Customer Reviews

New Black

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD - The New Black
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Will this be the final chapter in the SYL catalog? Devin claims it shall be as his 5 album deal with Century Media comes to an end... however Mr. Hoglan says this will not be the last of SYL. Truthfully it is hard to say... with a madman like Townsend anything (And everything) is possible. But if this is their closing chapter at least I can say Devin and Co. went out with a bang!

The New Black is an album best enjoyed from beginning to end. The powerful `Decimator' leads the charge and is a powerful blend of melody with the signature SYL heaviness. The first single, the comical `You Suck' follows with some Gene-Machine trademarked drumming and City-like guitar riffs. Not to mention Devin's lyrical content is sharp as a crayon as he rants and raves like an insane genius about how much people (Himself included) suck! The third song, `Anti Product' boasts some odd, yet suited, jazz fusion. Track #5, `Wrong Side' is likely my favorite track... viciously heavy with some fantastic backing vocals (either by Jed or Byron) and some fantastic guitar work. Not to mention Devin's power metal chorus!
Another great bonus is long time fans can rejoice in `Far Beyond Metal' A long time live fan favorite. With some updated lyrics the boys rock out hard with one of Metal's finest tracks. And I love that Jed and Byron contributed the backing vocals to give it the live-vibe, as opposed to just Devin's overdubs!

The album is still not quite perfect there are a few bland moments or songs. As I stated above enjoy the entire album in sequence for proper listening pleasure and the few moments that do seem skip worthy actually blend in quite nicely. Hopefully this isn't their closing chapter, but if it is at least they went out with some style!

Favorite Songs: Wrong Side, Far Beyond Metal, You Suck and Decimator
-4.5 Stars

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Devin Townsend has consistently pumped out more product than any other self producing musician in the last 10 years. And to up the ante, everything he's done has been consistently good. The crazed scientist this time takes the Lad on somewhat of a newer trip, While 'Alien' was really was pretty crazy, he honed what he did on that record and made it more technical, while at the same time, crafting a somewhat newer style for the lad. A lot of the songs on this record don't stick to any paricular formula, or even style, You go from "decimator" to "You Suck" to "Anti product" to "Monument" and so on, and not one of these songs sound anything remotley like the one that preceeded it. "Anti Product" has a nice little groove to it that sounds like it could be "AAA"(from 'City') smarter older brother, with a nice bluesy shuffle done ala SYL. There isn't a bad song on this disc, in fact I know this will definetly be one of my top 5 favorite cds released when I compile my list at the end of the year. You want an Anthem? You got it, with the cleverly sung chorus in "You SucK" is enough to enlighten any slipknot simpleton. They have also re-recorded "Far Beyond Metal" with Oderus Urungus of Gwar, which, given the current metal climate, we needed that anthem to make a return. MY Personal favorite would have to be "Wrongside", only because the song seems to go EVERYWHERE METAL CAN GO! Masterpiece, 5.

I'm not one of those fans of Devin like Mike Patton fans that think even if he farts into a microphone it is pure gold!!! but Devin is my favourite artist, no doubt. I thought the comeback self titled album was a huge disappointment. Heavy, no substance. Strapping without the Devin touch. But Alien and now The New Black are something completely different. This album shows why Devin is a musical GOD.
It is tracks like 'The Death Of Music' that make Devin who he is today, and this album takes his regime to a new level. Tracks like "Almost Again, The New Black, Monument, Wrong Side", I'm at a loss for words, pure musical magic. I saw in a review before that Godsmack are the best band on the planet. Listening to this album makes me feel sorry for such misguided, limited people.
Buy this album, thank whoever you wish to thank that you love metal and bang your head
Long Live REAL metal, it is in short supply in this age of Core new Nu-metal samey boringness.

Following up 2005's excellent "Alien", Devin Townsend and co. return with "The New Black"; an album which pushes Strapping Young Lad even further up the ladder of metal excellence. Combining his unique vocal range, former Death drummer Gene Hoglan's insane double kick drumming, and lyrics unlike you'll ever hear in a real metal album today, "The New Black" is an album that is just plain awesome. "You Suck", "Anti-Product", "Far Beyond Metal", the title track and the untitled track must be heard to be believed, particularly "Far Beyond Metal" in which Townsend and Oderus Urungus from GWAR take shots at the music industry, and no one and nothing are safe from Townsend's venom spewing rants. Undoubtadly one of the best metal albums released this year, consider "The New Black" an essential addition to your metal library.

