Good timing, I recently did a Far Beyond Metal cover. And been listening to a bunch of his podcasts. Crazy how troubled Dev used to be during the SYL days.
I miss this band so much. I was able to see them 3 times over the years (it would have been 4 if it wasn't for Sharon Osbourne) and met the entire band during Sounds of the Underground. Super nice dudes. Ranking: 1. City 2. Alien 3. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing 4. The New Black 5. SYL
I saw SYL opening for DTB, and it was incredible how different Devin was from one performance to another, it almost seem like 2 different persons. Both great. Cheers.
1. City 2. Self-titled 3. Alien 4. Heavy As a Really Heavy Thing 5. The New Black Three and four are just about interchangeable. All five albums are excellent.
One of my all time favorite bands. I discovered them on City. I knew Devin from Vai's band and I new Gene from the Death albums he was on. City was not what I expected when I heard it. It blew my mind!! I was lucky enough to see them twice. My friend and I drove Gene Hoglan to the store to get cigs. Room 429 off of city is a cover. Pete's list is my list. 2 and 3 are interchangeable at any given time.
Detox did it for me. Heard it on a century media compilation and had to go listen to both City and the debut. City still amazes me to this day but any choice is great.
Cheers Pete. Love Devin Townsend. Thanks to Nick Franco’s expert recommendation a couple years ago. Can’t wait for his next one. Rank Devin’s albums next?
Devin Townsend is just a musical genius. Strapping Young Lad were definitely one of the heaviest and most creative of metal bands out there. Here would be my ranking: 5. Self-titled 4. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing 3. The New Black 2. Alien 1. City
Man ! I thought i never see the day of a ranking of SYL ! Great video !! My ranking 1- City 2- Alien 3- SYL 4- Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing 5- The new black
I dig The New Black the best. For me, it's less a Strapping Young Lad album and more of a hybrid of Devin's solo work and a good portion of that Strapping style. I've often felt it shouldn't have had the SYL name on it, actually.
My son turned me on to this band, even though I had already heard some of his solo stuff, but never put the two and two together. He sent me all the tracks from three albums, but I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet, but I really like this band. Not for everyone, but I think it's different and most of it is just great.
I first heard City back in '97 and that CD didn't leave the deck in my car or at home for about 2 weeks. The insane, frenetic compositions layered with ethereal synthesizer soundscapes and vocals really scratched about a dozen itches when it came to what I was looking for in metal. Since then, Devin has been one of my heros and I have followed him and all of his projects since. To this day I still can't decide which is the better album- City or Alien; the only reason I'd give it to City is because it came first and it meant a lot to me at the time. Great video Pete. Hope to hear your thoughts on Devin's solo albums.
Cop Shoot Cop is great, and some might be able to connect with them through Phil Puleo, a member that has been shared with Swans, including their recent string of albums (less so on the newest one). A newer related band is Human Impact, on Ipecac.
@@matthewkieswetter4376 Hell yeah, Matthew! I'm a big fan of all that, and was lucky to see Swans live for the first reformed album tour at The Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, which was where they did their last American date waaaaay back when they originally disbanded in the 90s. It was HUMONGOUS!!!
Alien has always been my favorite. Almost Again off The New Black is probably my favorite song by the band, it has sublime vocals and amazing drumming by Hoglan.
