Strapping Young Lad (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Strapping Young Lad
Type = Album
Artist = Strapping Young Lad


Released = February 11, 2003
Recorded = 2002
Genre = Extreme metal
Length = 38:57
Label = Century Media
Producer = Devin Townsend
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:drknikvsbb59 link]
Last album = "No Sleep 'till Bedtime"
(1998)
This album = "Strapping Young Lad"
(2003)
Next album = "Alien"
(2005)

"Strapping Young Lad" is the eponymous third album by Canadian extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad. It was released on February 11, 2003.

The album's sound was somewhat of a departure from Strapping Young Lad's previous album, "City", released in 1997. Devin Townsend's vocals contained much more screaming than before, and rather than the blinding industrial / grind styled songs of "City" and "Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing", many of the songs were structured and produced in a manner more akin to traditional death metal, though there were still moments that harkened back to "City", such as the beginning of "Rape Song". The overall tone is more serious in nature and contains less overt tongue-in-cheek humour than other SYL releases. The raw production style in particular is different from other records Devin has produced. The slightly different sound on this album can in part be attributed to the fact that second guitarist Jed Simon plays the vast majority of rhythm guitars. This was due to Townsend's concurrent production & recording of "Accelerated Evolution" by The Devin Townsend Band, which was released only a few weeks later.

Frontman Devin Townsend has said that "Strapping Young Lad" is a war-themed album, written in direct response to the events of September 11, 2001, although the lyrics suggest a response to the United States' response to September 11.

Track listing

#"Dire" – 1:10
#"Consequence" – 4:02
#"Relentless" – 3:03
#"Rape Song" – 3:09
#"Aftermath" – 6:46
#"Devour" – 2:53
#"Last Minute" – 3:58
#"Force Fed" – 5:23
#"Dirt Pride" – 2:40
#"Bring on the Young" – 5:53

* - The Australian edition includes the bonus track "Detox (Live)."
* - The Japanese edition includes the bonus track "Underneath the Waves (Live)."

Credits

*Devin Townsend - Guitar, Vocals, Sampling, Engineer, Producer, Keyboards
*Gene Hoglan - Drums
*Jed Simon - Guitar, Keyboards, Sampling, Choir, Chorus
*Byron Stroud - Bass, Project Coordinator, Choir, Chorus

*Louie Teran - Mastering
*Daniel Michael Collins - Photography
*Strapping Young Lad - Producer
*Kurt Dahle - Drum Technician
*Stevie J. - Choir, Chorus
*Travis Smith - Visuals
*Paul Silviera - Engineer
*Sean Carruthers - Choir, Chorus
*Shaun Thingvold - Engineer, Mixing
*Misha Rajaratnam - Engineer
*Carla Levis - Vocals, Assistant Engineer
*Nico Wobben - Photography

Additional vocals

Chris Valagao, Tammy Theis, Marnie Mains, Carla Levis and Laurielynn Bridger.

Heavy metal choir

Glenn Thomson, Denton Booth, Charlie Goler, Juanita English, Jeremy Glen, Blackie LeBlanc, Henry Goler, Jay Mosdell, Samanta Palomino, Eden Wagonner, Christ Stanley, Scarlet Stanley, Stuart Carruthers, Sue Carruthers, Denis, Stevie J., La Sparka, Rossy Living, Dev, Jed and Byron.

External links

[http://www.hevydevy.com/hdr_info_syl.html "Strapping Young Lad" lyrics]