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 101 - 120 of 145 1 2 ... 4 5 6 7 8 Last
Strapping Young Lad/Devin Townsend Band Updates
This lengthy update on Devin Townsend's bands Strapping Young Lad and the Devin Townsend band was posted on the HevyDevy Records website:
[Strapping Young Lad] has been busy on the road these last two months and some festivals gratified us with some very good moments. Gods Of Metal festival in Italy is definitively a carreer highlight for [frontman] Devin [Townsend] as SYL shared the stage with Iron Maiden and Slayer, and played in front ten of thousands of fans.
Thanks to Marlon that provided us a link to download a SYL recording at the Waldrock festival. You will be able to download the whole show HERE
The Sound Of The Underground Tour started on June 25 and Devin is thrilled about the shows SYL played so far :
"Our position on the bill gives us an opportunity to bring some metal to the more hard-core oriented fans at the festival who may not have heard us before. I really look forward to playing with and hooking up with some of the other bands again"
Check the tour section for an udpated list of the SYL shows. Most are SOTU shows but some are headlining and other appearances supporting Opeth. Again, dates are subject to change and cancellation and it’s not the band’s fault if they don’t play your town.
As Byron plays shows with Fear Factory after July 14, the band had to find a susbsitute Bass player for the rest of the tour. Jon Miller from Devil Driver will rehearse with the band on the road to learn the SYL material in a short amount of time. For this reason the two dates below will be probably cancelled as it will be very difficult for the band to prepare full headlining sets with a new Bass PlayerMore...
SYL Taps DevilDriver Bassist For Remaining Dates
Strapping Young Lad have temporarily replaced bassist Byron Stroud for the remainder of the Sounds of the Underground tour with DevilDriver's Jon Miller. Stroud will be leaving the tour to go on the road with Fear Factory, which he also plays in.
Sounds Of The Underground Photos Posted Online
ReturnToThePit.com has posted a bunch of photos from the first Sounds of the Undergroud show in Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA on June 25. Check them out here.
SotU Bands Schedule Meet And Greet
Everyday at the Sounds of the Underground Tour, all the bands playing will be hanging at their merch tents are various times looking to meet you. The times have been posted here. They change through the tour so check the date you're headed too and see what time the bands will be around.
Sounds Of The Underground Tour: 3 Week Countdown
The countdown is on. Three weeks from now the North American Continent will be hit with a five week musical storm - The Sounds Of The Underground Tour launching June 25th in Lowell, Mass.!
Lead singer D. Randall Blythe proclaims: "Lamb Of God are very pleased to be included as the headliner for the Sounds Of The Underground tour. The tour has a very diverse line up, including many of our old friends, and showcases established acts as well as many excellent up and coming bands to watch for. Corporate politics had no part in the formation of this tour - this one's for the bands and the fans, not some executive's paycheck. The party is coming your way this summer - show up with your dancing shoes and help us bring the ruckus!"
This history making tour features 26 shows in 31 days; bringing 22 of todays heaviest and most hard core underground musical performers to the forefront. This fan friendly event is keeping ticket prices very low, under $30.00 per ticket in most markets. The tour delivers Lamb Of God, Opeth, Gwar, Clutch, Poison The Well, Every Time I Die, Chimaira, A Life Once Lost, Throwdown, Unearth, Norma Jean, DevilDriver, From Autumn To Ashes, Madball, High On Fire, Strapping Young Lad, All That Remains, Terror, The Red Chord, Nora and Fear Before The March Of Flames to arenas all summer long.
Even more for the fans: SotU special Tour Program insert will be in every issue of Revolver magazine on the newsstands in June; with additional limited edition copies of this tour program on heavy stock paper to be distributed at each show.
Also available now and all summer long at Hot Topic is the exclusive DVD/CD Box Set specially priced at $9.99; featuring videos and songs from every band on the tour as well as other favorites from the labels who bring you the SotU tour and also contains a trailer of Lamb Of God's new "Killadelphia" DVD (June 21 Epic Records).
Tickets are still available thru the website where surcharges on tickets are much cheaper, also the website lists many surcharge free box office available locally.
Deepsend Recs Secures Century Media Vinyl Deal
Deepsend Records have now secured the licensing rights to press all future Century Media Records releases on vinyl. For starters, Deepsend will release a limited edition pressing of the new Strapping Yound Lad album, "Alien," following by Dark Tranquillity's "Character." All vinyl will be limited to a special one-time only pressing of 500 copies, all hand-numbered.
