Formed: 1995
From:
Vancouver, BC,
Canada
Last Known Status: Active
Background
With a musical resume that includes well-known names such as Steve Vai, Jason Newsted, James Murphy, Geezer Butler, Stuck Mojo, The Wildhearts, Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly, and Paradise Lost, the frenzied work ethic and more furious musical visions of the gifted and prolific Devin Townsend needed an outlet. In 1994, Strapping Young Lad was created to punish the senses of the metal underground and to create their own niche of labyrinthine metal. Their self-produced 1995 debut album, "Heavy As a Really Heavy Thing," was nothing short of premeditated assault and battery. Two years later, with the brotherhood of the band solidified, the scene was devastated with the impressively dark, savage, and self-produced obliteration of City (recorded at Steve Vai’s Mothership Studios with acclaimed Swedish engineer Daniel Bergstrand [Meshuggah, In Flames, Darkane]), which Revolver Magazine likened - in their “69 Greatest Metal Albums Of All Time” list - to “getting hit by Muhammad Ali.” One listen and you’ll see why it is the perfect background music for the Clockwork Orange scene where Malcolm McDowell’s eyes are forced open as he’s subjected to endless scenes of violence. In the spring 1997, SYL embarked on the Full Of Hate European tour which included Entombed, Obituary, and Crowbar, and then returned to North America to tour with Testament. In an effort to capture the unfiltered and uncompromising insanity of their performances, the band recorded two shows in Melbourne, Australia in 1998 resulting in the once again self-produced "No Sleep Till Bedtime," which has become the definitive SYL live document crowned with splashes of humor, which fans at the Dynamo Festival could attest to.
Lending credibility to the statement “Genius knows no rest,” Devin Townsend has also nurtured a flourishing solo career while concurrently honing his talents as a producer. In the midst of seven official solo releases, Devin has cultivated production credits on Zimmers Hole (featuring SYL bandmates Jed Simon and Byron Stroud), Gene Hoglan’s The Almighty Punchdrunk, Just Cause, December’s Lament Configuration, and Natural Born Chaos by Sweden’s Soilwork, named Album of The Year for 2002 by Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles.
With so much hate expended out at the world, it’s a wonder there’s any angst left to guide you on another expansive odyssey across a vast, unexplored landscape of exasperation, but Devin Townsend is someone who abhors mediocrity and incompetence in any form. On this self-titled fourth album, "SYL," every song is an exhalation of life (regardless of its insolence) where you will experience three or four genres of metal in the course of the same album. The Armageddon-bound aggression (spawned from the events that centered around New York City on September 11th, 2001) can clearly be heard in the various tongues it speaks in: through its black and death metal riffs (courtesy of Devin and Jed Simon), in the thrash backbone firmly anchored by ex-Dark Angel/ex-Death/ex-Testament Gene Hoglan’s thunderous drumming, in the industrial-yet-still-human rhythms mimicking the unforgiving throbs of a migraine headache in Byron Stroud’s bass work, and in the rabid energy of the harsh, harmonic, and howled vocals of Devin’s manic verse with lung capacity that Luciano Pavarotti would envy.
Produced by Devin and recorded at the famed Armoury Studios (KISS, Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe) in Vancouver, British Columbia, SYL is bludgeoningly loud, lead-lined, unbridled, vein-rupturing, stroke-inducing, damn-the-consequences instrumentation. This is rage no longer turned masochistically inward but outward. This is an explosion in the face. This, without question, is war music. In the words of Devin Townsend, SYL is "an extreme assault of the most musical nature." In the layman terms of Kerrang! Magazine, the music of chaos believers Strapping Young Lad is "like sticking your head into the jet nozzle of a Stealth bomber."
Chaos is not hell, it is glorious, and it can create living blueprints of a master plan for retribution such as what you're holding in your hands right now. Never expect anything less than extremity from Strapping Young Lad.
Latest Strapping Young Lad News
Below is our complete Strapping Young Lad news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Note: We began associating news directly with bands in late 2003. Therefore, earlier band news may not be listed on this page.
