Strapping Young Lad - Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing
1995 Century Media
by Skin Splitter

Quick Summary:
My first experience with this band came from this album.  This one can only be described as one thing and one thing only.  A complete audio assault.  This record goes brutally fast, sloth-like slow, and combines humor to boot.  Some of the songs on this album you just have to laugh at just because there is really no other reaction that can describe it.

Describing their sound would be like describing 2 feet of snow to Jamaica.  You just have to be there to understand it.  I can only describe this album to the effect of combining Fear Factory with death metal drumming (since the drummer was formally of Death that would make sense) triggered like mad, a combination of Slayer and a grindcore bands riffs (guitars all over the damn place), keyboard sounds that either enhance the song or just sound unbelievably ridiculous (slide whistle in Satan's Ice Cream Truck immediately comes to mind), and then there's Mr. Townsend, one pissed off out of control man who I instantly think of two things.  One is that I would never go out in public with him because he seems like the type of person who would eat raw meat in front of P.E.T.A. just to have the pleasure of yelling at them.  Two, when he yells, it makes me feel like he is trying to yell so loud that his mouth can expand just enough to eat my entire head.  Oh yeah, he also swears a lot!  Final Summation?  A lot of the songs sound the same so don't listen to this one on random.  The mixing of this album really saves it because it allows slow songs to be "caressed" by brutally fast songs and gives your ears a break.  So, if you're like me and I know I am, and you have a low attention span, this one might be one to check out.  There's a lot going on in this one.

Website:  www.strappingyounglad.com

Song Summaries:

1. S.Y.L. - This one is fast and nasty.  Lot's of swears in this one.  Also, has some singing, but if you turn it up real loud and sing along, it's a great song to get ready for a fight.  B+
2. In The Rainy Season - This one is even faster!  Triggered like hell.  Nice combination of singing/yelling.  At 3:10 it changes into something slow and gothy.  Not a bad song, but it only has about 3-5 notes/chords.  C
3. Goat - Combination of death metal harmonics, good riff, and industrial sounds to boot.  Devin yells less on this song but it doesn't take away from it.  Even had goat sounds.  Good song to get started with for this band.  A-
4. Cod Metal King - Dance music, techno intro here.  I got really bored with this song.  Think Marilyn Manson with a deeper voice and that's about the song.  D
5. Happy Camper (Carpe B.U.M.) - This one makes me laugh.  It's fast, it has stupid vocal noises, and then Devin basically yells as fast as he can.  A great song, but you have to pay attention to it.  If you're not paying any attention, you're going to hate it.  A-
6. Critic - Speed, speed, speed.  This one sounds like grindcore for an intro.  Then it turns into a S.Y.L. typical speed song.  Throw some Slayer riffs in there when the speed is slower and you've got an O.K. song.  B
7. Filler/Sweet City Jesus - The first two minutes are exactly that...Filler.  Interesting riff at 2:15, but then it goes back to the same thing as the intro.  At least they were honest.  C-
8. Skin Me - Slower drum beats but lots of low growls.  Got bored with this one as well.  D
9. Drizzlehell - This one sounds like angry Corrosion Of Conformity (Wiseblood days) with Ministry.  Very straightforward.  May be another filler song.  C
10. Exciter - Judas Priest cover.  This one is certainly different.  It's 100% 80's.  I'm talking Winger/Great White power 80's!  With a chorus like "Stand up for Exciter!"  Even though I hated the 80's it did make me laugh.  B
11. Satan's Ice Cream Truck [Hidden Track] - I don't even know if this counts as a song, but it's a riot.  Out of all the anger you hear on this album, this would be the last thing you would expect.  It has to be listened to to be believed.  Stupid sounds, and then out of nowhere comes demonic chants, and low growls.  Think of Primus on acid writing children's songs.  B+

Average Song Rating:  B-
Overall Album Rating:  B-