Strapping Young Lad - The New Black (2017 Reissue) LP

Faster than you can say "double kick drum" and to the delight of fans, Vancouver's Strapping Young Lad have followed up their 2005 CD, Alien, with The New Black. The recipe for Strapping's underground success? Take one pinch of death metal, add some Queen-style musical theatrics and industrial keyboard sounds, then mix those qualities with wickedly funny lyrics and a warm embrace of metal clichés. The result is a truly unique style, deftly captured on this, the group's fifth disc.

The project is ultimately a showcase for Devin Townsend--the singer/producer of the group--whose sound garners respect from many diverse parts of the music scene. On The New Black, guests include Bif Naked--who contributes vocal licks to the untitled track (also known as "F--ker")--and GWAR's Oderus Urungus, who enhances Townsend's diatribe against the music industry in "Far Beyond Metal." The title track is a standout, showcasing the Lamb of God influence on the band (Townsend produced LOG's As the Palaces Burn) while at the same time displaying the nearly bionic talents of drummer Gene Hoglan. One of SYL's strengths is its frontman's ability to write and perform in a number of different metal styles, and the slowed-down beauty of "Almost Again" is the perfect place for Townsend's warm, full pipes. Hands-down, the winner of the "future-devil-horn-anthem" award goes to "You Suck" with its hilarious call-and-response chorus, filled with words far too unprintable to be quoted here, but definitely worth checking out. --Denise Sheppard