Sefany Jones Reviews Strapping Young Lad Live in Hollywood
By
Sefany Jones,
Contributing Editor
Tuesday, September 23, 2003 @ 4:11 PM
Strapping Young Lad Live at th
Strapping Young Lad… now this is one of those bands I’ve “heard of,” but never actually heard their music or had the first clue about who they were or what they played. All I knew is that some freak-ass looking lunatic by the name of Devin Townsend helmed this band with his inexplicable hair. At the persistent nudging of KNAC writer Chris Hawkins, who touts Townsend as nothing less than ‘genius,’ and the fact that SYL were on tour with my own personal metal gods, Superjoint Ritual, I decided to check these guys out to make sure I wasn’t missing out on anything. Well, it would appear I have been missing out since 1995…
Now, having missed their set two weeks earlier when they were in town with SJR at the House of Blues, I did however have the pleasure of meeting some of the band at that show afterwards. Drummer Gene Hoglan, guitarist Jed Simon and keyboardist “Mush” were about as sweet as they come. Teddy bear Gene made trips back and forth to check on his elderly parents that were at the show – his dad proudly sporting an SYL t-shirt, Jed was cracking Canadian jokes and Mush was just the kind of guy you just wanted to pinch his little chubby cheeks! I mean, come on… how metal could these nice boys be…?
Two weeks later, I got my answer – along with an education in metal and a good sonic ass-whoopin’!
I showed up to the Whisky fairly late, skipping out on Intestinal, Strangulation, Dizkord, Shadow Academy and Artisan. SYL was sandwiched between Cathedral and Samael, headlining. I mean, come on – eight bands on a Sunday night? I must be getting old, ‘cause I couldn’t hang with that. Anyway, it only took me about 10 seconds into Cathedral when I decided it wasn’t for me and snuck out elsewhere until SYL came on.
I’ll admit it: I just ASSUMED Strapping Young Lad was going to be this repetitive, cookie monster growling death metal band. Why did I think this? I dunno – same reason a lot of us just judge a band by their name, or their lead singer’s appearance – what have you. I mean – I tried the week before to sit through Hate Eternal’s set… and I just couldn’t do it. I want to like Erik Rutan – I do – but it was just unbearable. But since SYL was so cool and accommodating to me before, I was willing to grit my teeth and give it a chance…
What I got was an ultra tight-knit audio pummeling of brutal and yet melodic riffs drenched in sickness and in light-hearted humor.
Devin Townsend’s vocals are anything but “cookie monster.” This man is just an absolutely fascinating frontman to watch. He has the most intense facial expressions – he’s got those Charles Manson eyes, just spearing daggers into you. His in-between song banter was more of that of a circus barker: “I feel like 10 pounds of shit in a five pound bag… but thank god my hair looks good!” He said the funniest fucking shit in between songs – I wish I could’ve written it all down…
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Guitarist Jed Simon is Zakk Wylde’s evil twin on crack. His fingers were a blur most of the time, and I think I saw his face twice through his mane of sweat-soaked hair in his face like Cousin It. Even railing his flying V’s at lightening speed, every riff stood out and echoed in pure clarity. Keyboardist Mush attacked his keyboard like he was wrestling a thousand pound alligator munching on his loved ones. He was banging his head so hard I was sure he must have key prints ingrained into his forehead. Hilariously enough, later he told me about a time he actually did smack his noggin one time so hard, that he would never, ever do it again.
Bassist Byron Stroud kept the low end brutal and crushing. Seemingly the quiet one of the bunch, he mostly kept to himself and just pounded out the rhythm in perfect synchronicity with drummer Gene Hoglan. And what a trip that Hoglan is… fucking badass, monster-sized drummer, sitting up straight with perfect posture as his hair blows in the breezes of a fan, spinning and throwing his sticks, catching them, never missing a beat. I mean, this guy looked so relaxed you’d think he was sunbathing on the coast of France or something – but here he is, annihilating the skins like Tyson kicking the shit out of his girlfriends.
