Metal Wiki

- Hello. Welcome to the Metal Wiki please read the Rules and login if you want to contribute to this wiki!

READ MORE

Metal Wiki
Advertisement
The New Black
The New Black
Album info
ReleaseJuly 11, 2006
Recorded2006
GenreExtreme metal, progressive metal, heavy metal
Length42:43
LabelCentury Media Records
ProducerDevin Townsend

The New Black is the fifth and final album by Canadian extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad. It was released on July 11, 2006, debuting at No. 200 on the Billboard charts.[1] A music video was shot for the album's sole single, "Wrong Side", and another video, done in CGI, was made for "Almost Again", which was not a single.

Background[]

Century Media imposed a strict deadline on the release date of the album; it was to be ready before the 2006 Ozzfest festival. Despite this, Townsend stated the recording was not rushed,[2] and The New Black became a critical, as well as a commercial, success. It was more melodic than any of the band's previous albums and brought back the debut album's tongue-in-cheek humour.[2]

Release[]

The New Black was released on July 11, 2006. Having sold more than 4,000 copies during its first week, The New Black reached No. 200 on the Billboard 200]chart,[3] No. 15 on the Top Independent Albums, and No. 8 on the Top Heatseekers charts.[4] Stylus Magazine's Cosmo Lee described it as "heavy, catchy, and with no filler",[5] and About.com's Chad Bowar was also positive, stating that "this is a CD that's dense and heavy, but also has some memorable hooks".[6]

A music video was shot in late May to accompany the sole single from the album, "Wrong Side".[7] In June 2006 Strapping Young Lad embarked on a short festival tour of Europe, including performances at the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals in Germany, and the Download Festival in England, which was followed by a second stage appearance at Ozzfest in July and August, where they played to some of the largest audiences in their career.

The album comes packaged with a second CD featuring a sampling of various other Century Media artists. The European version contains two bonus tracks: "The Long Pig" and a cover of Melvins' "Zodiac".[8] The Japanese version contains "The Long Pig" and the instrumental "C:enter:###".

Track listing[]

All music composed by Devin Townsend

# Track title Length
1. "Decimator" 2:53
2. "You Suck" 2:40
3. "Anti-Product" 3:56
4. "Monument" 4:11
5. "Wrong Side" 3:35
6. "Hope" 5:02
7. "Far Beyond Metal" 4:36
8. "Fucker" 3:53
9. "Almost Again" 3:43
10. "Polyphony" 1:54
11. "New Black" 6:15
European bonus tracks
# Track title Length
12. "The Long Pig" 1:22
13. "Zodiac" (Melvins cover) 3:59
Japanese bonus tracks
# Track title Length
12. "The Long Pig" 1:22
13. "C:enter:###" 3:04

Personnel[]

Strapping Young Lad
  • Devin Townsend – vocals, guitar, production
  • Jed Simon – guitar, backing vocals
  • Gene Hoglan – drums, percussion
  • Byron Stroud – bass, backing vocals
Additional musicians
  • Will Campagna – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Cam Kroetsch (The Almighty Punchdrunk) – guest vocals on "You Suck"
  • Oderus Urungus (Gwar) – guest vocals on "Far Beyond Metal"
  • Bif Naked – guest vocals on "Fucker"
  • Chris Valagao Mina (Zimmers Hole) – guitar, backing vocals
Production
  • Shaun Thingvold – engineering
  • Mike Fraser – mixing
  • Ryan Van Poederooyen – drum technician
  • Travis Smith – artwork and photography

References[]

  1. Century Media RecordsTemplate:Dead link
  2. 2.0 2.1 Donnelly, Justin. Devin Townsend Feature Interview. Blistering. Retrieved on January 31, 2008.
  3. Harris, Chris (July 19, 2006), "Thom Yorke's No Match For Chamillionaire, Kelly Clarkson In Billboard Race" (Script error: No such module "Separated entries".), <http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1536652/20060719/yorke_thom_radiohead_.jhtml>. Retrieved on 31 January 2008 
  4. [[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] Artist Chart History - Strapping Young Lad]. Billboard. Retrieved on January 31, 2008.
  5. Lee, Cosmo (July 31, 2006). Strapping Young Lad - The New Black - Review. Stylus magazine. Retrieved on January 31, 2008.
  6. Bowar, Chad (2006). Strapping Young Lad - The New Black Review. About.com. Retrieved on January 31, 2008.
  7. "Strapping Young Lad To Film 'Wrong Side' Video; Extras Needed" (Script error: No such module "Separated entries".), May 24, 2006, <http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/strapping-young-lad-to-film-wrong-side-video-extras-needed/>. Retrieved on 31 January 2008 
  8. Voivod. Century Media Records. .centurymedia.com. Retrieved on May 13, 2013.

External links[]

Advertisement