Strapping Young Lad

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Vancouver, Canada (1994 – 2007)

Strapping Young Lad is an influential industrial progressive metal band from Vancouver, Canada, started by Devin Townsend in 1994, which is currently on hiatus since 2007. Strapping Young Lad is the angrier, more aggressive side of Devin Townsend, The Devin Townsend Band is popularly known as the happier side. Their sound is generally described as progressive death metal/industrial metal, which incorporates symphonic synth-melodies and a wall of sound production technique, although this differs from album to album.

Strapping Young Lad began as a solo project by Canadian musician Devin Townsend. Once he had completed his work as vocalist on Steve Vai’s Sex and Religion and that album’s subsequent tour, he recorded the majority of the instruments on the debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing.

Rather than remain a solo project, additional members and the release of the album City, saw SYL secure their line-up permanently. City was released to a huge response, prompting Kerrang! magazine to call it one of the heaviest albums ever.

SYL’s third album, the self titled Strapping Young Lad, marked SYL’s first release on Devin’s own label, Hevy Devy Records, which was founded just after the release of City and is managed by Devin and his wife Tracy.

In early 2004, Devin advertised on the band’s official forum for fans to join SYL for a free show at the Commodore in Vancouver. This show was filmed and released as the first DVD from SYL: For Those Aboot to Rock: Live at the Commodore.

Tagged as:

industrial metal, death metal, progressive metal, metal, thrash metal
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Alien
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The New Black
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City
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SYL
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ClydeDaf wrote:
Tuesday evening

I can't relate to Townsend's "solo" project, to be honest. I tried his debut and his newest work ("Addicted!"), both didn't click with me.

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metmass wrote:
Tuesday evening

And I noticed how much of an extraordinary experience becoming familiar with Devin Townsend's music is. Is it really that exciting or is it just me?

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metmass wrote:
Tuesday evening

You were right, I appreciated City more by concentrating on the record's spirit, the atmosphere is amazing. And I've got the impression that while City is about the atmosphere, the power of SYL lies definitely mostly in the riffs. I don't think I've ever heard anything more or even as aggressive and brutal like Rape Song. Also I'm a guitar player, that's why this album appeals to me so much - more prominent guitarwork.

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t0pth4t wrote:
Tuesday morning

I LOVE THEM

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Rovelius wrote:
Tuesday morning

I don't like SYL's current pic. Seeing Devin with a sad face doesn't really fit with SYL.

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TFPhoenixNL wrote:
Monday evening

This music feels so progressive and weird for me it's a great adventure listening to some of these masterpieces!

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andnino wrote:
Sunday evening

Kinda agree with Falk, I think it especially is the atmosphere that makes City the best, to me. It is music that sometimes connects seperate clouds of thoughts, it caused quite an epiphany for me. Whatever thought I have, I can relate it, musically, thematically or lyrically, to City.

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metmass wrote:
Sunday afternoon

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

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Falk_Oomikami wrote:
Saturday evening

Metmass > There was a time, a bunch of months, when SYL was my fav' as well. Aftermath of course, and the whole thing. Then Alien came out and took the place, but now I must say that to me, City is really a step beyond. Why, I'm not sure. I'm not a big fan of the low G string used on Alien and TNB and prefere the unperfect sound of City, sounds kind of "hand made". The samples too, both the discovery channel lines and electro/mecanic sounds here and there. It gives a more industrial, less thrashy feel. And the intensity of some songs : OMFG is pure Chaos, like "the world in 3'30"", Detox is the sonic representation of a giant robot in space, Home Nucleonics a circular blade in your brain, the beginnig of Underneath the Waves is insane, and Spirituality's a pitch black monolithic labyrinth of someone's mind. Well, that's the way I get it :)

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MoogleSoft wrote:
Saturday evening

imo nobody cares idiot shut > the > fuck > up

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Optom-deshevle wrote:
Saturday evening

imo City>TNB>SYL>Alien>HAARHT

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metmass wrote:
Saturday evening

Oh, and Gene Hoglan fucking RULES.

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metmass wrote:
Saturday evening

After a month of getting into this band I can (for now) say SYL is my favorite album. I seem to like the guitarwork more than on the other albums. The songs are fucking great, make my heart pumping faster. Alien would come second. The New Black I have yet to understand, I probably will after a couple of careful listens. But - and here's the deal - I really don't get the supposed greatness of City. What is it exactly that makes you guys think it's the greatest? Help me out, I might get it too.

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Pearlriver wrote:
Saturday morning

FACT: ALIEN IS BETTER THAN CITY

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jimmytheone44 wrote:
Saturday morning

@thrasher86: Nobody cares.

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thrasher86 wrote:
Thursday morning

City > Alien > The New Black > SYL > Heavy as a really heavy thing

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escapist_storm wrote:
last week

oh my fucking god.

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fistacorps wrote:
last week

This band is amazing as fuck, incredible

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CrazyGreg91 wrote:
last month

Underneath the Waves is highly underrated

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OprisOvidiu wrote:
last month

OMFG the first verses. :O

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