<ref name="hdr-biography">{{cite web|title=Devin Townsend Biography |publisher=HevyDevy Records |author=Turner, Tracy |url=http://www.hevydevy.com/hdr_biography.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118124925/http://www.hevydevy.com/hdr_biography.html |archive-date=2008-01-18 }}</ref> and at times sharing the bill.<ref name="kee-200305">Kee, Chris (May 2003). "Live Review: Strapping Young Lad/Devin Townsend Band/Zimmers Hole." ''Powerplay'' (44).</ref> After playing two release shows in Vancouver in July 2003,<ref>''[[Blabbermouth.net]]'' (July 21, 2003). "[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=13763 The Devin Townsend Band: Live Videos Posted Online] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040119030929/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=13763 |date=January 19, 2004 }}." Retrieved May 27, 2009.</ref> The Devin Townsend Band toured Canada with [[Strapping Young Lad]] and [[Zimmers Hole]] in October 2003.<ref name="rvp-tour">''RVP Drums''. "[http://www.rvpdrums.com/rvp_tour.html Tour Dates] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820053119/http://www.rvpdrums.com/rvp_tour.html |date=August 20, 2009 }}." Retrieved May 27, 2009.</ref> This was followed by a North American tour with [[progressive metal]] band [[Symphony X]] through November and December 2003.<ref name="rvp-tour" /><ref>''[[Blabbermouth.net]]'' (August 14, 2003). "[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=14428 Symphony X to Tour with the Devin Townsend Band] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040108115136/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=14428 |date=January 8, 2004 }}." Retrieved May 27, 2009.</ref>