Most helpful customer reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Punch In The Face, Oct 1 2005
When you thought the metal scene or extreme metal scene was slowly dying away with many generic metalcore and metal cd's being produced, while, you were wrong. Strapping Young Lad have made a dark, heavy and technical release. Devin Townsend's vocals sound deep, dark, and amazing. Easily, he's one of the best vocalists in the extreme metal scene. The drummer, as well, consistently keeps steady, fast, and blasty double kick beats throughout the whole cd. Take "We Ride" for example. The drummer keeps steady and flawless double kicking throughout the whole song backed by Devin's intense growling, screaming, and other vocal talent. Where a great deal of melody and song structure comes into play (take "possessions" for example), the band still seems to keep precise musicianship and their shredding, extreme metal. "Chugga chug" riffs, few blasty drum patterns, even chanting in some songs by children in the background seem to fit almost perfectly in selected songs. A bold, daring, metal cd like this one doesn't come around often. This cd pushes the boundaries of extreme metal and avoids all the typical styles of extreme metal. You will not be able to take the technicality or intensity in all in one listen. Give this cd a chance. It is worth every last penny.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
better than SYL by far..., Mar 24 2005
Wow! That's all I have to say about the new album from B.C. residents Strapping Young Lad. More technical and musical than their last offering, this disc will be welcome by anyone who was a fan in the past. From the first track the listener is thrown into a world of chaos and frenzy. It's not quite up to par with City in terms of overall noise, but it's certainly a lot heavier than that cd or SYL. This is due mostly from Devin Townsend's increasing prowess behind the mixing board and ear for song-structure. Everything is delivered with ear-shattering clarity, from Townsend's own inhuman shrieks to Hoglan's double-bass floods and Byron's double-dropped E chord plucks. (To be perfectly honest, it's been a long time since I've heard a bass THIS heavy.) Lyrically the album covers old Strapping themes, which consist mainly of being pissed off in an almost satyrical manner, but Devin has certainly stepped up in the ridiculously powerful screams department. Not one song goes by (with the exception of the acoustic song,) where Townsend doesn't sound like he's on the verge of actually throwing up. His vocals have improved, as well as his overall range, but the same can be said for just about every member of the band. Gene Hoglan has always been fantastic, but on this outing he certainly ups the ante. The use of samples and synths has increased on this album over, say City or Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing, and this seems to be a trend with any/all of Townsend's recent albums. (There are moments which remind me a lot of Physicist, for example.) This is basically the album someone like Slipknot have been striving to create but couldn't quite do it. Buy this cd now if you're a fan of noise metal or anything good.
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~ Strapping Young Lad
