Pros: Devin Townsend before he was medicated.... nuff said!
Cons: After this album, Devin got medicated :(
The Bottom Line: I recommend this album.... and I also strongly suggest you check out everything ever touched by Devin Townsend, the best songwriter in practice.
supraliminal's Full Review: City by Strapping Young Lad
Well, read the other well-meaning I'm sure review, decided I needed to add my own... first off, trying to think of what "good" nu metal would sound like is rather useless because that's an oxymoron basically, and certainly has nothing whatsoever to do with this band. If you must have a mainstream comparison, imagine Nine Inch Nails if they were actually heavy and Trent Reznor had some much deeper ills troubling his mind. In the words of Devin Townsend himself while being interviewed, Strapping Young Lad was from the days when he was not medicated... and that is why there will probably be no more albums from SYL, he went and got a prescription. SYL is the most angst, issue filled band out there (though this doesn't translate to heaviest)... ALL of Devin Townsend's bands/side projects/incarnations drip certain emotions... SYL is his vehicle for anger, frustration, and the manic end of manic depressive.
In any case, the basic SYL sound is pretty much Industrial, although (probably cause real people actually play the instruments, not always the case in industrial) nothing so synthetic as Ministry or NIN or probably any other band you would think of when you hear the term "industrial metal". At any rate, a lot of SYL songs (especially on the album before this one, Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing) follow a certain pattern as well.... rage filled completely arhythmic AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH sections suddenly exploding into awesome very rhythmic and grooving sections, back and forth between the two. I like the pattern, although City has a much better dose of rhythmic sections, which sits well with these two ears, hence City is the better album.
Velvetkevorkian kicks things off, and is actually a noisy intro for the second track, All Hail The New Flesh. Devin's screaming and his cyclone side kick of a drummer Gene Hoglan quickly set the tone of ferocity and anger once the noise clears up. Devin angrily paints a defiant stance against an unclear antagonist (I interpret said antagonist to be conformity/stupid people in general). Even amidst the toxic clouds of frustration can be heard an underlying beautiful atmosphere, and let me tell you the two talking to you at once is quite an experience.
Oh My F'ing God blares next... as the title implies, a VERY indignant track throwing bullspit flags all over the place. The perfect soundtrack if you have had an annoying day and just want to scream your soul to the winds... relax and let Devin do the work for you (he probably sounds better doing it anyway). Hammering rhythms mixed with short bursts of chaotic noise and Devin going OFF vocally, even a point at the end that sounds like the band is completely losing it and just breaking instruments to cope with rage before launching into the oh so soothing chorus once again.
My favorite SYL song, Detox, is next on the agenda. A blistering and emotional look at detox (duh) that doesn't make the mind dwell merely on said dismal setting but anger at recognized mistakes comitted by yourself in general... I'm telling you, the emotions drip. A trip into all the ways you have screwed up in your life and the feeling that everyone around you knows it, and feeling lonely because of it. Guilt and wanting to scream at everybody to look away all at once.
Track five is Home Nucleonics, a typically ripping track with a strange scream/crooning vocal performance that sounds somewhat inasane. This song is two and a half minutes of unrelenting fury that doesn't really paint any pictures other than such (lyrics are unintelligable unless you read along other than the line "F your BS"). Probably the heaviest track on the album.
Aaa is next, relatively mellow and relaxing paced as this album goes. A bitter landscape of detatchment, with Devin Townsend informing you repeatedly that "no one loves no one... no one loves me." Useful therapy for personal rejection, although this track is a bit too repetitive... if this album has a weak point, this would be it.
Under The Waves follows, picking up the pace once again... and putting you under a smothering sea of anger (as if you weren't already feeling it) with a special feeling of perhaps boredom driven frustration ("tired of waiting, tired of fighting, tired of waiting for bleeping nothing, sick of lying, sick of trying, sick of waiting for bleeping nothing"). Is there no relief?
Room 429 is a cover of I forget which band.... and although by the lyrics and vocal line I knew I'd heard the song before, Devin definitely stamps himself all over this song... much more angry than the original.
Spirituality closes the track, a slower subtly atmosphere soaked half instrumental that hints at the beauty to come in his future projects (after medication)... Devin takes on the frustration and desperate wanting from higher power and a meaning to life. Here you actually hear a bit of Devin's clean vocals... not much though.
This album is just what the doctor ordered for anyone seeking a soundtrack for venting rage... if you can't get into angry music then move right along I guess, and stay out of Devin's way. If you like Devin's later projects and you are interested in checking out his earlier days, be prepared for much heavier material. If you like Strapping Young Lad you probably won't find any vehicle for anger that is as good out there, but you may want to check out Devin's post SYL stuff. Actually, everybody who likes any kind of music with distorted electric guitar should check out the guy's other bands, Devin Townsend is (in my opinion) perhaps the most talented songwriter out there (certainly at making music dripping with emotion). Ocean Machine is the most astonishing band, serving as Devin Townsend's vehicle for boredom, sadness, loss, and a bit of the depressive side of manic depression. Infinity is his vehicle for happy and hopeful, which sounds as strange as it sounds at times, but for all its weirdness is typically beautiful and melodic vintage Devin. Physicist is somewhere between SYL and his other bands, probably the first side project you should move on to if you like SYL. Terria is his newest band/release (all these bands have mostly the same members, just they all have markedly different tones), as the title would imply there are some earthy/outdoors themes and atmosheres (though still filled with Devin sarcasm at times... not sure if his screaming "recycle" in one song for example is actually serious or not), as well as a kind of introspective theme.
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