Displaying records 81 - 100 of 145 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Last
Hoglan Says Dark Angel Reunion Will 'Never Happen'
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD drummer Gene Hoglan (also ex-DARK ANGEL, DEATH, OLD MAN'S CHILD) has posted the following message on the group's official web site:
"We stopped by the Harley manufacturer in Milwaukee yesterday, and took a little tour, pretty cool stuff. Tour manager/drum tech Bryan Seely was quite disappointed, though. He thought it was boring. He's rides a '49 Panhead and a '51 Panhead, and we were surrounded by 'Banker Bikers,' as he refers to them. The tour guide went down the line and asked everyone what they ride, and I was kinda at a loss for words, so when he got to me, I just blurted out, 'Chicks!' If he had been drinking milk, it would have come out his nose...He told me later that he'd never got an answer such as that before, so I figured they probably don't have many puerile rock-dudes taking the Harley tour...
"The show last night was killer! Milwaukee has always been a great place to play for STRAPPING. I do believe we have lost IT DIES TODAY for the rest of the tour, however. That's a shame, They were cool dudes, and we all wish them well.
"I got to hang with my brother Cris McCarthy. He was DARK ANGEL's guitarist for our last year of existence, and he and I were writing the never-recorded 'Atrocity Exhibition' album together. It's a shame DFA [DARK FUCKING ANGEL] couldn't hold it together, 'cause that album was gonna rip. I think, anyway. DARK ANGEL reunion=never gonna happen. We are gonna leave it 'legendary.' Why blow the myth? And oh, we would, believe me...
"Peter from DARKANE finally got to play his own kit, and damn! He's good, too! DARKANE is really stormin'. Fast, meaty, aggro thrash metal, played really well. What else do you need? They go on first, so do not miss 'em. Burton [C. Bell, FEAR FACTORY vocalist] and I just did a quick radio interview together at WKLQ, here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was a FEAR FACTORY interview that I just tagged along to. Burt did most of the talking, and I just pretty much said, 'Yeah, what he said,' in my best Barry White voice...
"Tonight's show should rock, and I'm sure we'll piss off all the rednecks...it's what we do..."
Darkane Check In From The Road
DARKANE are currently treading on U.S. soil for the first time, joined by FEAR FACTORY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and SOILWORK. Guitarist Christofer Malmström posted the following update from the band's North American tour:
"Today we´re in Milwaukee, WI. Been doing four shows so far, so only 29 to go! The audience has been really great so far! I´m surprised that so many people have shown up for the opening act... something that is not taken for granted when you open up in Europe.
Two days ago we were in Chicago. The first thing we did was to take a walk in that beautiful city to the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the US. The view was fantastic! We also took a group photo with this green screen where they put the tower in the background if you buy the pic. We´ll see if we can scan it and put it up here. When returning to the House of Blues we suddenly found ourself in one of the VIP opera boxes in the balcony at a gospel concert! For five Swedes that was a really cool experience!More...
Strapping Young Lad Finish "Zen" Video
Strapping Young Lad drummer Gene Hoglan has checked in with the following update:
"Howdy Folks! Gene here, checking in with all the latest here in STRAPPINGLAND.
"First off, all of us in the extended STRAPPING family would like to wish Jed and his lovely bride, Susanna, congratulations on their recent nuptials. They were married in New Jersey on Sunday, October 2, in an absolutely fantastic ceremony, and poor Jed pretty much had to hop a plane immediately afterward! At least the hotel party was attended by our bus driver, Sean Sitka, who drove for 18 hours straight, as well as some of the Meshuggah men!
"And now, since we're all back in Vancouver, we just filmed a new video this past weekend. The song selection was bandied aboot for awhile, until finally, in a brilliant eleventh-hour decision, we chose "Zen". Everyone on the FORUM had such stellar ideas for the video, we thank you all for taking the initiative with your creativity, but due to the tight budget (and definite time constraints) we probably aren't going to be able to use a single one!p> Filmed in Vancouver by Marcus Rogers and Cinestir Productions (who brought you our "For Those Aboot to Rock" dvd), it's nothin' too fancy, but a great representation of STRAPPING onstage. Lemme say this; The MVP award for the day went to Dev and Jed. A pair of AMAZING performances! Jed, THE master of every cool rock move, and Dev, in all his glorious fuckin' GLORY! Righteous, indeed! Byron looked mighty, I looked liked Jabba/Cousin Itt, and we've even got Willy the Keyboard Guy in there! We wanted to have a shot of all of us SMASHIN' that retarded Terminator-lookin' thingy from the "Relentless" video, but, dummy me forgot to pack it! The video should be debuting sometime during the upcoming tour, so keep yer eyes peeled.
