Strapping Young Lad - Strapping Young Lad (2003)^{Release ID: 870}

You can't get away with saying Strapping Young Lad isn't original. This band has a unique bulletproof blend of industrial metal with progressive/hardcore influences. However, you can also consider this band the modern industrial Anthrax because of both the thrash elements and the humor. Sure the lyrics can be weird and the music can be noisy, but that's just part of what I like from this band, and what Devin Townsend can do with his music. During his hiatus from Strapping Young Lad, he started recording his own solo albums besides one-time projects and producing albums by other bands, noticeably Soilwork's Natural Born Chaos. Perhaps that Soilwork album gave him motivation to focus on heaviness in a slightly more serious, less humorous light, along with his creative anger sparked by 9/11. The SYL ship stands strong!

With crystal clear production, you can hear everything including the thundering drums, deep bass, and heavy guitar punch. Making the production clear can be a b***h for some bands, but they've done it in ease. I must admit, I enjoy the groove-ish riffing more than that of Pantera of Machine Head. Though it's the intense drumming that stands out the most, with Gene Hoglan performing blazing beats in technical groove. The bass is also relentless! The keyboards stand by the heaviness to emphasize it. And finally, Devin still has his diverse vocal range, adding slightly more cleans while doing the usual growling/screaming.

"Dire" is an epic intro where you see the gates of Hell opening as you enter. "Consequence" pounds through with evil riffing and searing drumming. "Relentless" picks up the extreme relentless energy, though it could've been done a little more interestingly. The more hardcore "Rape Song" is also not super great, but it works well for the album and doesn't affect the score one bit.

"Aftermath" is a real gem in this album. It's like a massive war anthem! Near the end is some amazing riffing energy that any metalhead should love. Thrashing around is "Devour", though the melodic sections sound a bit like heavy/power metal. Next song "Last Minute" has the closest the band has gone to black metal.

Then we have the more deathly "Force Fed". And then "Dirt Pride" has the hyperspeed thrash of Testament's faster songs. Do you think the band can continues this chaotic speed? Nope, "Bring on the Young" ends the album similarly to City. It is a drawn-out slow epic building up to a powerful climax. I honestly like this album's closing track better than that of City, despite that album being more perfect than this one.

You know what?! Nothing can stop Devin Townsend from being creative, and nothing can stop me from listening to this heavy band of his! It's a promising album for those who enjoy fast and heavy extreme industrial metal. Anyone who doesn't should stay the f*** away. Solid intense gold!

Favorites: "Consequence", "Aftermath", "Devour", "Dirt Pride", "Bring on the Young"