Strapping Young Lad - The New Black
Released: 2006

Altpress.com
Phil Freeman

"The New Black has better hooks than its predecessor, 2005's Alien. Touring a lot and recording with his road band has reminded Townsend that "the people" like to pump their fists and shout memorable phrases ("You Suck" will more than meet that demand this summer). "Far Beyond Metal" is an old song, dating back to the live No Sleep Till Bedtime. This studio version, with its gang vocals and power-metal guitar soloing, totally shreds the prototype, though. The genuinely pretty "Almost Again" is the closest SYL's ever come to a ballad. Townsend's giddy love of metal's power-mad absurdity is extremely contagious; it's hard not to grin broadly at his lyrics and track titles, even as the impulse to conquer the pit becomes equally irresistible."

DigitalMetal.com
Fred Phillips

"The first thing that most people will notice about this record is that it is more melody-driven, and, yes, those words that all metal fans hate to hear -- more accessible. True, Devin screams less and sings more on this album than he has probably since the Vai album, and the songs feature more conventional structures and grooves with fewer blasts of insane noise. But for all that, it's still very much a Strapping Young Lad record."

"Hardcore SYL fans will probably call what I'm about to say sacrilege, but I think The New Black may be one of the band's all-around best efforts. I really tried to deliver the non-glowing review I thought this was going to be before I put the CD in, but what can I say? I love this record"

Insidepulse.com

"While I’d love to see the metal world putting this album on a mantle, it simply won’t happen. For most metal fans that I’ve encountered, this album falls into the “really hate it/really love it” category. And while it may ring true that this album may be a niche thing, there’s no doubting that while SYL may be breaking up, this album bids them a fair and memorable adieu"

Stylusmagazine.com

"The New Black fulfills SYL's contract with Century Media, and while its quick timing suggests "contractual obligation," its content is anything but. These songs are easily SYL's best to date; while previous albums at times threatened to dissolve into white noise, each song here has strong hooks and melodies. "You Suck" is pulverizing, with dive-bombing solos, vocals flying around the mix, and the simple refrain, "Hell yeah, you fucking suck!" "Far Beyond Metal" operates similarly: "You ironic pop rock fuck, don't you fuck with metal!" In interviews, Townsend is a staunch defender of metal, but it's also refreshing to hear him poke fun at it. His mock-abusive onstage banter is legendary; he'll tell kids to start a circle pit just because he can, and sure enough, they obediently do."

Sputnikmusic.com

"With Strapping young Lad's 5th (and supposedly final) release, The New Black, Devin Townsend brings some of his other musical influences into the industrial/ melodic death metal act, including jazzy funk rock and dance/ techno music. The album also features two unlikely guest stars, comedy death rock band GWAR?s frontman Oderus Urungus and punk influenced Indie singer/ songwriter Bif Naked. Even with it?s great musical influences separating it from the band?s earlier work, The New Black still contains all the insanity and heaviness as the previous Strapping Young Lad records."

Birmingham Weekly

"While their last release, ALIEN, redefined extreme metal in many ways, often sounding as though the band were intentionally trying to force the listener's patience and tolerance, THE NEW BLACK is much more inviting to fans old and new, all while retaining the tongue-in-cheek approach and ultra-violent instrument abuse that put Strapping Young Lad on the map in the first place. Once again, Strapping Young Lad lead the industry in new ideas, this time putting out "Best of" album that consists entirely of new tracks."

Mrrock.net

"Devin is a madman throughout the entire disc, swearing, screaming, singing melodically ala "Synchestra", all the while playing the ring leader for the insanity brought forth by his evil henchmen. His lyrics are intense, angry, and at times, very fun. He also proves he's the master of using the word 'fuck' (in all it's forms) all through. Between "Far Beyond Metal" and "Fucker", the word is used something like 60 times!!"

"The New Black is an amazing album. Sure, there are probably going to be those fans that will say negative things about it ('it's not City', or 'it's not as chaotic as Alien'), but those are the people that simply don't get Devin or SYL. They will never, ever release an album that sounds like anything else, and that is because they are truly talented, creative musicians that are always moving forward"

Rock Sound

"The New Black' is unmistakably a SYL album, it's also very different. It's like the next step in the 'Lad's evolution where they've crossed over with Devin's solo projects. Not as claustrophobic and dominating as previous releases, the likes of 'Antiproduct', 'Wrong Side' and 'Fucker' suffer not a whit from this less intense and full-force approach. The space in the songs takes a little getting used to, but there's plenty here to bang your head to."

