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Rating: I once read that at the first Strapping Young Lad concert, hundreds of Steve Vai fans attended because Devin Townsend, the singer of Strapping, had collaborated with him, and the guitarist's fans were curious to witness the concert of his friend. The result?
Legend has it that after 10 minutes, all these curious fans were forced to leave due to the brutality, the power, and the violence of the music of Strapping Young Lad.
All these qualities can be found on a CD like "Alien". Total ferocity packed into 10 songs. Townsend's terrifying voice, the talent of Byron Stroud and Jed Simon, and the superior technique of Gene Hoglan (who on this CD outdoes himself) form an excellent group (in my opinion, also underrated).
This CD, dated 2004, is probably the best from Strapping, and the sound reaches its full maturity. The musicians' performances exceed all expectations, and the songs are increasingly more brutal and complex. "Love?", "Imperial", "Skeksis", "Zen" and all the other songs are authentic gems and will likely remain in their live setlists for quite some time.
In short, it is a CD that leaves one speechless, sure to impress anyone who listens to it. This time, Strapping Young Lad has truly hit a bullseye... now we must wait for the new album to see if it will live up to this masterpiece.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Imperial (02:17)
WE HAVE RETURNED
FOREVER'S INVENTION
THE TWO BECAME ONE
TILL WE COLLIDE
TWO WORLDS COLLIDE
TILL WE COLLIDE...OH...
Further...further...FURTHER!!!
NOW is the TIME we DELIVER!!!
...SING and BE HEARD!
NOW!!! by the PROPHECY of the fucking weak
that fucking wept...
WE SHALL BE HEARD!!!
03 Shitstorm (04:22)
YOU BASTARD!!!
Know, know, KNOW
I HATE YOU!!!
EVERYTHING...everything, EVERYTHING...
is WRONG!!!
And I don't want to fight...
Because I don't know what's
WRONG or RIGHT
But I'll do ANYTHING just to get some
FUCKING sleep tonight...
And I can't even EAT
And I can't even FUCKING PISS!!!
All I've been doing is thinking about
GOD and DEATH InFiNiTy!!!!!
Sleep little baby, don't you cry...little baby...
NOW
You'll fucking listen to me...Everyone of you in my
MOTHERFUCKING LIFE;
All I've been looking for is an excuse to
feel this way...
...and now I know...
HA!
I KNOW!!!
I'm in control of the infinite mind,
And I control infinite Power
When?!?!?!?
EVERY BLACK MINUTE
And self-control is something I've learned...
But don't think I won't do it,
Don't you EVER forget;
If you want crazy...
IF YOU AWNT FUCKING CRAZY...
I'll SHOW YOU HOW TO BE CRAZY
FUCK YOU!!!!
LADIES!!!
All this time I thought you wanted me to be
like YOU
...you don't want me to BE LIKE YOU,
now you'll sing for ME!
Baby!!! Little baby, little baby...YEAH!!!
Aw, FUCK!!!! FUCK!!!!!!!!
KNOW...KNOW...KNOW...
I FUCKING HATE MYSELF
EVERYTHING...EVERYTHING...EVERYTHING
about this is FUCKD!!!
Now it's
SCIENCE!!!
SCIENCE!!!
SCIENCE!!!
...and...
MATH!!!
MATH!!!
MATH!!!
07 Possessions (04:12)
I want your HEART
Your SOUL...
...and your MIND
You'll give me TRUST
...Your body,
Then you're mine!
...And being HUMAN
...is FUCKED as it is.
With all these questions
Of FAITH, and of...KIDS!!!
So what do you wanna do now baby???
...Do you wanna have a fucking BABY!?
NO!!!!!!!!
Whoa no...God no...
Whoa no...God...
GIVE IT AWAY (Goddamn I need it...)
GIVE IT AWAY (Goddamn I need it...)
GIVE IT AWAY (Goddamn I need it...)
GIVE IT AWAY, GIVE IT AWAY, GO!!!
GIVE IT AWAY (Goddamn I need it...)
GIVE IT AWAY (Goddamn I need it...)
GIVE IT AWAY (Goddamn I need it...)
GIVE IT AWAY, GIVE IT AWAY, ALL!!!
GET AWAY (Goddamn I need to...)
GET AWAY (Goddamn I need to...)
GET AWAY (Goddamn I need to...)
GET AWAY, GET AWAY, GO!!!
GET AWAY (Goddamn we need to...)
GET AWAY (Goddamn we need to...)
GET AWAY (Goddamn we need to...)
GET INTO THE CAR AND DRIVE!!!
Far!!! Far!!! Far!!! Far!!!
Vacation, procreation, sterilization,
DISNEYLAND!!!
...should we do it?
...d'ya wanna DO IT?!?!?!?!
I'll protect you...
Mommy!!!
Children and money and family and DEATH and
TAXES and CAREER
And PICKET FENCES
...JUST GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!
TAKE IT!!!
FUCK IT ALL!!!
[Chorus]
HERE IT COMES!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEAH!
10 Zen (05:02)
Oh, did you think that I was KIDDING???
Oh, DID YOU THINK THAT I WAS???
Oh, too late, too late...
Aw, TOO LATE MOTHERFUCKRE!!!
MUST REMEMBER TO KEEP BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND
EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE IS TURNING ROUND
Then... we're the only ones
We're GODS, not demons
ZEN
ZEN
Zen...on the way I'm feeling
Zen...on the way we're feeling
On we go...we're waiting now...
Are you looking at me?!?
...Why do you keep looking at me?!?
...am I not merciful?
YES!!! we're the only ones
We're GODS AND DEMONS
ZEN
ZEN
Zen...on the way I'm feeling
Zen...on the way we're feeling
Zen...on the way I'm feeling
Zen...on the way we're feeling
Connect now and emerge.
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By BathoryAria
Self-defined by the band as "Chaos Metal", SYL’s musical proposal is the most original, crazy, and energetic that currently exists in the now saturated extreme scene.
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