SYL was: Devin Townend + Gene Hoglan (as you spotted already) + Byron Stroud (the bassist) + Jed Simon (the guitarist on the right) Back in those days, I was all about SYL / Fear Factory / Machine Head / Pantera / Sepultura - so thanks for checking it out, this is my jam! My favorite albums in order are: City > Alien > The New Black > Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing/SYL Velvet and AHTNF are usually played together, Velvet is the talky start and it merges over to the song Unfortunately, Strapping is no more, I think Devin pulled the plug on it in 2006/2007. Funny comparison, if you want to see how he plays it now with other people. He did a quarantine version of it here: czcams.com/video/u5G_1LtY3s4/video.html. The drummer here is CZcamsr 66Samus
All hail the skullet! "Lower Mid Tier Prog Metal" as Devin calls it :) While Devin may have lost his hair in his 20's, his voice got even stronger and his musical genius continues to inspire and amaze me. I first heard him on 1993's Sex and Religion by VAI (Steve) and became an instant fan. Later in the mid 90s he started SYL, which channeled all his anger he felt about the industry and state of the world back then. His did some amazing Podcasts last year that went into extreme detail about most of his SYL and solo albums. This song is from SYL's second, and my favorite album CITY which is probably the heaviest most underrated album of the 90s after Great Southern Trendkill by Pantera in my opinion. Even more Trivia: Devin is touring with Dream Theater in Europe early next year and it's my dream to see them together on my birthday in May in Prague. \m/ Cheers Shane, rock on and be excellent. ESPI
It took me a while what Devin is about. S&R era... I got into it at about same time I heard Heavy as a Real Heavy Thing. His solo stuff , that was a challenge. SYL I could devour in any amounts, it was a very original alternative to Fear Factory and their approach to industrial metal. I loved when he was very swiftly moving from growl to being Freddy Mercury. I could not understand for a while why this band didn't took off, but looking at FFs career now I know. That genere was a bit like a shooting star.
This is all new to me...never heard of this band or any of these musicians, but I thought this was very cool! Leave it to our Espi! 🤘 I couldn't help but think of Riff Raff from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, though...the visual was there and I was half-expecting the crowd to start doing the Timewarp in the middle of the mosh pit. It's just a jump to the left....!!! 😹
Velvet Kevorkian is the first minute and a half of the track, the part that starts with the high pitched plunking sound, and ends where Devin says "ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome the fuck home". Love Gene's work with Strapping - dude doesn't miss a beat. And I honestly love all of Devin's stuff. It's timeless and continues to blow me away with how direct the emotional connection is.
First album was called Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing 1995, second called City. AHTNF is from City 1997. This is from their From Those Aboot To Rock DVD 2004
I love all of Devy's music. I first was hipped to him when he sang vocals for Steve Vai on the album "Sex and Religion". I saw them at Dallas City Limits on that tour and Devin was incredible. He had a guitar duel with Steve that gave Vai a run for his money. As if that wasn't enough, he did this absolutely insane screamed vocal solo. I've never heard anything like it before or since. He's one of the best artists of our time.
Big SYL fan for around 3 decades. "No Sleep til Bedtime" (Live in Australia) is my favourite CD. I rate them a gigantosaurus maximality omniforce megalodon rex tier. Also, I got an SYL logo tattoo. It's a total chick magnet.
Yes its Gene Hoglan. He joined SYL after Death. His Twitch streams are awesome too, he still has it to a T and crazy to think that he would drum with weights on. Such a great band. Miss them man! And its the bassist of Fear Factory (back then*). The velvet... is the intro part of "can you believe this shit people!" part lol. Sadly SYL ended in late 2006. he'll still do songs from them occasionally but they're over with :( Devin is a mad genius. Currently doing 3 albums back to back. the man hates sleep clearly!
That guy thrashing about on stage reminded me of something. I saw SYL back in April 2005 in Montreal, and a whole bunch of people were stage diving...but one guy, he decided to stay on the stage and dance around a bit, so Devin's guitar tech came out and just pushed him off the stage into the crowd. Awesome show though. Nobody can bring the energy like Devin, and Gene's a frickin' machine. Also, that's the show I saw Tosin Abasi (now of Animals as Leaders, but then as part of a progressive metalcore band called Reflux) perform for the first time (Reflux was the second opening act). Even then, he was an ultra-talented and innovative guitarist, and while I enjoyed Reflux's music (I still listen to their -debut- only album... _The Illusion of Democracy_ now and then because their musical style was really interesting, and nobody else has really explored the same territory before or since), it was obvious that Abasi and their bassist, Evan Brewer, were far more talented than the rest of their bandmates. Fortunately, both found their way into bands that...fit them a bit better.
Strapping Young Lad is one of the most genius bands ever. Putting Devy of Canada and Gene of Texas together...Total Eargasms. Love this. Gene is a Twitch streamer too. And he has gotten a lot healthier.