I always liked the uniqueness of SYL and was lucky enough to see them support Arch Enemy before they split up, yeah they had that industrial sound similar to Fear factory but Devin just gave it so much personality and branched off into alot of different subgenres with it too, unfortunately I've never been able to get that invested into his other projects but still a very talented unique musician
My list: 1. City 2. Alien 3. The New Black 4. SYL 5. Heavy as a really heavy thing I was very much into Fear Factory when I got into SYL, which probably explains City being my number 1, like being your first love ;)
Me when I saw this notification: "oh fuck yes! I haven't thought about these guys in a while." I have fond memories of walking down my high school hallway thinking I was the coolest dude on the block with Devin screaming in my earholes. SYL was more or less Devin's middle finger to everything he disliked about the music industry. That was his approach when writing the debut record. 1. Alien (easily, it refined and untouchably improved version of City) 2. City (very good but still a bit straight forward and lacking the manic personality of later albums) 3. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing (an unpredictable piss-take on what you should expect metal should sound like. the disregard for musical conventions is the source of this album's charm) 4. The New Black (a serviceable swansong) 5. SYL (a trodding and pivotal "where do we want to go next?" album)
I saw SYL in concert when they were on the Art of Noise Tour (if I’m not mistaken) that Nile usually headlined every time. It was a great set. Plus, I think if you had Nick and Ryan on to do their ranking for Marduk albums would be a joy to watch. Make it happen!! :)
Devin is my FAVOURITE (fellow-) Canadian musician, but I only own his solo stuff. Nothing by SYL. I don’t mind when “heavy Devy” does a bit of extreme screaming and metal riffs (like his work on Deconstruction; some songs on the 1993 VAI album; etc) but I can’t take a full album of it.
I completely understand what you said about the first album. I enjoy that album a lot, but it's really just a bunch of demos that were mixed and remastered by the label. Century Media were still a small label when they signed Devin, and they didn't have the budget to let him re-record those songs.
1. SYL ( I know I'm in a minority but I think that this is not only the best Strapping Young Lad but also the best thing Devon Townsend has ever done by far) 2. Alien 3.City 4. The New Black 5. Heavy As a Really Heavy Thing
I believe Devin said that SYL was the record he had the least to do with which means Jed Simon would have wrote most of the guitars. Great record though, totally underrated IMO.
@@thevomit5851 Yeah I got to see them open for Meshuggah on their tour for that album and it was insanely badass. There was some annoying dude against the stage, looking ridiculous, mouthing along to the songs but he didn't know any of the lyrics. I could tell that Devin was annoyed by him so towards the end of the set Devin casually walked to the edge of the stage and kicked the dude in the head making his cigarette explode. Devin was so over the top that night, he was hilarious and seriously metal at the same time. After the show I somehow found myself standing around talking to Gene Hoglan, Thomas Hakke, and Fredrick Thordendal . I saw Devin hanging out after the show by himself and I regret not walking over and talking to him. But at the time I was just a casual SYL fan but a big time Death and Meshuggah fan and how often do you get a chance to talk to those three dudes!!..Very metal night indeed.
@@adamross9949 Sounds like a hell of a night. I've seen Devin's solo band twice but never got to catch SYL. Big fan of both Meshuggah and Death, pretty sure Devin said touring with Meshuggah inspired him to write Alien, probably their best work IMO.
I keep meaning to go through this stuff but haven't really. I did watch some recent concert footage and he played some SYL tunes that had balls the other stuff didn't.
For those who can't get into them, next time you stub your toe or ding your car, put Shitstorm on. It'll blow your mind. 1. Alien 2. The New Black 3. City 4. SYL (only for Aftermath) 5. HAARHT
Pete, enjoy your content. I'd love a ranking of Anthrax and Danzig even though I'm quite sure we wouldn't agree. Maybe you've done them already and I just didn't see it.
Man you almost had my ranking spot on 🤣 I rank everything else the same, but City is number 1 for me instead of Alien. Both albums are phenomenal, but what makes me return to City is that as extreme as it is, the songs are so god damn anthemic, hooks everywhere! Not that Alien doesn't have that, but it is also extremely fucked up and you can hear how unhinged Devin was when he wrote it. I have to be in the right mood for Alien to really have the full effect on me, in other words when I'm really feeling annoyed or completely done with everything and everyone 🤣 Just out of curiosity will you be doing anymore episodes on Devin? Like ranking of the Devin Townsend Band/Project albums, and also his solo stuff? Obviously fine if not, would just be cool haha
Devin's vocals on "Happy Camper" are _inhuman!_
Been Waiting for this Ranking! Great Video Pete!