Most everything I've read so far here is more or less on the money so I won't repeat the same acollades. Yes this album is really sweet, not a classic exactly but just where it aught to be in the evolution of Hevy Devy and SYL.
When you string all of the Devy catalogue together one of the earliest of the"solo/Strapping records if not the first is the cult classic 'Punky Bruster'.With it's hilarious tale of the music business and the polish death metal band tring to break in was a brillient throw away hit. Now the New Black brings up the same topic with fabulous songs that both validify and mock much of the so called metal senseabilities! Both albums were cranked out in double quick time.(The difference with PB being that Devy practically did it on a whim {gimmie $1500 and 2 weeks and I'll/we'll crap out an album.})
The New Black is the "New Brewster" but if the boys ever do get together for another bast There won't be any suger on it next time.So be warned all you pop rock f**Ks!
Live long and perspire Strapping Young Lad

This album may not be quite as heavy as Alien, but imo it's just as great. Every song on here is amazing, minus a couple songs such as "Hope" and "F##ker", which don't quite measure up with the rest of the album but are still pretty good. Yes, This album is a little more accessible and melodic than thier others, but in no way is anything on here radio friendly. SYL are just as insane as ever, just with a more melodic sound. Some of the highlights are "You Suck", "Monument", "Wrong Side"(possibly one of the greatest songs SYL has ever written), "Far Beyond Metal", and "Almost Again". If this really is Strapping Young Lad's final album, atleast they went out with one of the best albums of 2006.

This is an album full of heavy metal madness, chalk full of guitar solos and more singing than their last release. They definitely use the F word a lot on the album, especially in songs like "U Suck" and of course one other (You can gues which one), though the songs are outstanding. Other songs on the album are "Wrong Side," "Hope," "Far Beyond Metal" and the opener "Decimator," which is a not so typical style of love like "Almost Again," which is one of the band's absolute best and the strongest song of this set. Strapping Young Lad fans will not be disappointed with this album.

A more melodic and somewhat of a straight foward approach is what you will hear on 'The New Black'. Is that hard to believe that SYL could do something like that...... well they did and the outcome is great. The production is fantastic, the musicianship is..... well...........Strapping Young Lad.......... you know what you're getting into. Great riffs and truly insane drumming by the one and only G. Hoglan. And up on top is the wonderful singing and screaming from D. Townsend who is like a captain on a huge ocean liner navigating through the seas of metal. I love the horn section in 'Anti- product' and as much as I enjoy this album it is not nearly as exciting and unpredictable as 'Alien' which in my humble opinion is truly their greatest piece of work to date. There are parts in this album where Devin has got a clear singing voice going on and it just seems a bit light for SYL. Something more along the lines of his own band.......The Devin Townsend Band. The remake of 'Far Beyond Metal' is great with extra vocals provided by Oderus(Gwar) but to put this on 'The New Black' I don't understand the reasoning. The arrangements are awesome throughout 'The New Black' but I feel a couple of songs are a bit weak and should have been put to the side. But none the less any album from SYL is a great metal album and most will be pleased with the outcome. Easily stands along side any of their previous work. But lets be honest fans, it is to difficult to acheive what SYL acheived or even surpass any of the material on 'Alien'. 'Nuff said!

That's very good SYL...
No problems: "BUY IT"

I think just the European's version is better (2 bonus tracks of SYL...) Not roadrunners' products.
I've no problems with others bands but it's a bad idea for a bonus track CD...

I gotta say that I was really fueled by this album. It may not be as insanely hardcore as older SYL stuff, but this album is no scrap. Devin Townsend has experimented with different sounds for just as long as he's fronted Strapping Young Lad. He's usually kept his other projects seperate from this band, leaving SYL strictly as an output for brain bashing freak metal. However, if you've ever peeped one of his outside projects, you can see that the man is a genious when it comes to creating a musical atmosphere. Thats what he brings to the table for this, SYL's 5th (and apparently final) album.
Oh and its good too. Very good. I'm sure some hardcore fans are gonna bitch about how its not the same... stop living in the past. This album takes a little of the old, a little of the new, and mixes it down, for one richly and creatively produced metal album that doesn't quit.
Devin Townshend is one person that I would like to see do more work behind the soundboards, and start producing future metal acts. He has a lot to give to the breed metal, and its obvious that he has some sort of plan in store for us.
Get this and play fom start to finish, no matter what. If you want to hear some metal that is...no joke... brilliant, pick this up.
This will most likely be my pick for best metal album of 2006. ROCKKKKKKKKKS!