You wanted a story, so there you go: The first metal concert I attended was SYL 2005, I was in the front row and it was great, even though i didn´t know how to headbang properly. There is even a video of the gig, coincidentally also All Hail The New Flesh, that made it to a bonus DVD: czcams.com/video/nqZGk3y_hd4/video.html (gladly i cannot be seen clearly, because my pathetic moves make me cringe now...). After the concert I was able to talk briefly with all the band members and collected autographs. Everyone was so friendly, especially Devin was so softspoken, like an angel or so. That was amazing in contrast to his persona on stage. When I was riding my bike home (I lived next to a metal pub), Gene Hoglan and some other people just got out of a cab. And because I had my SYL shirt on and had talked to them just before, they recognized me and invited me to go to the pub with them. That was also extremely nice, even though I didn't know what to say in that company.... I think I praised the packaging of the Alien album.... :-D Gene was very understanding and didn't hold my awkwardness against me, I think.
It's crazy what a way Devin has come since then. He's a way better singer and guitarist today, his stage presence is much better, and I even prefer his music today since I feel like he's improved as a songwriter a lot as well.
Always weird to hear how shitty his vocals sounded live back then, comparatively speaking. He's a million times better live these days. Amazing what taking better care of one's physical and mental health can do for them. I still love me some SYL though. Always have, always will.
One of the best bands of all time. Criminally underrated.
Devin Townsend is the single most brilliant musician on the planet.
If there is a music Omnicient it is Devin Townsend .... and it there are 2 Omniscients ... Devin is both of them
SYL was: Devin Townend + Gene Hoglan (as you spotted already) + Byron Stroud (the bassist) + Jed Simon (the guitarist on the right)
Back in those days, I was all about SYL / Fear Factory / Machine Head / Pantera / Sepultura - so thanks for checking it out, this is my jam!
My favorite albums in order are: City > Alien > The New Black > Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing/SYL
Velvet and AHTNF are usually played together, Velvet is the talky start and it merges over to the song
Unfortunately, Strapping is no more, I think Devin pulled the plug on it in 2006/2007.
Funny comparison, if you want to see how he plays it now with other people. He did a quarantine version of it here: czcams.com/video/u5G_1LtY3s4/video.html. The drummer here is CZcamsr 66Samus
All hail the skullet! "Lower Mid Tier Prog Metal" as Devin calls it :) While Devin may have lost his hair in his 20's, his voice got even stronger and his musical genius continues to inspire and amaze me. I first heard him on 1993's Sex and Religion by VAI (Steve) and became an instant fan. Later in the mid 90s he started SYL, which channeled all his anger he felt about the industry and state of the world back then. His did some amazing Podcasts last year that went into extreme detail about most of his SYL and solo albums. This song is from SYL's second, and my favorite album CITY which is probably the heaviest most underrated album of the 90s after Great Southern Trendkill by Pantera in my opinion. Even more Trivia: Devin is touring with Dream Theater in Europe early next year and it's my dream to see them together on my birthday in May in Prague. \m/ Cheers Shane, rock on and be excellent. ESPI
It took me a while what Devin is about. S&R era... I got into it at about same time I heard Heavy as a Real Heavy Thing.
His solo stuff , that was a challenge. SYL I could devour in any amounts, it was a very original alternative to Fear Factory and their approach to industrial metal. I loved when he was very swiftly moving from growl to being Freddy Mercury.
I could not understand for a while why this band didn't took off, but looking at FFs career now I know. That genere was a bit like a shooting star.
LOL, skullet! Made me snort my coffee Espi. Nice request, thoroughly enjoyed it brother!
I do have the 'mid tier" shirt
"All Hail The New Flesh" is a famous line uttered by James Woods in the cult classic David Cronenberg movie, "Videodrome."
This is all new to me...never heard of this band or any of these musicians, but I thought this was very cool! Leave it to our Espi! 🤘 I couldn't help but think of Riff Raff from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, though...the visual was there and I was half-expecting the crowd to start doing the Timewarp in the middle of the mosh pit. It's just a jump to the left....!!! 😹
Velvet Kevorkian is the first minute and a half of the track, the part that starts with the high pitched plunking sound, and ends where Devin says "ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome the fuck home".
Love Gene's work with Strapping - dude doesn't miss a beat. And I honestly love all of Devin's stuff. It's timeless and continues to blow me away with how direct the emotional connection is.
First album was called Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing 1995, second called City. AHTNF is from City 1997. This is from their From Those Aboot To Rock DVD 2004
That first chorus: GODLIKE
Devin was briefly a member of one of my favourite bands,”THE WILDHEARTS”,a British rock band.you should check out “vanilla radio” or “29 x the pain”
the Reading Festival 94(?) is on you tube - devin loud and proud
yup he reworked Vanilla Radio into his song "Resolve"
I love all of Devy's music. I first was hipped to him when he sang vocals for Steve Vai on the album "Sex and Religion". I saw them at Dallas City Limits on that tour and Devin was incredible. He had a guitar duel with Steve that gave Vai a run for his money. As if that wasn't enough, he did this absolutely insane screamed vocal solo. I've never heard anything like it before or since. He's one of the best artists of our time.
