Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Devour!!!, February 19, 2003
Okay, two things. 1) I'm listening to this disc for the first time as I write this. 2) I've been a huge SYL/Devin Townsend fan since I first heard the words, "All I need is this city and it's mine and I will get by," from SYL's stunning second album, City. Buy (that) now with one click and head back here. Pure genius. Amazing. One more thing, in case you think this makes me too biased to bother continuing, understand that I really do take my music seriously, and have literally since I can remember. I won't worry about classifying this collection, but as far as the heavier end of the musical spectrum goes, SYL is among the elite. Oh and if you're looking for three chords and verse-chorus-verse-bridge, etc., you should either leave now or prepare to have your horizons expanded.Anyway, ..., they've let Gene Hoglan run wild on this release. It's like a clinic. Devin Townsend continues to amaze me with the way that he can inject an almost ambient melodicism into the context of such bone-breakingly heavy music without the whole thing seeming forced or somehow obvious, but rather as though the songs each sprang forth as wholly realized expressions. This alone is remarkable, but further, repeated listening to his catalogue of works cements his status, in my mind, at least, as a true musician/composer. Oh, and a singer. Jesus, the pipes on this guy; the vocal and emotional range. Wow. Did you all know that he was offered the vocal gig in Judas Priest, but turned it down("Rob Halford is Judas Priest's vocalist, not me.")? How about that Steve Vai has said of Devin that he's a "really good guitarist"? You won't likely hear any leads on this album I'm eight of ten songs in, and I haven't yet, but for those of you to whom this actually matters, trust me, he shreds. Seen him do it. Nearing the end of my first listen and the songs are whiplash tight, and punctuated beautifully by crushing, tap-dancing fits and starts of amazing double-bass drumming which have are signature Hoglan. ... I'd say that there may not be as much variety as there was on City, but I haven't heard this stuff before and Devin's music certainly rewards multiple listens. The opening track should please all of you waiting for a majestic, City-like opening, and the final track, Bring on the Young sees Devin spreding his melodic wings a bit in the afforementioned lush, psuedo-ambient sense. Gonna give this one five stars. Started the disc over now and it's stating to sink in. Wow. Okay, enough. Thanks for reading. Now buy it.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dripping... what?, April 21, 2004
Like heavy metal's own Rocky Horror Show, Strapping Young Lad is a fascinating genre homage that's both parody and genuine article at the same time. There are plenty of general metal characteristics to go around - the deathly shrieks, the bile-filled lyrics, the mad-chugging guitars, the hyper double-bass drumming that's seemingly mandatory for any band aspiring to true metallic evilness - but it's delivered with an awareness of how intrinsically absurd the genre can be, and SYL's sense of their own silliness refreshingly sets them apart from the crowd. The fact that such demonic-sounding music revolves around an anti-war theme adds another amusing twist. How many metal bands out there would ominously spit out a lyric like "Dripping.." and then follow it up with "..cabbages"?
With this disc it seems SYL is no longer trying to ratchet the extreme shrieking-heaviness factor as high as possible; they'd done that with ...Really Heavy Thing and City and moved on. Now, even though this disc can still provide enough sonic pummeling to crush skulls, there's also more of a dynamic range present. "Force Fed" slides into an almost ballad-like chorus (as close as SYL gets, anyway) that's ultimately about love and not hate. "Bring on the Young" wraps things up as a slow sinister outro rather than an apocalyptic finale. Occasionally they slow down to a steady-burning groove that doesn't need to be ultra-fast and ultra-crunchy. Oh yes, and their stunning level of technical skill & tight unison chemistry isn't lost either, even through the spots ("Devour," "Rape Song") where they do go all-out to shred every eardrum nearby.
Recommended for metal fans, masochists or anyone who could use an outlet for a little healthy rage, SYL is a bizarrely enjoyable treat from a highly talented group still at the top of their game. Also good for alienating relatives, scaring away pets and convincing evil spirits that you're best left alone.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Force Fed to Devour the Aftermath of these Relentless Rape Songs. , February 13, 2006
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD - SYL
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Nearly 6 years past between `City' and their 3rd album the Self-Initialed `SYL'.... As we all know Devon is a busy man with his other bands (The Devon Townsend Band and others...) plus he is a producer (Has worked with/ Lamb of God's - As the Palaces Burn / Misery Signals - Of Malice and The Magnum Heart / Darkest Hour's - Undoing Ruin -- To name a few...)
SYL - Starts where City left off: Punishing, Vicious yet oddly Melodic. (Even more so than its predecessor) Devon and crew have a very unique sound for such an extreme metal band... and personally I love it! SYL blends creative merit with pure musical Armageddon... I think a lot of this is likely attributed to the fact they do not take themselves too seriously!!! As said in an interview Devon stated as much has he likes heavy music he is able to see the comedy in the fact that he is 40 plus years old, balding and screaming in a heavy metal band for a living... [The geniuses are always insane!!!]
Also X-Death and Dark Angel drummer Gene Hoglan is the perfect man for the band... As this 300 + pound man moves as quickly and as gracefully as a hummingbird (Watch the DVD: For Those Aboot to Rock - Just amazing to see him play)
All in All I think City, SYL and their latest Alien are all essential to anyone who loves extreme metal.
Favorite Songs: Relentless, Force Fed, and Consequence
-4.25 Stars.
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~ Strapping Young Lad
~ Strapping Young Lad
~ Strapping Young Lad
~ Devin Townsend
~ Devin Townsend
by Strapping Young Lad 
