STRAPPING YOUNG LAD - SYL
February 19, 2003, 21 years ago
(Century Media)
Rewriting the definition of chaos, Vancouver's Devin Townsend transforms disorder and confusion into glorious musical extremity. The song titles are key indicators to the ferocious nature of this album: 'Rape Song', 'Devour', 'Force Fed', 'Relentless', 'Aftermath'. SYL continues the punishment that City dished out five years ago. Spinning this CD is like setting a circular power saw into motion, SYL creating sharp, jagged edges that combine to create a deadly weapon. Uncompromising in every aspect, influenced by the events of September 11th, this unholy resonance can only be compared to the most massive of volcanic eruptions. Gene Hoglan violates his drum kit while guitarist Jed Simon and bassist Byron Stroud do battle with Devin, on keyboards and vocals in a genre-melting metal mother ship, creating black, death, thrash and industrial all shoved into an unbridled musical war. Beyond average is a tremendous understatement. The single blood-stained feather on the cover is indicative of the result after the final song 'Bring On The Young' has come to an end. No one is left standing. Both band and listener are completely exhausted. Throbbing rage fills the screams heard across an ocean: "Die bastard die bastard burn." SYL is a slightly demented, definitely mind-blowing album easily capable of knocking you off your feet.