"And, on the subject of the upcoming tour, we're all real excited to be hittin' the road with our buds in FF, Soilwork and Darkane, so we're rehearsing our balls off at Heathen Choppers. Didja know we rehearse at a chopper shop? How cool is THAT? That tour commences on October 28th, in Lawrence KS, and finishes right here in Vancouver, on December 5. And, directly after, we head on over to England for a handful of shows with our pals in Arch Enemy. We are planning the full-on European tour in January/February, too!
"STRAPPING will have a couple new t-shirt designs coming as well, as a matter of fact, we got one of our ideas right off the message board. So thanks again guys, for comin' through. Also available soon will be a specialized, online-only STRAPPINGYOUNGLAD.com t-shirt. Cool, eh? We're also planning some giveaways on the site, too! We've spoken with ESP guitars about giving away a guitar or two on the site, so definitely look alive on that one. There will also be some cymbal, stick and assorted other giveaways as well in the coming weeks.
"Look for a feature on Dev and Jed in the latest issue of "Guitar Player" magazine, it's in the "Buzz" section. Byron has also just done an interview with "Bass Player" mag that should be out in the coming weeks, and, in the current issue of Revolver, there's a cool little giveaway of some personalized drumsticks from me, brought to you by the friendly folks at Revolver, and the righteous Kevin Radomski at Pro-mark Sticks.
"On an unrelated note, both Byron and myself have appeared on the debut Ani Kyd record, "Evil Needs Candy, Too". Produced by Jello Biafra and recently released on Alternative Tentacles, it's worth a listen. You can also check us out at anikyd.com.
"Well, I guess that's aboot it for now, everybody! Enjoy! See ya on the road...
"Stop, drop and CRANK!
Gene"
Devin Townsend Discusses New DTB Album
Exalted guitarist and musical visionary Devin Townsend — respected on even terms as Strapping Young Lad's outlandish frontman and as Hevy Devy, the revered solo artist and creative force behind the Devin Townsend Band — is, as he explained, "in a pretty cool place," and he's "really savoring it." Come this time next week, he'll have finished the Devin Townsend Band's forthcoming disc, Synchestra — 13 tracks of which he's calling "sunshine metal."
"Strangely enough, this is the first record I've done that was made to [be] enjoyed," Townsend said. "I'm expecting people to hate [this music], because it's really sensitive and heavy and epic, and everything's really pleasing about it. I don't know how many people want to listen to pleasing music. A lot of people are still into being assaulted every time they turn on their stereo. Those people will think it's a wussy, pain-in-the-ass record. People who're sick of dudes yelling at them will love it."
Synchestra, which will include the songs "Let It Roll," "Hyper-Geek," "Notes From Africa," "Judgment," "A Simple Lullaby" and "Sunshine and Happiness," is even completely devoid of curse words. It should surface in either February or March, he said, and will be distributed throughout the U.S. by Inside Out; he'll also be selling it through his own label's Web site at HevyDevy.com.
Six of the album's 13 cuts, Townsend promised, will clock in at or just under 10 minutes. One even features a guest appearance by imperious guitarist Steve Vai; Townsend wielded the mighty ax and handled backing vocals on Vai's 1993 album, Sex & Religion, and later toured with the virtuoso. So Synchestra's the first time the two have worked together in 12 years.
"I love writing music and songs, but I'm getting more and more tired of playing guitar and singing," he said. "There's this big long part I'd written for this solo, and sometimes, I'm in the headspace for guitar and other times, I'm just not. Right now I'm not. I just couldn't give a f---. So I gave [Vai] a call."
But don't be fooled by Townsend's shiny, happy mien; Synchestra's still going to sound like a true metal record.
"It's super f---ing heavy — like bludgeoningly heavy," he said. "But they're all bludgeoningly heavy lullabies. This is a record you can put on that'll make you feel good. It's like a celebration — something you put on in the morning, or when you want to sing along and laugh and smile, but still have it so heavy that when you crank it up, it will level any of your death-metal competition."
Fear Factory And Others On "Rainbow Six: Lockdown"
Fear Factory are to have the previously unreleased song 'Lockdown' included on the soundtrack for the game 'Rainbow Six: Lockdown'. This is to be issued by Calvin in mid-November. Other bands to have tracks featured are 36 Crazy Fists, Chimaira, Soilwork and Strapping Young Lad.