The lad rules. Heavy Devy and the boys always deliver. And yes, he was going bald so the skullet is real.
Yea SYL is industrial as fuck. Devin ended SYL somewhere in 2005-2006. Velvet was the "intro" where he was speaking.
Devin is finally playing SYL songs again :D
The bass player you ask about is Byron Stroud. He played for Fear Factory and others, as well as SYL.
Thanks for the heads up!
Funny you ask. I saw them at the 15 years of fear tour with fear factory headlining on strappings ‘Alien’ tour
One of the best songs! Detox has to be next!
Your reactions are EPIC !! 😄 Cheers !! 🤘
That beast of a drummer is none other than the FAMOUS "Gene Hoglan" who has lost 100's of pounds in the last few years. He is unrecognizable today.
Big SYL fan for around 3 decades.
"No Sleep til Bedtime" (Live in Australia) is my favourite CD.
I rate them a gigantosaurus maximality omniforce megalodon rex tier.
Also, I got an SYL logo tattoo. It's a total chick magnet.
Yes its Gene Hoglan. He joined SYL after Death. His Twitch streams are awesome too, he still has it to a T and crazy to think that he would drum with weights on. Such a great band. Miss them man!
And its the bassist of Fear Factory (back then*).
The velvet... is the intro part of "can you believe this shit people!" part lol.
Sadly SYL ended in late 2006. he'll still do songs from them occasionally but they're over with :(
Devin is a mad genius. Currently doing 3 albums back to back. the man hates sleep clearly!
That guy thrashing about on stage reminded me of something. I saw SYL back in April 2005 in Montreal, and a whole bunch of people were stage diving...but one guy, he decided to stay on the stage and dance around a bit, so Devin's guitar tech came out and just pushed him off the stage into the crowd.
Awesome show though. Nobody can bring the energy like Devin, and Gene's a frickin' machine. Also, that's the show I saw Tosin Abasi (now of Animals as Leaders, but then as part of a progressive metalcore band called Reflux) perform for the first time (Reflux was the second opening act). Even then, he was an ultra-talented and innovative guitarist, and while I enjoyed Reflux's music (I still listen to their -debut- only album... _The Illusion of Democracy_ now and then because their musical style was really interesting, and nobody else has really explored the same territory before or since), it was obvious that Abasi and their bassist, Evan Brewer, were far more talented than the rest of their bandmates. Fortunately, both found their way into bands that...fit them a bit better.
Strapping Young Lad is one of the most genius bands ever. Putting Devy of Canada and Gene of Texas together...Total Eargasms. Love this. Gene is a Twitch streamer too. And he has gotten a lot healthier.
Amazing live band. Saw them many times.
City is my favourite album
You wanted a story, so there you go: The first metal concert I attended was SYL 2005, I was in the front row and it was great, even though i didn´t know how to headbang properly. There is even a video of the gig, coincidentally also All Hail The New Flesh, that made it to a bonus DVD: czcams.com/video/nqZGk3y_hd4/video.html (gladly i cannot be seen clearly, because my pathetic moves make me cringe now...).
After the concert I was able to talk briefly with all the band members and collected autographs. Everyone was so friendly, especially Devin was so softspoken, like an angel or so. That was amazing in contrast to his persona on stage. When I was riding my bike home (I lived next to a metal pub), Gene Hoglan and some other people just got out of a cab. And because I had my SYL shirt on and had talked to them just before, they recognized me and invited me to go to the pub with them. That was also extremely nice, even though I didn't know what to say in that company.... I think I praised the packaging of the Alien album.... :-D Gene was very understanding and didn't hold my awkwardness against me, I think.
'In The Rainy Season' is another masterpiece from that first album. But only the live version on 'No Sleep Till Bedtime'.
My favourite former Wildheart
This is from the second album, City. That's the definitive SYL album. Check it out! The first album was Heavy as a Heavy Thing. It rocks balls too.
Great song but even better reaction! That’s actually how your body and face should look when you hear SYL!! 🤘🏽
thanks! 🤘😆🤘
It's crazy what a way Devin has come since then. He's a way better singer and guitarist today, his stage presence is much better, and I even prefer his music today since I feel like he's improved as a songwriter a lot as well.
I agree and I am doing his live performance of MOre on EMGtv coming this week..
SYL are the GOATS, and yes, Gene is the MAN!
Strapping Young Lad disbanded in 2007, dude. Devin has only been doing his solo stuff since.
Always weird to hear how shitty his vocals sounded live back then, comparatively speaking.
He's a million times better live these days.
Amazing what taking better care of one's physical and mental health can do for them.
I still love me some SYL though.
Always have, always will.
Who would dislike this
Devin. 😁
That first chorus: GODLIKE