Report
NEHMF 2005 Live Report
It’s that time of year again- birds are chirping, trees are blossoming, the city’s Crowne Plaza Hotel is bombarded with numerous metal parties. And, of course, the local businesses in Worcester, MA hand out flyers that read “Dear metalheads (!!!), if you’re wondering where to get drunk tonight, come to our pub”.
It’s the New England Metal Fest weekend, which was held on April 22-24 and welcomed fans from all corners of the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and even UK. Probably the biggest and best festival on this side of the Atlantic. At least this year’s. I was giddy with excitement about this event since January and I lived to share my observations and opinions. More...
Lamb of God Confirmed Headliner For SotU Tour
I didn't think this was a secret or anything, but LAMB OF GOD has been confirmed as the headliner for 2005 SOUNDS OF THE UNDERGROUND TOUR!
Lead singer D. Randall Blythe proclaims: "Lamb of God are very pleased to be included as the headliner for the Sounds of the Underground tour. The tour has a very diverse line up, including many of our old friends, and showcases established acts as well as many excellent up and coming bands to watch for. Corporate politics had no part in the formation of this tour- this one's for the bands and the fans, not some executive's paycheck. The party is coming your way this summer - show up with your dancing shoes and help us bring the ruckus!"
Joining LAMB OF GOD will be:
CLUTCH
POISON THE WELL
OPETH
UNEARTH
FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES
CHIMAIRA
GWAR
EVERY TIME I DIE
NORMA JEAN
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD
THROWDOWN
HIGH ON FIRE
MADBALL
TERROR
DEVILDRIVER
A LIFE ONCE LOST
ALL THAT REMAINS
THE RED CHORD
FEAR BEFORE THE MARCH OF FLAMES
Sounds of the Underground 2005 Tour Dates are as follows:
6/25 - Lowell, MA - Paul E Tsongas Arena
6/26 - Philadelphia, PA - Festival Pier @ Penn's Landing
6/28 - Pontiac, MI - Phoenix Plaza Amphitheatre
6/30 - Winston-Salem, NC - Dixie Classic Fairgrounds
7/01 - Portsmouth, VA - Harbor Center Pavilion
7/02 - Sayerville, NJ - Starland Ballroom Parking Lot
7/03 - Montreal, QC - Stade Uniprix
7/04 - Mississauga, ON - Arrow Hall
7/05 - Cleveland, OH - The Scene Pavilion
7/07 - Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Theatre @ Target Center
7/08 - Chicago, IL - Tweeter Center Parking Lot
7/09 - Sauget, IL - Pop's Lot
7/10 - Tulsa, OK - Brady Village
7/12 - Atlanta, GA - Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheatre Lot
7/13 - Orlando, FL - Tinker Field
7/15 - Dallas, TX - Smirnoff Music Center Lot
7/16 - Corpus Christi, TX - Concrete Street Ampitheatre
7/19 - El Paso, TX - El Paso County Coliseum
7/20 - Mesa, AZ - Mesa Amphitheatre
7/22 - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Sports Arena Lot
7/23 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre Lot
7/25 - Seattle, WA - Qwest Field Event Center
7/26 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
7/28 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
7/29 - Saskatoon, SK - Saskatchewan Credit Union Centre
7/31 - Denver, CO- Universal Lending Pavilion
Devin Townsend Band To Enter Studio In August
Canadian madman Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad) has booked off half of August and all of September to record the new Devin Townsend Band album. It is tentatively called "Sychestra" (changed from from the previously announced "Human"). The Devin Townsend Band DVD will likely be released as a bonus disc with the album and not independently. Like in 2003, Devin thinks that the two records will artistically complement as well as contradict one another.
In related news, Strapping Young Ladbassist Byron Stroud will be back with Fear Factory for the Gigantour in the USA, featuring Megadeth, Dream Theater, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Nevermore. Meanwhile, Will Campagna has returned as Strapping Young Lad's keyboard player and will be joining them on the upcoming Sounds of the Underground tour beginning in late June. This tour is different in that it starts in the morning and the bands are separated into three tiers, rotating order within each tier for each performance. SYL are in Tier 2 and are scheduled to play somewhere between 3 and 6 p.m. each date. Somewhere between Tier 2 and 3, there will be a special "half-time show" performance by GWAR.
SYL, Dark Tranquillity To Do Signings At NEMHF
Century Media Records has announced that Strapping Young Lad and Dark Tranquillity will be doing signings at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival. Strapping Young Lad will be signing at the Metal Maniacs booth and Dark Tranquillity at the Decibel booth between 1 and 2P, both between 1 and 2pm on Saturday, April 23.