5 - The New Black
4 - Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
3 - SYL
2 - Alien
1 - City
Still waiting for the Devin solo ranking:
1. City
2. Alien
3. The new black
4. SYL
5. Heavy as a really heavy thing
Good timing, I recently did a Far Beyond Metal cover. And been listening to a bunch of his podcasts. Crazy how troubled Dev used to be during the SYL days.
Nice one!
I miss this band so much. I was able to see them 3 times over the years (it would have been 4 if it wasn't for Sharon Osbourne) and met the entire band during Sounds of the Underground. Super nice dudes. Ranking:
1. City
2. Alien
3. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
4. The New Black
5. SYL
Thank you Mr. Pardo for this ranking!
I saw SYL opening for DTB, and it was incredible how different Devin was from one performance to another, it almost seem like 2 different persons. Both great. Cheers.
1. City
2. Self-titled
3. Alien
4. Heavy As a Really Heavy Thing
5. The New Black
Three and four are just about interchangeable. All five albums are excellent.
I've never been able to get in to SYL or Devin's solo stuff, but I'll watch and appreciate the video either way!
One of my all time favorite bands. I discovered them on City. I knew Devin from Vai's band and I new Gene from the Death albums he was on. City was not what I expected when I heard it. It blew my mind!! I was lucky enough to see them twice. My friend and I drove Gene Hoglan to the store to get cigs. Room 429 off of city is a cover. Pete's list is my list. 2 and 3 are interchangeable at any given time.
Detox did it for me. Heard it on a century media compilation and had to go listen to both City and the debut. City still amazes me to this day but any choice is great.
Amazing the amount of energy in this music, some epic songs.
Alien is my fav SYL album, but Almost Again is by far my fav track.
Solid ranking! I would love to see a Devin Townsend ranking on the channel.
My ranking would be:
1) Alien
2) City
3) The New Black
4) SYL
5) HAARHT
Perfect ranking, I agree 100%. I feel like most people put the new black over SYL and city over alien, but you nailed it in my opinion
Cheers Pete. Love Devin Townsend. Thanks to Nick Franco’s expert recommendation a couple years ago. Can’t wait for his next one. Rank Devin’s albums next?
Awesome video Id love to see a full ranking of Devin’s catalogue at some point
Devin Townsend is just a musical genius. Strapping Young Lad were definitely one of the heaviest and most creative of metal bands out there. Here would be my ranking:
5. Self-titled
4. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
3. The New Black
2. Alien
1. City
City for me and wasn't expecting this,Pete!
1. City
2. The New Black
3. Alien
4. Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing
5. Strapping Young Lad
I really like this list, I can't decide between 2 and 3 is the only thing.
5 - Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
4 - The new Black
3 - Alien
2 - SYL
1 - City
Amazing band
Man ! I thought i never see the day of a ranking of SYL ! Great video !!
My ranking
1- City
2- Alien
3- SYL
4- Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
5- The new black
A band aware of some stuff I have heard and seen on cable back in the day and to seeing on you tube today. Devin is amazing.
I dig The New Black the best. For me, it's less a Strapping Young Lad album and more of a hybrid of Devin's solo work and a good portion of that Strapping style. I've often felt it shouldn't have had the SYL name on it, actually.
Glad to see some SYL talk on here!
I'd rank em
1. City
2. Alien
3. Heavy
4. Self titled
5. New Black
Don't know this band, but I like the name. Never liked extreme metal, but always like the reviews.
Funny, I put SYL on my "Worst Band Names Ever" list at #1! Btw, Toad The Wet Sprocket came in #2.
My son turned me on to this band, even though I had already heard some of his solo stuff, but never put the two and two together. He sent me all the tracks from three albums, but I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet, but I really like this band. Not for everyone, but I think it's different and most of it is just great.
