Origin: Canada
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Strapping Young Lad  


Devin Townsend made a name for himself as a vocalist for such artists as the Wildhearts and Steve Vai, but upon forming the interestingly-named Strapping Young Lad, he took a much different musical direction, and in doing so he has become an extremely popular figure in the metal world. Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing was essentially a Townsend solo effort, but by the time of the followup (City), the lineup of Townsend, Jed Simon, Byron Stroud (the pair also in the zany thrash combo Zimmers Hole), and much-travelled and esteemed drummer Gene Hoglan was in place. The band's unique take on dark, extremely heavy, industrial-tinged metal has proven quite popular as well as very influential, judging from the the Mnemics and Scarves of the world. And though the music is dead serious, Townsend and crew do have a sense of humor, judging from album titles such as No Sleep Til Bedtime and song titles such as "Oh My Fucking God".

Townsend stated in 2007 that he is taking a break from extreme music, essentially putting SYL to rest, as well as his other band (Devin Townsend Band) moving forward only with his new Devin Townsend Project.

Current Members

Devin Townsend

vocals/guitars/programming (Devin Townsend Band, Devin Townsend Project, Ocean Machine, Devin Townsend)

Jed Simon

guitars (Tenet, Devin Townsend, Zimmers Hole)

Byron Stroud

bass (3 Inches Of Blood, Fear Factory, Tenet, Devin Townsend, Zimmers Hole)

Gene Hoglan

drums (Dark Angel, Daemon, Death, Dethklok, Fear Factory, Mechanism, Old Man's Child, Phantasm, Testament, Tenet, Devin Townsend, Zimmers Hole)

Former Members/Guests

John Morgan

keyboards

Adrian White

drums


Discography


Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing 
1995 Century Media
  1. S.Y.L.
  2. In the rainy season
  3. Goat
  4. Cod metal king
  5. Happy camper (Carpe B.U.M.)
  6. Critic
  7. The filler - sweet city Jesus
  8. Skin me
  9. Drizzlehell
  • Devin Townsend
  • Jed Simon
  • Adrian White

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos 


City 
1997 Century Media
  1. Velvet Kevorkian
  2. All hail the new flesh
  3. Oh my fucking god
  4. Detox
  5. Home nucleonics
  6. AAA
  7. Underneath the waves
  8. Room 429
  9. Spirituality
  • Devin Townsend
  • Jed Simon
  • Byron Stroud
  • Gene Hoglan

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos  Metal Observer 


No Sleep 'Til Bedtime - Live In Australia  LIVE
1998 Century Media
  1. Velvet kevorkian
  2. All hail the new flesh
  3. Home nucleonics
  4. Oh my fucking god
  5. SYL
  6. In the rainy season
  7. Far beyond metal
  8. Japan
  9. Centipede
  • Devin Townsend
  • Jed Simon
  • Byron Stroud
  • John Morgan
  • Gene Hoglan



SYL 
2003 Century Media
  1. Dire
  2. Consequence
  3. Relentless
  4. Rape Song
  5. Aftermath
  6. Devour
  7. Last Minute
  8. Force Fed
  9. Dirt Pride
  10. Bring on the Young
  • Devin Townsend
  • Jed Simon
  • Byron Stroud
  • Gene Hoglan

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


Alien 
2005 Century Media
  1. Imperial
  2. Skeksis
  3. Shitstorm
  4. Love?
  5. Shine
  6. We Ride
  7. Possessions
  8. Two Weeks
  9. Thalamus
  10. Zen
  11. Info Dump
  • Devin Townsend
  • Jed Simon
  • Byron Stroud
  • Gene Hoglan

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Chronicles Of Chaos  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


The New Black 
2006 Century Media
  1. Decimator
  2. You Suck
  3. Antiproduct
  4. Hope
  5. Wrong Side
  6. Monument
  7. Far Beyond Metal
  8. Fucker
  9. Almost Again
  10. Polyphony
  11. The New Black
  • Devin Townsend
  • Jed Simon
  • Byron Stroud
  • Gene Hoglan

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Chronicles Of Chaos  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Underground  Metal Observer 

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