SYL Show Melodic Side Balances Aggression
In an article on ZWire, Strapping Young Lad bassist Byron Stroud talks about the band's new album, "Alien." Here are some excerpts from the article:
As it turns out, "Alien" is an exercise in opposite dynamics. There are crushingly ferocious tracks such as "Imperial" and "Skeksis," but there are softer moments found on "Two Weeks" and "Thalamus" that show the quartet is capable of more than just destruction.
"When it came to this record, we thought about what defines Strapping in our eyes and in other people's eyes, and it was more than just being a brutal metal band," Stroud said.
He paused for a moment when asked what led to such a major change of pace in songwriting.
"We realized we had ideas for nice melodies," he said, laughing.
Read the full article at ZWire.
Strapping Young Lad's "Love?" Video Posted Online
Canadian extremists Strapping Young Lad kicked off a massive headlining tour last week with The Agony Scene, Misery Signals and Reflux in the support slots. The trek will make a stop at the legendary New England Metal and Hardcore Fest on April 23rd, where the band will also be signing at the Metal Maniacs booth between 1 and 2PM. This tour also marks the first time the group have ever played any of their new material live, and expect nothing less than an aggressive, highly energetic set.
The group’s new video for the track “Love?” shot by acclaimed director Joe Lynch (Devildriver, Kataklysm) was just posted online; click here link below to check it out.
The clip made its MTV2 debut on Headbangers Ball this past weekend. SYL are now on the verge of a major genre-defying breakthrough with Alien, their highly anticipated fourth studio album. Their critically acclaimed new offering is now available and it is quickly going to redefine the meaning of extreme. Look for them on the cover of the new issue of Metal Maniacs, which is on stands now.
Strapping Young Lad with The Agony Scene, Misery Signals, & Reflux tour dates: More...
Second SOTU Tour Pre-Sale Starts April 12
Sounds of the Underground Tour, which features Clutch, Gwar, Lamb of God, Opeth, Unearth, Strapping Young Lad, All that Remains, The Red Chord, DevilDriver and many others, will run through the US and Canada this summer. The second internet pre-sale will be April 12th starting at 4pm EST at tix.artistarena.com/soundsoftheunderground.
The following shows will be available:
Jun. 25 Lowell, MA Tsongas Arena - public on sale April 16
Jun. 26 Philadelphia, PA Festival Pier - public on sale April 16
Jul. 03 Montreal, QC Stade Uniprix - public on sale April 16
Jul. 04 Toronto, ON Arrow Hall - public on sale April 16
Jul. 05 Cleveland, OH Scene Pavilion - public on sale April 16
Jul. 12 Atlanta, GA Hi Fi Buys - public on sale April 22
Jul. 13 Orlando, FL Tinker Field - public on sale April 16
Jul. 15 Dallax, TX Smirnoff Parking Lot - public on sale April 22
Jul. 20 Phoenix, AX Mesa Amphitheatre - public on sale April 16
Jul. 26 Vancouver, BC Pacific Coliseum - public on sale April 16
Jul. 28 Edmonton, AB Rexhall - public on sale April 16
Jul. 29 Saskatoon, SK Credit Union Center - public on sale April 16
Other tour dates: More...
Zimmer's Hole To Play Vancouver Tattoo Expo
Zimmer's Hole, the Vancouver-based project featuring guitarist Jed Simon and bassist Byron Stroud of Strapping Young Lad, will be performing at the The Brickyard in Vancouver on May 28. The show will be part of the three-day annual Vancouver Tattoo Expo, which is scheduled to take place May 27-29 at the Empire Landmark Hotel downtown Vancouver. Tattoo V.I.P.s get into the show for free. The Tattoo Expo web site can be found at www.vantat.com.
Zimmer's Hole released their sophomore album, "Legion of Flames", in 2001.
Initial Sounds Of The Underground Dates Revealed
Dates are slowly leaking out for the Sounds of the Undergroud Tour that will feature Lamb of God, Clutch, Poison The Well, Opeth, Unearth, From Autumn To Ashes, Chimaira, Norma Jean, Every Time I Die, Strapping Young Lad, Throwdown, High On Fire, DevilDriver, All That Remains, A Life Once Lost and more.
Here are some of the unconfirmed initial dates for the tour:
June 25 Lowell, MA - Paul E. Tsongas Arena
June 30 Winston-Salem, NC - Dixie Classic Fairgrounds
July 01 Toronto, ON - The Docks
July 02 Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
July 05 Cleveland, OH - The Scene Pavilion
July 09 Sauget, IL - Pop's Lot
July 13 Orlando, FL - Tinker Field
Sounds of the Underground Presale Info
Sounds of the Underground is offering the "internet community" a presale. Tickets will be available before they go on sale to the general public at this link. Also service fees will be lower than most outlets.
