Strapping Young Lad - City (Reis)
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Artist: Strapping Young LadEdition: Music CD
Format: Enhanced, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2007-06-05
Music Label: Century Media
Soundtracks:
- Velvet Kevorkian
- All Hail the New Flesh
- Oh My Fucking God
- Detox
- Home Nucleonics
- AAA
- Underneath the Waves
- Room 429
- Spirituality
- Centipede [Japanese Bonus Track]
- Home Nucleonics ['96 Demo]
- Headrhoid [Gunt Demo]
- Detox ['96 Demo]
- AAA ['96 Demo]
Free Music Notes for City (Reis)
Free Music Review: Melodic, chaotic, brutal, brilliant, & beautiful
Hit: 5 Stars
A sense of humor has always been kind of taboo in extreme metal because it's just something that so few bands dare to have. But Canadian frontman Devin Townsend stands out from the rest of the crowd because he -- and the rest of his industrial-thrash/cyber-grind outfit Strapping Young Lad -- are definitely an exception to this rule. Townsend's mad-scientist-style of metal is so funny, unique, intricate, creative, well-detailed and out-of-control that the most appropriate and justifiable label for it would be, well, "Devy metal."
Nothing is better proof of this than SYL's second album, 1997's "City." Case in point: humorous song titles (e.g.: "Velvet Kevorkian," "Oh My F'ing God," "Home Nucleonics," etc.), tongue-in-cheek moods/atmospheres, maniacal vocal styles, pervasive profanity, positively bizarre subject matter, and (most importantly) satyrical, bombastic, self-parodying, irony-packed, and often borderline non-sequitur lyrics that would often make even a dead guy crack a smile (for a few examples, see tracks one, five, and six).
The album is also really remarkable and amazing from a musical standpoint. Devin's voice is in top form here, and he turns in an all-around tour-de-force behind the microphone. His vocals (which are primarily delivered in the form of skin-crawling shrieks, angry yells, proper singing, and occasional death growls) do battle against an extremely dense, cluttered, frenzied, and cacophonous instrumental backdrop. The rest of the band provide more than ample propulsion with massive death/thrash riffs, meaty bass lines, and behemoth-sized beats that spit sparks and debris like shrapnel from drummer extraordinaire Gene Hoglan (previously of Death and Dark Angel fame).
If there's one thing you WON'T find on "City," then it's filler material. Each one of these nine song has its place, is different from the others, and brings something new and interesting to the table. Opener "Velvet Kevorkian" is a chillingly atmospheric and foreboding intro that intertwines orchestral backing vocals with samples, layered, harmonized singing, angry atonal screams, and pounding guitars. "All Hail The New Flesh" effortlessly flattens the listener's skull with a beastly, adrenalized riff backed by vicious, booming, rapid-fire blast beats (this is the first of Hogan's many mind-blowing moments in the spotlight). Chunky, needle-and-poke riffs bob and swoop in and out throughout the verses, which seamlessly flow into a beautiful, clearly defined, and blissfully-sung chorus (a perfect way to come down from the adrenaline rush). Next up, "Oh My F'ing God" begins with a swift drum solo and a blood-curdling, larynx-shredding scream. Devin repeatedly gets sick on the mic throughout the remainder the song (he probably wasn't able to use his vocal chords for at least a weak after he recorded it!), including tossing out plenty of frantic, rapid-fire vocals (in the verses), yelps, gargles, and hilarious chants of the title phrase in the choruses. Combine this with plenty more terrifically deft double bass slamming that evokes a herd of stampeding elephants, and the end result is sure to beat you into a bloody pulp.
"Detox" is substantially more mid-tempo light-hearted, and normal-sounding, and has some chugging riffs that are even fairly catchy and groovy at times. To counteract "Detox," though, the band storm back stronger than ever with the monstrously heavy and powerful "Home Nucleonics." It is bolstered by driving, crunching guitar leads, more insane, vigorous trapkit annihilation, breakneck tempo changes, and vocals that are just all over the place (i.e. low bellows, demonic shrieks, snarls, and the ever-present "tooth-pulled-without-novocaine" screams). "AAA" is, for all intents and purposes, an interlude track, and since it is very melodic, open, restrained, and non-threatening, it also serves as a nice oasis (of sorts) from the rest of the album. It is also of note for its depressing, thought-provoking lyrics which seem to recall Devin Townsend's tough teenage years.
"Underneath the Waves" is, more-or-less, a straight-forward thrasher, but it is not without some melody (it utilizes well-placed, symphonic-sounding keyboards to excellent effect, and Devin's impressive proper singing really helps to carry the tune.) "Room 429" is a synth-driven cover of a song originally written by a Nineties industrial/experimental group called Cop Shoot Cop. Since it is just a cover, is obviously doesn't have the Strapping Young Lad stamp/trademark and is not a classic, but it should have many listeners rolling on the floor laughing. Finally, "Spirituality" is a superbly gloomy, tranquil, ambient, and pretty set closer with minimal noise, and gobs of harmonized vocal lines that highlight Devin's good, warm, mesmerizing clean vocals. It might not be an instantly likable (or even listenable) track, but don't overanalyze it -- if you just let it wash over you, it could become very enjoyable and soothing.
On its surface, "City" may appear to be nothing more than a very noisy onslaught of disturbing, unorganized sonic violence. But, with further insprection, there is a heck of a lot more going on here! It will probably take some time to get used to and absorb fully, but it is worth it, because only then will one uncover all of its delicious nuances, details, depth, nooks, and crannies. And only then will it become obvious that this album is an utterly fascinating, inventive, original, enthralling, meticulous, nightmarish, multi-faceted, and genius mindtrip from front to back. Essential listening.
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