SYL blasted off tracks from their albums Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing and City, as well as quite a few tracks off their latest self-titled CD, released earlier this year on Century Media. When it came to an end, there were no encores, no confetti cannons or pyros or fireworks… just a deafening buzz in my eardrums and an education in metal: Never judge a book by its cover – you just might miss out on something far beyond your expectations…
voiceofunreason - 10/14/2003 4:37:36 AM Vokillz for Intestinal Strangulation here... I'd just like to say that I was freaken stoked to play with SYL! The freaken owned the stage that day! Us on the other hand were pretty stiff. It was our first big show. Great review by the way! If any one is interested at all: www.intestinalstrangulation.tk
TicketHeadBrain - 10/11/2003 3:48:03 PM when SYL was played here several weeks ago the tour was lumped with ill nino and spine shank and several other worthless bands...all i can say is that SYL laid an ass kicking on the unsuspecting crowd who had no idea what SYL was about...for those who attempt to heckle townsend between songs when there is a break have no chance...the music is the meat of the show and townsend's verbal lashings just add that extra kick
Sheepleherder - 10/10/2003 4:24:19 AM www.nowarforisrael.com
Danzigirl - 10/8/2003 10:56:26 AM this band just simply kicks ass!
The_PMRC - 9/30/2003 3:58:50 PM You know, this is one fucking band that just has that extra something. I am not a big DEATH METAL fan, although I do dig some of it. Mostly, the music to DEATH METAL just kicks ass.... that is why I can never bad mouth it. But I am a guy that likes melody in my music, so the vocal melody is very important to me. Hence why it is harder for me to get into a lot of DEATH METAL. But every know and then a band like this comes along and I take a liking to them right a way. Some bands just have "it", whatever that "it" is.
Pavel_Arana - 9/30/2003 1:59:20 PM damn right sefany!...i was also kind of thrown off at first by the appearance and stuff..and the name...it sounded funny...and not too metal...but these fuckers can rock! Townsend is one insane dude..but he can write some mean music..
oracle19 - 9/30/2003 12:58:06 PM yes i remember the "blame canada" intro. that was funny
MattMannn - 9/27/2003 11:41:02 PM Cant leave out the "Blame Canada" intro for their show, THAT WAS FUNNY
MattMannn - 9/27/2003 11:39:07 PM SYl are SO fucking \m/ METAL \m/ I will see this band over and over again as many times as possible, they are THAT GOOD. Watching the facial expressions on Devin as he screams so loud while Gene is double basssing and ripping it up too, WAY worth driving for 5 hours and whatever the price is. I was right in front the last time I saw them at the galaxy 2 weeks ago , And it was killer to have Devin playing the mega heavy rythm guitar parts right in front of my face. I wish I could follow this band on tour. GO SEE THEM and BUY a CD. :)
Rayna_Danzig - 9/25/2003 8:51:38 AM Great review Sef, I was somewhat the same way when I saw SYL play a few months ago. I was glad I was wrong too.
haunt - 9/24/2003 10:32:38 PM sefany im glad to see another local band leavin their mark on cal!sefany is there anyway you can come to the coach house oct 5th i am opening a show for angel with my band the haunting!you wont be dissapointed! cheers pete! http://haunting.homestead.com/ boomtownbrat01@yahoo.com
Lil_Johnny - 9/24/2003 9:29:53 PM Good review! SYL kicks ass!
DarbysDad - 9/24/2003 2:39:55 PM 8 Bands on a Sunday night, damn!!! Maybe if the show started at noon, guess I'm old too? LOL!! Sounds like it was a cool show.
sdmfny - 9/24/2003 1:57:07 PM Then don't fuckin read them, asshole. Until I see you submit a review that is better than this then shut the hell up.
Strapping Young Lad… now this is one of those bands I’ve “heard of,” but never actually heard their music or had the first clue about who they were or what they played. All I knew is that some freak-ass looking lunatic by the name of Devin Townsend helmed this band with his inexplicable hair. At the persistent nudging of KNAC writer Chris Hawkins, who touts Townsend as nothing less than ‘genius,’ and the fact that SYL were on tour with my own personal metal gods, Superjoint Ritual, I decided to check these guys out to make sure I wasn’t missing out on anything. Well, it would appear I have been missing out since 1995… 
