Group

Strapping Young Lad

From: Vancouver, Canada
Active: 1994–2007
Rating: ★ 5 (3 votes)
Releases: 21

industrial metal
progressive metal
death metal

About

Strapping Young Lad (SYL) was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing. By 1997, he had recruited permanent members; this line-up, which consisted of Townsend on vocals and guitar, Jed Simon on guitar, Byron Stroud on bass, and Gene Hoglan on drums, lasted until the band's dissolution.

Strapping Young Lad's music was characterized by the use of polyrhythmic guitar riffing and drumming, blast beats and wall of sound production. The band's musical direction was mainly determined by Townsend, whose battle with mental health and dark sense of humor were major influences on his songwriting. Townsend was also noted for his eccentric appearance and on-stage behavior, which greatly contributed to the band's intense live performances.
The band gained critical success and a growing underground fanbase from their 1997 album City. After a hiatus between 1999 and 2002, the band released three more albums, reaching their commercial peak with the 2006 effort, The New Black. Townsend disbanded Strapping Young Lad in May 2007, announcing his decision to retreat from public view while continuing to record solo albums.

From Strapping Young Lad on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Members

Ash Blue 1994–1994 · former guitar
Chris Bayes 1994–1995 · former additional, membranophone
Chris Meyers 1994–1995 · former additional, keyboard
Ashley Scribner 1994–1995 · former bass guitar
Smokin’ Lord Toot 1994–1995 · former additional, membranophone
Mike Sudar 1994–1995 · former guitar
Adrian White 1994–1996 · former membranophone
Jed Simon 1994–2007 · former background vocals, guitar
Devin Townsend 1994–2007 · original member · former guitar, keyboard, lead vocals
Byron Stroud 1996–2007 · former background vocals, bass guitar
Gene Hoglan 1997–2007 · former drums (drum set)