I first heard City back in '97 and that CD didn't leave the deck in my car or at home for about 2 weeks. The insane, frenetic compositions layered with ethereal synthesizer soundscapes and vocals really scratched about a dozen itches when it came to what I was looking for in metal. Since then, Devin has been one of my heros and I have followed him and all of his projects since. To this day I still can't decide which is the better album- City or Alien; the only reason I'd give it to City is because it came first and it meant a lot to me at the time. Great video Pete. Hope to hear your thoughts on Devin's solo albums.
City is my fave for sure. None of the others do for me what that one does. Room 429 is a cover of the awesome Cop Shoot Cop!
Cop Shoot Cop is great, and some might be able to connect with them through Phil Puleo, a member that has been shared with Swans, including their recent string of albums (less so on the newest one). A newer related band is Human Impact, on Ipecac.
@@matthewkieswetter4376 Hell yeah, Matthew! I'm a big fan of all that, and was lucky to see Swans live for the first reformed album tour at The Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, which was where they did their last American date waaaaay back when they originally disbanded in the 90s. It was HUMONGOUS!!!
Alien has always been my favorite. Almost Again off The New Black is probably my favorite song by the band, it has sublime vocals and amazing drumming by Hoglan.
And for a blazing version of Detox! (for me its the definitive version) have a look at The Retinal Circus.
I always liked the uniqueness of SYL and was lucky enough to see them support Arch Enemy before they split up, yeah they had that industrial sound similar to Fear factory but Devin just gave it so much personality and branched off into alot of different subgenres with it too, unfortunately I've never been able to get that invested into his other projects but still a very talented unique musician
Never heard of them.
I’ll check them out👍
Buckle up. You're in for a ride.
Such a solid discography! My only gripe about "Alien" is the noise track "Info Dump". Thankfully, it's at the very end of the record.
Hi Pete, would you ever do a Devin Townsend solo work album ranking? And would you mix all 3 solo projects into 1 or rank them all separately?
My list:
1. City
2. Alien
3. The New Black
4. SYL
5. Heavy as a really heavy thing
I was very much into Fear Factory when I got into SYL, which probably explains City being my number 1, like being your first love ;)
Thanks Pete for the ranking of SYL, heard of them, but not sure I've heard anything from them. I'll check out Alien and City soon.
Me when I saw this notification: "oh fuck yes! I haven't thought about these guys in a while." I have fond memories of walking down my high school hallway thinking I was the coolest dude on the block with Devin screaming in my earholes.
SYL was more or less Devin's middle finger to everything he disliked about the music industry. That was his approach when writing the debut record.
1. Alien (easily, it refined and untouchably improved version of City)
2. City (very good but still a bit straight forward and lacking the manic personality of later albums)
3. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing (an unpredictable piss-take on what you should expect metal should sound like. the disregard for musical conventions is the source of this album's charm)
4. The New Black (a serviceable swansong)
5. SYL (a trodding and pivotal "where do we want to go next?" album)
I saw SYL in concert when they were on the Art of Noise Tour (if I’m not mistaken) that Nile usually headlined every time. It was a great set. Plus, I think if you had Nick and Ryan on to do their ranking for Marduk albums would be a joy to watch. Make it happen!! :)
Devin is my FAVOURITE (fellow-) Canadian musician, but I only own his solo stuff. Nothing by SYL.
I don’t mind when “heavy Devy” does a bit of extreme screaming and metal riffs (like his work on Deconstruction; some songs on the 1993 VAI album; etc) but I can’t take a full album of it.
Just waiting for the Devin solo stuff now, including DTB, DTP, Casualties Of Cool, Punky Bruster et al.
To me, "City" is the best of a very solid and crushing lineup of albums. But then, i got into Strapping Young Lad when that album came out.
This one deserved at least a 2 person panel.
5. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
4. The New Black
3. SYL
2. Alien
1. City
Could you do a ranking of Devin Townsend's solo albums?