Terrorizer

"The New Black feels a bit like an everyday picture of Devin, eloquent and honest but lacking the impassioned magnitude, the exhaustive investment of emotion that otherwise accompanies his work. With it's humdrum music industry themes, thick veins of humour and predilection towards fun, chucklesome sing-alongs ('You Suck', 'Fucker' and old favourite 'Far Beyond Metal') it's a highly evjoyable, but conceptual uneven, undisciplined record, amiably cut adrift in a blithe purgatory that contains positive characteristics of both SYL and the Devin Townsend Band, but only the more frivolous parts of the soul. It's a thouroughly proficient and at times brilliant listen that nevertheless falls considerably short of the usual focus, too sporadically powerful to attain the sense of gravity and 'Event' that normally accompanies all the man's work. Still, as he says here, "Like I give a fuck? "

Bravewords.com

"No doubt some people will whine that The New Black isn’t as heavy and abrasive as Alien, they’ll complain about Bif Naked appearing on ‘Fucker’ and about the horns on ‘Antiproduct’. But bitching about what Townsend And Co. do is like bitching about a hurricane: no matter what you say or do, it’s coming down so you might as well shut up and deal with it."

Comomusic.com

"As an album, The New Black is an impressive continuation of the SYL saga. The band’s signature sound is as lively as ever and Townsend’s ambitious treks into experimental territory consistently bear fruit. Previously, Townsend unleashed his SYL persona as if it were a hyperactive devil-child, loose in a school yard without playground monitors. This album finds Townsend relishing the conflict of his humanist side and the demon within. Said stylistic progress foreshadows a greater sonic palette for Townsend to paint with in future albums"

"Strapping may be Townsend’s brain child but he owes a great deal to his band mates on The New Black. Drummer Gene Hoglan still pushes the boundaries of what is humanly possible with a drum kit and four limbs. Jed Simon continues to be a great foil to Townsend’s guitar dynamism and bassist Byron Stroud’s rhythms remain a head banging force to contend with. SYL’s second album City, and more recently last year’s Alien are considered essential listening in the metal community"

Gryphonmetal.ch

"Clearly, The New Black is an album created with great passion and sincereness. Strapping Young Lad uncompromising and infuriated as ever, but with an even more conspicuous ridicule demonstration as their answer to the current state of music industry"

"Strapping Young Lad put another milestone in the history of metal with "The New Black". The album has a number of songs no band can match with, and the band performance is on the level most of today's bands never will be. I should not waste any time by describing the sound and production of this album, which is even better than on the "Alien" album, which was already superb."

Blistering.com

"The fun, loose vibe of SYL’s first offering, Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing is recreated here, with songs like ‘U Suck’ (love the chorus-should be a big sing-along), ‘Fucker’ and ‘Hope’ all being amiable numbers, devoid of the psychotic wrath that was so prevalent on last year’s Alien."

Chroniclesofchaos.com

"The New Black retains enough of the band's trademark schizophrenic aural bulldozing to keep long-time fans happy. Not everything on the group's fifth full-length screams quality, however. While it starts off promisingly, "Anti-Product" soon devolves into narcissistic self-indulgence that borders on Spinal Tap. Even more grating is "Fucker" and its frequent musical references to the cock rock of Motley Crue et al."

Blogcritics.org

"There are some major strong points on this release where the above quote is within merit, like "Far Beyond Metal", "Hope," and "The New Black," even so that I fudge myself with mere envy at the grooves that these vicious musicians lay down."

Billboard.com

"On The New Black, chief skull-denter Devin Townsend and company keep up the craziness, doing their best to bust through metal stereotypes while doling out vicious, frenzied slabs of sonic extremism: once you've heard "U Suck," a straight-up assault complete with demon screams and instrumental chaos on someone who sucks, and royally, there can be no mistaking SYL's commitment to rage as an artform"