Metal-Realm.net recently caught up with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD guitarist Jed Simon to discuss SYL and his other band, TENET. The following is a brief excerpt from the interview:

Metal-Realm: First off, let’s talk about Strapping Young Lad. What is going on with the group? Are SYL on hiatus? Done?

Simon: "Good question, haha! Nothing is going on right now, we are all doing our own things at the moment...myself and TENET, Dev and ZILTOID, Gene and his DVD, Byron and ZIMMERS HOLE (I'm in on that one too). So, I hesitate to say either 'hiatus' or 'done'. The fact is simply this, 'I don't know'. Which ever way it turns out though, I'll be happy with that. It's been fun, and opened a lot of doors for me. I'm not the 'sit-around-being-mopey' type, ya know...so if it's done, that's fine. There is a lot of gusto left in this soul, so I'll always find something to do. Regardless of who I'm playing with, music is the supreme motivator!"

Metal-Realm: The current Tenet project has been getting a lot of buzz, I know a lot of people are really interested in this. What can you tell us about Tenet?

Simon: "I'm glad to be finally getting it done. I signed with Century Media almost four years ago, and due to SYL being very busy, I couldn't give it the attention I thought it deserved. So I waited, and I'm happy I did; it's come out far better than I'd hoped. Tenet is to me, in an word, therapy. I've harbored much anger since I was a young kid, and this was the vessel with which to get that anger out. Details aren't necessary, the lyrics will speak clearly enough I think. Musically, it's everything I love about heavy music. Guitar, bass, drums, vocals, and nothing else. Pure old school aggression. And no keyboards! Being an old fart, my school was 70's hard rock and 80's speed metal...with a heavy dose of 90's death metal. Wrap it up and you've got Tenet. It's also killer for me to have the return of ripping guitar solos!!! I miss that shit, and while I've played lead before, I still consider myself a rhythm dude. And with Glen puttin' the boots to the solos on this album, I'm really fucking happy about it. Really happy."

Metal-Realm: With Tenet, what exactly do you want to do? Is it really more of a side-project where you just release studio albums, maybe play a few gigs? Or do you want to take it to the heights that Strapping Young Lad have and beyond, making it a full time gig?

Simon: "I want Tenet to achieve whatever it is able to achieve. I think it would be cool to put this on the road and see how people react. I hope people dig it...and I think the live shows would be a lesson in intensity. No screamo, no emo, no pretty flowery tattoos, no keyboards, no whining, no swoopy-dos or droopy-drawers. Just four guys showing the puppies how it's supposed to be done. Clear enough?"

Metal-Realm: Vocals, you have said you are going to give them a shot with Tenet, how are you coming along with that? Is this something you always wanted to try?

Simon: "Yeah, they are done. And it was the most frightening thing I've ever done. It kicked my ass to be blunt. I have a whole new appreciation for what it takes to stay on top of your voice. I got sick about halfway through, and it sucked because my voice completely changed. At least there was plenty of other work to do while recovering. Doing these kind of vocals was tough as nails. If this goes on the road, you can be sure I'll be practicing like crazy to get the throat in shape."

Go to this location to read the complete interview.

As previously reported, three demo tracks ('Indulge Me', 'Unnameable', 'Crown Of Thorns') from Tenet's upcoming album, Sovereign, can be heard here.