Darkane To Tour The US For The First Time
Touring in support of their critically acclaimed 2005 release, Layers Of Lies, DARKANE - who formed in the late '90s and hail from Helsingborg, Sweden - have performed only once before on North American soil and were received with raving applause at 2001's Milwaukee Metalfest XV. With their first full-fledged tour of North America set to launch on October 28th at Granada in Lawrence, Kansas, guitarist and founding member of the band, Christofer Malmström, has this to share:
"Finally! We have been waiting for so many years for this opportunity, and now it's finally come... What a great package! It´s unbelievable! We´ve been fans of Fear Factory and Strapping Young Lad since many years back, and we´ve practically grown up with Soilwork here in Helsingborg, so this is really a dream coming true for us! Ever since we released our debut album Rusted Angel back in 1999, we've received requests from American fans to come over and tour, and believe me, we've always wanted to, but circumstances have made it impossible until now."
With a high-profile maiden tour, a well-received album, and eager fans awaiting their arrival, what will be the most difficult thing DARKANE will face while out on the road?
"It will be quite hard to decide what songs we are going to play," muses Malmström. "We haven't toured that side of the world before, and fans have many different favorite songs. With only a 30 minute set each night, it will be difficult to choose music from all our albums, but because we don't want people to leave disappointed, we'll alternate our setlist from evening to evening, so if you see us more than one time, chances are big that you´ll hear the song you've been waiting to hear!"
Christmas is coming early for fans of extreme drumming, as the upcoming Transgression Tour will place DARKANE's own Peter Wildoer on the same stage as Fear Factory's Raymond Herrera, Strapping Young Lad's Gene Hoglan, and Soilwork's Dirk Verbeuren. Is there anything the band is looking forward to?
"I've always been interested in geography, so for me personally, I'm looking forward to experiencing new places I've never been to like Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Toronto, and Vancouver. I'm sure very city will be a fucking blast... I will finally get to meet the drummer in my solo project in Vancouver, Ryan van Poederooyen, who I´ve never met in person!"
Darkane's North American tour dates with Fear Factory, Soilwork, and Strapping Young Lad are as follows:
More...
SYL Support Arch Enemy in the U.K.
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD have been confirmed as the main support act on ARCH ENEMY's upcoming U.K. tour. The dates are as follows:
Dec. 12 - Cardiff, UK @ Coal Exchange
Dec. 13- Manchester, UK @ Academy 2
Dec. 14 - Glasgow, UK @ QMU
Dec. 15 - London, UK @ Astoria
Dec. 16 - Wolverhampton, UK @ Wulfrun Hall
More Stops Added To Fear Factory Tour
More stops have been announced for Fear Factory's tour with Soilwork, Strapping Young Lad and Darkane, here's the latest:
December 02nd Sacramento, CA - The Boardwalk
December 03rd Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre
December 04th Seattle, WA - El Corazon
December 05th Vancouver, BC - Croatian Cultural Center
Vote For Bands To Perform At Sweden Rock Fest
Sweden Rock Festival is asking fans to vote for 30 bands they want to see at the festival. To vote, visit www.swedenrock.com and click on "Vi frågar er." Click on up to 30 of the bands you want to see, then click the "Skicka" button.
Some of the bands you can vote for: More...
Metal 101: Fuse's All Things Metal To School Us
Think heavy metal started with KORN? Confused about why people smash into each other at a concert? Know who originally spawned the sign of Satan? Well ask yourselves these questions no more. Fuse TV's "Uranium" is bringing you all of the answers to the questions you're too afraid to ask. Miss Juliya, along with guest lecturers including GOD FORBID, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, DARKEST HOUR, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and more, school you on all things metal — from throwing down in the pit to the penalties for misusing the horns to how to tell the difference between death metal and pirate-core. Get ready to throw spitballs during the premiere on Friday, September 9 at 9:00 p.m. EST on Fuse.
New Strapping Young Lad Video Posted
Strapping Young Lad have a new video for the song, "Imperial", which is off of their latest release, "Alien". The video was shot live at the Penny Arcade in Rochester, NY early this year. The video can be watche at the following website: http://uvtv.info/
Soilwork, SYL To Tour With Fear Factory
Soilwork singer, Bjorn "Speed" Strid, has posted the following tour update on the band's official website:
"Just wanna update and confirm what's going on with the upcoming tours:
"Today we have confirmed Hatesphere and Construcdead as supporting acts for the european headlinertour starting on the 5th of october in Helsinki. Both bands are very promising and both have great albums coming out very soon. Both bands has also a reputation of being great live bands, this bill won't make you disappointed!! Check out the tourschedule and don't you miss the show...