The current Sounds of the Underground lineup is:
Clutch
Opeth
Poison the Well
Chimaira
Norma Jean
Unearth
Madball
Every Time I Die
High on Fire
Throwdown
Terror
Strapping Young Lad
All that Remains
A Life Once Lost
The Red Chord
Fear Before the March of Flames
Devil Driver
With very special guests GWAR and one more headliner to be announced
New SYL Album Now Available, Embark On US Tour
Once an underground phenomenon, Strapping Young Lad are now on the verge of a major genre-defying breakthrough with "Alien," their highly anticipated fourth studio album. Their critically acclaimed new offering is now available and it is quickly going to redefine the meaning of extreme.
These Canadian extremists will embark on a massive U.S. headlining tour this spring with The Agony Scene, Misery Signals and Reflux in the support slots. The trek kicks off on April 5th and will make a stop at the legendary New England Metal and Hardcore Fest on April 23rd. This tour also marks the first time the group have ever played any of their new material live, and expect nothing less than a balls-out, highly energetic set. The group recently shot a video for “Love?” with acclaimed director Joe Lynch (Devildriver, Kataklysm) and its unique concept is definitely going to catch people’s attention; look for it to make its Headbangers Ball debut on April 2nd.
The final segment of "The Making of Alien" was also just posted online and click here to view the entire series. Strapping Young Lad documented their entire recording process, and the first four parts will provide an in-depth look into Armoury Studios (Kiss, Van Halen) where mastermind Devin Townsend (vocals, guitars) describes how the album was assembled. Also, for the first time, fans can witness how Gene Hoglan (ex-Dark Angel, ex-Testament), Byron Stroud (now also in Fear Factory) and Jed Simon lay their tracks down. The final three parts of this series focus on the more technical aspects (gear, settings, samples, etc.) of the recording.
Click here to download "Love?" from Alien, the group's most maniacal and outlandish offering yet.
Strapping Young Lad w/ The Agony Scene, Misery Signals, & Reflux tour dates: More...
Danzig Confirmed To Headline NEMHF
Danzig and special guest Doyle have been confirmed as the Saturday headliner for the seventh annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, to be held Friday-Sunday, April 22-24 at the Palladium in Worcester, Mass.
In addition to the regular Danzig set, Doyle with join the band for a blistering 30-minute set of classic Misfits material. Danzig and Doyle have performed together just three times during Danzig’s recent tour – their first performances together in over 21 years.
Hatebreed, Unearth and Obituary will headline Friday night.
Saturday’s other headliners will include Chimaira and Cryptopsy.
Sunday’s headliners are King Diamond, Nile and Soilwork.
Also appearing are A Life Once Lost, All Shall Perish, All That Remains, As I Lay Dying, Behemoth, Black Dahlia Murder, Blood Has Been Shed, Bury Your Dead, Dark Tranquility, Darkest Hour, Evergreen Terrace, Full Blown Chaos, Glass Casket, Hypocrisy, If Hope Dies, Internal Bleeding, Ion Dissonance, It Dies Today, Kylesa, Maroon, Misery Signals, Mnemic, Premonitions Of War, Pro-Pain, Red Chord, Reflux, Remembering Never, Scurvy, Sonata Arctica, Stemm, Strapping Young Lad, The Acacia Strain, The Agony Scene, The Esoteric, The Killing, The Minor Times, Throwdown, Trivium, Winter Solstice, and many more to be added.
Single day tickets are $35 per day. Three-day passes are $99. Tickets are on sale at all Strawberries Record Stores, online at tickets.com, or by calling tickets.com at (800) 477-6849.
Strapping Young Lad Announce European Tour Dates
Strapping Young Lad will be touring Europe this spring.
Tour dates:
Jun. 04 (NL) Bergum Waldrock Festival
Jun. 05 (UK) London Astoria
Jun. 07 (F) Paris Bataclan
Jun. 11 (I) Bologna Gods of Metal Festival
More dates will be announced.
SYL also will return for a complete European Tour in autumn of 2005.
Strapping Young Lad's new album "Alien" will be released next Monday, March 21st. A sample from the album, "Shitstorm," has been posted online here. In the meantime you can download the 7-piece making of: http://www.centurymedia.de/syl or watch a video message from Devin Townsend at this location.
Strapping Young Lad Announce Vancouver In-Store
Strapping Young Lad will be making an in-store appearance at Scrape Records in Vancouver, BC at 5pm on March 22, the day of the release of their upcoming album, "Alien."