|
|
|
|
Prepare yourself. Strapping Young Lad’s latest offering will swarm you with an intense aural assault. It’s been six years since Strapping Young Lad (SYL) pummeled metal heads everywhere with their own brand of Industrial thrash noise. Now the year is 2003 and SYL pick up and continue right where they left off. This time no one will go unscathed. Just a little while ago things looked dismal for the metal world, SYL seemed to be no more. Instead, Devin Townsend, Gene Hoglan, Jed Simon, Byron Stroud, and Munash decided to annihilate what they didn’t destroy years ago. With this self-titled LP, SYL’s third studio recording, they don’t try anything differently than what “City” offered, but they do bring their noise to an extreme level of insanity, which only Devin Townsend can produce. Every song is fucking hard and heavy. Which borders on many different levels/genres of metal music. At times SYL’s hybrid wall of noise matches the crazy world of Black Metal, an example of this is during my favorite song on the album “Aftermath”. Devin Townsend is genius once again. So much is happening through out this album, that it will take a number of listens to grasp everything that is piercing through you. This album is a soundscape of high velocity. If you aren’t prepared for this LP, then it may take a few listens to even acknowledge that you like this album/music. All the instruments are layered upon layers of brutal noise. At first I didn’t like the production of this LP. With so much going on, I couldn’t concentrate on one single instrument. Then after a few listens I was able to recognize what was being done, and the power in which it was being played. Strapping Young Lad as a band and an album attacks the listener without them even knowing it. Just give it a listen through a headset. Gene Hoglan is a master of the kit and the double bass. He proves once again that he is one of the very best drummers the world over. His resume can only be matched by the likes of Dave Lombardo (Hoglan is far superior though in my opinion). From the opening of the instrumental “Dire”, SYL blast each track full throttle till the very end of “Bring on the Young”. “Relentless” sounds exactly as the name suggests, as Hoglan shines here. Next, Jed uses his guitar to slay through “Rape Song”, all the while the barrage of Industrial noise explodes through your head. “Rape Song”, and “Aftermath” are my favorite songs on this disk. “Aftermath” is a seven-minute groove. The rhythm rocks, and is catchy as hell. I listen to this song over and over. Great shit. “Devour” is another highlight. Devin’s vocals are manic through out all these songs. The rest of this LP is good, but the lyrics can be a little weak at times. I’d give this album a higher rating, but, there aren’t as many great songs as there are just ok songs. I recommend this band/album to everyone reading. Strapping Young Lad are another reason why to visit Canada!!
| Tracklist |
| 1. Dire |
| 2. Consequence |
| 3. Relentless |
| 4. Rape Song |
| 5. Aftermath |
| 6. Devour |
| 7. Last Minute |
| 8. Force Fed |
| 9. Dirt Pride |
| 10. Bring On The Young |
: 39.02
| Buy other Strapping Young Lad albums |
