Strapping Young Lad

Strapping Young Lad
Band Info
Origin	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Years-Active	1994-1998, 2002-2007
Genre(s)	Extreme metal, Industrial metal, progressive metal
Label(s)	Century Media Records
Associated Acts	www.myspace.com/strappingyounglad
Homepage	{{{8}}}
Last.fm	{{{9}}}

Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing. By 1997, he had recruited permanent members; this line-up, which consisted of Townsend on vocals and guitar, Jed Simon on guitar, Byron Stroud on bass, and Gene Hoglan on drums, lasted until the band's dissolution.

Containing elements of death metal, thrash metal, black metal, progressive metal and industrial metal, Strapping Young Lad's music was characterized by the use of complex time signatures, polyrhythmic guitar riffing and drumming, blast beats and Wall of Sound production. The band's musical direction was mainly determined by Townsend, whose battle with bipolar disorder and dark sense of humour were major influences on his songwriting. Townsend was also noted for his eccentric appearance and on-stage behaviour, which greatly contributed to the band's intense live performances. 1997 Chris Valagao Mina, guitar, backing vocal.

The band gained critical success and a growing underground fan base from their 1997 album City. After a hiatus between 1999 and 2002, the band released three more albums, reaching their commercial peak with the 2006 effort, The New Black. Townsend disbanded Strapping Young Lad in May 2007, announcing his decision to retreat from public view while continuing to record solo albums.

Band members

Final line-up

• Devin Townsend – guitar, lead vocals, keyboards (1994–2007)
• Jed Simon – guitar, backing vocals (1994–2007)
• Byron Stroud – bass, backing vocals (1996–2007)
• Gene Hoglan – drums (1996–2007)

Former members

• Adrian White – drums (1994–1995)
• Ashley Scribner - bass (1994–1995)
• Mike Sudar - guitar (1994–1995)

Session members

All session members are the musicians playing on Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing besides Townsend and Simon.

• Chris Bayes – drums (1994)
• Smokin' Lord Toot – drums (1994)
• Chris Meyers – keyboards
• Chris Valagao Mina – guitar, backing vocal

Note: The pre-City touring line-up consisted of Townsend, Simon, White, Scribner, Sudar and Meyers.

Touring members

• John Morgan – keyboards (1997)
• Matteo Caratozzolo – keyboards (1997–1998, 2003)
• Jamie Meyer – keyboards (1998–1999)
• Jason Filipchuk – keyboards (1999)
• Chris Valagao Mina – guitar backing vocal (1997-2002)
• Will Campagna – keyboards (2002, 2005–2006)
• Munesh Sami – keyboards (2003–2004)
• Jon Miller – bass (substituting Byron Stroud, July 14–31, 2005)
• James MacDonough – bass (substituting Byron Stroud, August 1–13, 2006)

Discography

Studio album

• Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing (1995)
• City (1997)
• Strapping Young Lad (2003)
• Alien (2005)
• The New Black (2006)

External links

• Official Myspace page