I completely understand what you said about the first album. I enjoy that album a lot, but it's really just a bunch of demos that were mixed and remastered by the label. Century Media were still a small label when they signed Devin, and they didn't have the budget to let him re-record those songs.
1. SYL ( I know I'm in a minority but I think that this is not only the best Strapping Young Lad but also the best thing Devon Townsend has ever done by far)
2. Alien
3.City
4. The New Black
5. Heavy As a Really Heavy Thing
I believe Devin said that SYL was the record he had the least to do with which means Jed Simon would have wrote most of the guitars. Great record though, totally underrated IMO.
@@thevomit5851 Yeah I got to see them open for Meshuggah on their tour for that album and it was insanely badass. There was some annoying dude against the stage, looking ridiculous, mouthing along to the songs but he didn't know any of the lyrics. I could tell that Devin was annoyed by him so towards the end of the set Devin casually walked to the edge of the stage and kicked the dude in the head making his cigarette explode. Devin was so over the top that night, he was hilarious and seriously metal at the same time. After the show I somehow found myself standing around talking to Gene Hoglan, Thomas Hakke, and Fredrick Thordendal . I saw Devin hanging out after the show by himself and I regret not walking over and talking to him. But at the time I was just a casual SYL fan but a big time Death and Meshuggah fan and how often do you get a chance to talk to those three dudes!!..Very metal night indeed.
@@adamross9949 Sounds like a hell of a night. I've seen Devin's solo band twice but never got to catch SYL. Big fan of both Meshuggah and Death, pretty sure Devin said touring with Meshuggah inspired him to write Alien, probably their best work IMO.
I keep meaning to go through this stuff but haven't really. I did watch some recent concert footage and he played some SYL tunes that had balls the other stuff didn't.
For those who can't get into them, next time you stub your toe or ding your car, put Shitstorm on. It'll blow your mind.
1. Alien
2. The New Black
3. City
4. SYL (only for Aftermath)
5. HAARHT
Pete, enjoy your content. I'd love a ranking of Anthrax and Danzig even though I'm quite sure we wouldn't agree. Maybe you've done them already and I just didn't see it.
Sort of off topic…have you ever given the band Soilwork a listen? They really are something great and not spoken of often
1: alien
2: city
3: the new black
4: SYL
5: Heavy as a really heavy thing
Man you almost had my ranking spot on 🤣 I rank everything else the same, but City is number 1 for me instead of Alien. Both albums are phenomenal, but what makes me return to City is that as extreme as it is, the songs are so god damn anthemic, hooks everywhere! Not that Alien doesn't have that, but it is also extremely fucked up and you can hear how unhinged Devin was when he wrote it. I have to be in the right mood for Alien to really have the full effect on me, in other words when I'm really feeling annoyed or completely done with everything and everyone 🤣
Just out of curiosity will you be doing anymore episodes on Devin? Like ranking of the Devin Townsend Band/Project albums, and also his solo stuff? Obviously fine if not, would just be cool haha
Another artist Devin who lost all his hair got the whole Chrome dome going
In order from worst to best: Chicken Feather, HaaRHT, New Black, Alien, City. Now let's see what Pete comes up with.
5. Heavy as
4.SYL
3. City
2. Alien
1. TNB
I really like his solo stuff but can't get into SYL.
Have been into Devi since 2008 but only listened to SYL for the first time in 2020, awesome music though I prefer his solo works.
City is still the heaviest album I've ever heard.
DANG!! Pete Pardo likes SYL?!?!
Pete is Rich Catino gonna appear on your show again have not seen him in a while? I like the way he presents information on the topic being discussed.
He’s been on 3 shows over the last 2 weeks
1. City
2. Alien
3. The New Black
4. Strapping Young Lad
5. Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing
1) City
2) Alien
3) The New Black
4) Strapping Young Lad
5) Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
5. The New Black
4. Alien
3. SYL
2. Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
1. City