Strapping Young Lad @ Astoria, London 5 June 2005

In today's metal world, there are always certainties, islands you can depend on in the midst of the diohrrea ocean of wannabees, sellouts, and teenage-angst-pop-metalers. Thankfully the mighty Strapping Young Lad are one of these. They have proven it time and time again. When brilliant sophomore album "City" exploded onto the metal scene in 1997, the world was introduced to wierd and wonderful world of one Devin Townsend. Six years later the experimental self-titled "SYL" effort helped to consolidate Strapping as a metal powerhouse while at the same time showing a different side. Now with the crushing "Alien" album in the stores and my pick for album of the year, the world belongs to this extreme metal quartet. And if not the world, the Astoria last night certainly did!

Kicking off with Alien album-opener "Imperial", immediately it was clear what kind of night this was going to be. With a crisp production from the mixing desk, Hevy Devy his usual maniacal self, and Strapping set to kill, the magic had begun. And when Devin sang/growled the worlds "We Have Returned", by god you knew he meant it! Logically the show opener was followed by "Skeksis" as it is on the LP, delivered with passion, energy and aggression. Jumping back in time, the trifecta of "Velvet Kervorkian", "All Hail the New Flesh" and "Oh My Fucking G-d" were a violent reminder that this band have always embraced extremity, pushing the envelope in particular in regards to speed on the latter. Keeping with the pattern of playing songs from same albums together, "SYL" provided a much welcomed return to Strapping's earliest material and when the announcement "Hi I'm Devin, could I take your stinking order" preceeded the collosal "In the Rainy Season", the mosh pit was heaving at it's highest level yet! From 2003's self-titled effort the crowd was treated to two numbers, the epic "Aftermath" as well as the more-straightforward "Relentless", both delivered with lethal precision. Back to the new album then, "Love" and "Shine" continued the festivities and "Shitstorm" destoyed all with it's uncompromising pissed-off aggression, drummer Gene Hoglan again defying human limitations with his flawless propeller attack.

The encore tonight was predictably "Detox", and by time that was done, among the sweaty bodies and beer cans strewn across the floor was an undestanding that something very special indeed happened tonight, the mighty Strapping Young Lad had crushed all in their path yet again. Awesome! But then again, I knew it would be...

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