Strapping Young Lad - Strapping Young Lad
Released: 2003

Bullymag.com review

"From the opening attack of "Consequence," SYL just bowls you over. It's a super heavy, balls-out album filled with crunching death metal riffs, thrash metal rhythms, industrial layers, and haunting screams. Led by vocalist/guitarist Devin Townsend, the band unleashes a never-ending 10 song assault that gives you no chance to come up for air. Focusing around themes of Armageddon, SYL comes at you like Panzer tank division on tracks like "Relentless," "Rape Song," and "Aftermath." While much of the focus generally falls on Townsend who writes the songs, what's clear upon listening to SYL is the incredible chops of his fellow musicians. Drummer Gene Hoglan's bass drum work anchors the entire album with its thunderous attack. "

"From start to finish, SYL's obtrusiveness is unsettling - this isn't a record to spin idely in the background. Furthermore, the depth of Townsend's work, as heard on last year's breathtaking solo album Terria, is more prevalent than before. So, less isn't always more, and this time more has meaning. As the opener, "Dire" sets a celestial, empowering tone, and it's one that SYL are quick to break as "Consequence's" Wagnerian gait marches in step with "Rape Song's" unbridled aggression. It's a similar formula that changed Emperor from black metal to 'sophisticated' black metal. Yet under SYL's tension and sheer emotional power, it feels as if something so controlled and precise can suddenly unwind into a directionless musical expression. "

"SYL is way too melodic and conventional to fit being a direct successor to the first two albums, and I assume that is exactly what is disappointing to me about this album. City is in every respect a better album than SYL, because the latter lacks the impact of leaving you breathless and wondering what the fuck just happened. If you're in it for the melodics, SYL is passed on the other side by Devin Townsend's other new album (Accelerated Evolution). On the other hand, yes -- SYL is a good album. An excellent album, compared to most of the other releases I've listened to lately. Some of the songs keep sticking to you ("Relentless", "Aftermath", "Devour"), and the production is quite decent. I guess it would be best to give this album a try yourself."

"Strapping Young Lad’s latest offering is not to be taken lightly, it demands your complete attention and deserves nothing less. This is not an album you throw in and walk away only to idly tune in an out. From a creation standpoint I am not quite sure how you dub the malay of fucking maelstrom but one thing is for certain this is metal of perseverance. The album contains so many facets of metal combined into one solidified counterstrike that to put your finger on the sound in a whole is ultimately impossible. However this is metal of the Millennium that much I can guarantee."

"SYL care not for being commercial in any way shape or form. They stay true to what they know and believe in and it’s that work ethic that has brought about this absolute gem of a sampler and teaser for the new self-titled album. Heavy riffs, electro backdrops and the voice of a demon. Metal is riding on the crest of a wave again and Strapping Young Lad are at the driving seat. Stone Sour? An embarrassment in comparison." 5/5

"Devin sings like a man who exists on a different ethereal dimension. Listening to a song like Force Fed (not a Prong song!) makes one question the sanity of this man. Then again, that is what seems to happen every time someone goes against conventional wisdom or questions the prevailing mass psychosis: "Give Us a Reason For Coming Of War." SYL is a musical chainsaw mechanism, poignant, angry and brutal!"

"Townsend's vocals range from clean, to extremely aggressive, to insane black metal screams. The drums provided by Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Testament, Death) on this release threatened to blow out my speakers with their double bass insanity. The bass riffs of Byron Stroud are meant to mimic a migraine headache and certainly accomplish what they are intended to do."

"To anyone versed in Strapping’s previous work, SYL is instantly familiar. Townsend’s studio perfection is something of a personal trademark, and the production here is typically flawless. Few people on the planet, if any, are as able as Devin Townsend to utilize guitar and sound engineering to create a colossal wall of overwhelming sonic punishment that anyone without studio-quality speakers can’t help but feel as if they’re not experiencing fully"