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September 8, 2010 |
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March 22, 2005
By Tony Antunovich
All photos Copyright © 2005 METALEATER - Do not use without permission.
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Century Media recording artists STRAPPING YOUNG LAD have just unleashed their latest method of madness to the eagerly-awaiting metal-hungry public. The band's brand new album, "Alien", has landed, and if early observations made by the metal media are any indication, the Vancouver-based quartet are poised to break new ground in 2005 and create a major shift in the direction of extreme music as we know it.
To celebrate the release of this, their fourth studio album, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD (Devin Townsend - vocals/guitars/programming, Jed Simon - guitars, Byron Stroud - bass, Gene Hoglan - drums) made a special in-store appearance at Scrape Records in Vancouver yesterday (March 22, 2005) to greet fans and sign autographs. As always, it's great to see a band like this show such appreciation toward their adoring fans, but the fans themselves reciprocated that same level of appreciation to the SYL boys.
Many die-hard STRAPPING-heads flocked to the metal record shop to show their support of the band and their brand new album. It was quite obvious that the STRAPPING guys were pleased with the overwhelming response.
Responding to how it felt to have the in-store not just on the day of the release of "Alien", but also in the band's own backyard, guitarist Jed Simon said, "Well, clearly, this is the best one yet and because it wasn't on a show day and because so many people showed up, it's just very cool. I mean, I really don't know what to say. I was very happy today. I was grinning like an undertaker I guess you could say."
During the in-store, fans were treated to the fresh sounds of the new album, and they seemed to really like what they were hearing. I asked Simon what his thoughts were regarding the new album shifting the direction of extreme music: "Well, I don't really think that big, I guess. If it started a movement where that was the end result, I'd be pretty proud and pretty amazed at the same time. But I think this album is just a representation of where we're at right now and it's just us. We're not trying to be anything or to do anything; it's just where we are now."
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Century Media have been in STRAPPING's corner since the beginning back in 1995. Speaking about the band's relationship with the label over the years, Simon said, "Well, it's getting better. Since the last album came out, things have been on the up. The only thing with Century Media is that they're dealing with a pretty volatile band. I mean, STRAPPING is notoriously up and down, which is not my fault (laughs), but anyway. We've been kind of all over the map, and the fact that the label stays behind us through all that time is pretty cool."
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD are currently preparing for an extensive tour across North America, which kicks-off in Victoria, BC in just over a week. Simon elaborated, "The tour plans are good. We start the first tour on April 2 and it's a month and a half all over North America. I think we get back for about a week or two after that, then we're going over to Europe to do the Gods Of Metal festival in Italy. I think we're doing Waldrock and just a few other shows. We're not going to spend a lot of time in Europe. I think we're only over there for about 10 or 15 days; then we come back and we're doing The Sounds Of The Underground festival tour in the U.S. with LAMB OF GOD as a headliner, and I guess that's like a month and a bit. I'm not sure what's happening after that. That's where we're at right now."
As for what fans can expect to see on the upcoming tour, Simon said, "They're going to see STRAPPING! I mean, we're not setting out to do anything new or break any new molds or bring out any inflatable ponies or anything. We're just going to come out and give the people what they want - music straight up - cheese-grater in your face, you know? That's it! No big show plans or anything like that."
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Crazed metal fans will undoubtedly witness, yet again, the high-caliber SYL live show when it rolls into their town. The Vancouver fans are in for a special treat as the band will wrap-up their North American headlining trek right in their own hometown on May 14, 2005 at the Commodore Ballroom, the exact same venue where the band's DVD "For Those Aboot To Rock - Live At The Commodore" was filmed. When I stated that the guys were obviously looking forward to this, Simon confirmed, "Oh, of course! It's home! It's going to be awesome!" I think that says it all.
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's North American 2005 Tour itinerary:
Apr. 2 - The Sugar - Victoria, BC
Apr. 4 - The Generator - Prince George, BC
Apr. 5 - The Starlite Room - Edmonton, AB
Apr. 6 - The Warehouse - Calgary, AB
Apr. 7 - Amigos - Saskatoon, SK
Apr. 8 - Riddel Center - Regina, SK
Apr. 9 - Pyramid Caberet - Winnipeg, MB
Apr. 10 - Ascot Room - Minneapolis, MN
Apr. 11 - Ranch Bowl - Omaha, NE
Apr. 12 - House Of Blues - Chicago, IL
Apr. 13 - QC Live - Davenport, IA
Apr. 14 - Peabody's Down Under - Cleveland, OH
Apr. 15 - Rex Theater - Pittsburgh, PA
Apr. 16 - Northern Lights - Clifton Park, NY
Apr. 17 - BB King's - New York, NY
Apr. 18 - Café Campus - Montreal, QC
Apr. 19 - Barrymore's Music Hall - Ottawa, ON
Apr. 20 - The Opera House - Toronto, ON
Apr. 21 - Penny Arcade - Rochester, NY
Apr. 22 - The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY
Apr. 23 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
Apr. 24 - The Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
Apr. 25 - Webster Theatre - Hartford, CT
Apr. 26 - Jaxx - West Springfield, VA
Apr. 27 - Jesters Pub - Fayetteville, NC
Apr. 29 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Apr. 30 - The Masquerade - Tampa, FL
May 1 - Culture Room - Ft Lauderdale, FL
May 3 - Sanctuary - San Antonio, TX
May 4 - Trees - Dallas, TX
May 6 - The Mason Jar - Phoenix, AZ
May 7 - House Of Blues - West Hollywood, CA
May 8 - New Oasis - Sparks, NV
May 9 - The Boardwalk - Orangevale, CA
May 10 - The Pound at Pier 96 - San Francisco, CA
May 11 - Roseland Grill - Portland, OR
May 12 - Fat Tuesday's Concert Hall - Spokane, WA
May 13 - Graceland - Seattle, WA
May 14 - Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
For more information on the band, visit their official website.
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