STRAPPING YOUNG LAD — Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing (review)

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD — Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing album cover

Album · 1995 · Industrial Metal

4/5 · 2015-02-05
siLLy puPPy

I am always amazed how some of the most unique sounding albums garner such a low rating in the metal world. Such is the case with the debut album by STRAPPING YOUNG LAD. This is the first album and group that Devin Townsend put together after his debut with Steve Vai on the album “Sex & Religion.” After a brief stint on tour with the power pop / rock outfit The Wildhearts, Townsend was ready to unleash all his inner pent up energy and that’s what we get on this debut album HEAVY AS A REALLY HEAVY THING. And heavy it is. This is some of the most intense and raw albums in the universe. It is relentless with an energy level that will literally drain your reservoirs after listening to the album in its entirety.

TOWNSEND was a bit ahead of his time. This album fuses elements of thrash, industrial, death and black metal all into one package. The riffs pummel your inner ears at the speed of light while the nice background frosting of synths sooths your soul simultaneously. At time Devin sounds like a black metal maniac complete with blastbeats, at others like Marilyn Manson or White Zombie. The thrashy parts can remind of Pantera, the electronic drums of Skinny Puppy. Most of the time though the influences are kept on a leash and Devin relentlessly delivers a his signatory wall-of-sound with the full backing of a caffeinated band. The music is both accessible and experimental at the same time. Usually one element of the music hooks you while the rest is free to go wherever it wants. The perfect example is “Satan’s Ice Cream Truck” where a nice groove sucks you in but weird sliding notes in all directions simultaneously sound like rabid bats flying over your head. I really like this album!

I have the 2006 remastered version and it sounds like a modern album. I have not heard the original so no comment. It comes with bonus tracks but i never listen to them because this album is so intense that when it is done, so am i, but i relish every energy infused second until that point. Not every track is of equal value but most are excellent and the remaining very good.

more than 2 years ago
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UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Unitron, I think you´ll love this one. Not really a personal favorite of mine though. I like their later output much better.

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I do love an unorthodox approach to music, recently got into Unexpect which is one example. ;)

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Not their best. I love City and Alien but afte coming to this it is much better than i thought it would be. I am eclectic though. If you don't like an unorthodox approach to music then you might not dig this as much as me

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Nice review, I really need to start listening to Strapping Young Lad. I love both industrial metal and Devin Townsend, so I'll most likely love this.