"We have also confirmed the novembertour with Fear Factory in Northamerica. We will be direct support to Fear Factory and there will be two more killer bands on the bill: Strapping Young Lad and Darkane! How about it folks!? Unfortunately we'll jump on the tour a week later from where the tour starts, i'll keep you posted on exactly what date..
"Stay tune folks and have a good one..
"Speed"
Devin Townsend Checks In With SYL Update
Canadian extremists Strapping Young Lad recently completed a highly successful run on the inaugural Sounds of The Underground tour in support of their genre-defying breakthrough new album, "Alien," which critics are already hailing as their best offering yet. The group’s overly intense live performances captivated the uninitiated crowds who were immediately drawn to the band’s perfect blend of melodic industrial thrash insanity. Expect a major U.S. fall tour announcement to be made real soon.
Devin Townsend (vocals, guitars) checks in with the following report:
So the Sounds of The Underground tour was great fun and a heck of a way to spend the summer. Gene Hoglan (drums) filled in for Opeth on the SOTU tour while Jon from Devildriver filled in for Byron Stroud, who was out with Fear Factory...Polygamy! Good music, lots of friends and some great crowds. Also, during the SOTU, Gwar and I had a real meeting of the minds and decided to work together. I had a revelation while watching them and hopefully it's going to be the best record ever made, so watch out!
We are looking to do a U.S. tour starting late October and then head to Europe with Meshuggah. Japan and Australia will follow shortly after, hopefully along with a new video for "Zen." I'm currently recording the new Devin Townsend Band record, which is great and soothing. Strapping thanks you for your patronage! Rock out with your clock out.
Devin Townsend To Produce Next GWAR Cd
Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) is set to produce the next GWAR CD, the band's followup to their DRT Entertainment debut "WarParty", which hit stores earlier this year. Song titles, tracklisting, and a final release date, however, is still to be announced for the disc - but an early 2006 shelf debut seems likely. GWAR have been churning out albums since 1988, and recently ended a stint on the inaugral Summer tour, the SOUNDS OF THE UNDERGROUND.
SOTU Photos From Vancouver Posted
The photos for the Sounds of the Underground tour in Vancouver have been posted in the photo gallery.
Report
Sounds Of The Underground Report From Vancouver
On July 26, I got the chance to attend the Sounds of the Underground tour when they stopped in Vancouver, BC. The show was originally scheduled for the Pacific Coliseum but was moved to the PNE Forum, which is a lot smaller. My guess was that the ticket sales didn’t do very well. More...
Opeth Drummer Seeking Medical Treatment, Not Fired
MTV.com reports that according to a Roadrunner spokesperson, Opeth drummer Martin Lopez has not been fired, but rather, went back to Sweden for treatment of a rare blood disorder he's had for most of his life. Until he returns, the band — currently on the Sounds of the Underground tour — has enlisted Strapping Young Lad drummer Gene Hoglan to fill in for him.
Opeth Fires Drummer
Gene Hoglan has replaced Opeth drummer Martin Lopez who was fired only a couple days ago. More info on this as we get info. Some reports already say that Gene is sounding tired after just one day of this.
Sounds Of The Underground Vancouver Venue Moved
The Sounds of the Underground Tour show in Vancouver on July 26 has been moved from the Pacific Coliseum to the PNE Forum. All tickets for the Pacific Coliseum will be honored at the door and are now general admission.
Devin Townsend Band To Enter Studio In August
DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND, the Vancouver-based band led by STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mastermind Devin Townsend, will enter the studio on August 10 to begin recording their new album, "Synchestra", tentatively due in early 2006. The follow-up to 2003's "Accelerated Evolution" will feature the same lineup as its predecessor: Dave Young on keyboards, Mike Young on bass, Ryan van Poederooyen on drums, and Brian Waddell on guitar.
"Synchestra" tentative track listing:
01. Let it Roll
02. Hyper Geek
03. Triumph
04. The Baby Song
05. Vampira
06. Nail Broth
07. Pixelate
08. Judgment
09. A Simple Lullaby
10. Chix
11. Sunshine & Happiness
12. Notes From Africa
"Synchestra" will be released with the DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND DVD as a bonus disc.
In related news, Devin recently provided lead vocals for a single by the Vancouver artist REMOVAL. The single was released on seven-inch vinyl only and is available from the Scratch Records web site.