Strapping
Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad is
a very famous band with a very high status and well known for its quality
and dedication to the music they love. Recently, they released their new
album under the title “Alien”, so Behind The Veil thought it would be a
great chance to ask some questions and exchange thoughts with SYL. This
is what we got out of it...
1. Since this is my first interview with
you, I would like to ask you a very typical question for a start.
What "Strapping Young Lad" stand for? And how did you choose it as a name
of the band?
"Ball-Crushing Heaviness". We chose
it as a name 'cause it's pretty much the antithesis to "Ball-Crushing Heaviness".
2. You are about to release a new album called
"Alien". Can you tell me in short words what is the musical direction you
've followed for this album?
We followed our heart and we just created
a record we would enjoy listening to and playing live. It was fun to freak
out on the album and there is a lot of high energy material on it. It could
be unlike anything anyone has ever heard before, so that is why we chose
'Alien' as its name. Alien' to the ears...
3."Alien" is a concept album or there are songs
with common reference?
I suppose that 'Alien' is a giant vent. A
venting of rage and hopelessness, to every day occurrences with a theme
of anger, I suppose. Some of the common references are about one persons'
future, from the mundane to the grandiose, from, "I can't even fuckin'
sleep", to "you want to have a fuckin' baby?".
4.How much time did it take you for the songwriting
of Alien, and how much time did you spent at the studios? Did you face
any problems?
Well, it took about 6 months of solid head-down
writing. It took 3.5 months to record. Mental problems, yeah(laughing)!
We worked pretty much 110 days straight with no days off, so that will
tax anyone's brain. But we are really proud of the end result and I feel
that the hard work really paid off.
5. What is your favorite song from Alien and
Why?
My favorite tune tends to change from day
to day, which I feel fortunate about because it is not like, "I like one
song off the new album and the rest is just filler". It's more
like, "Hey! Here's my new favorite song today!" Every song has been
my favorite off this album so far which is really awesome! But I think
my two favorites are 'Skeksis' and 'Shitstorm', 'cause we're really rippin'
shit up on those two!
6. Can you reveal me some details about the
cover?
Well, I hope you like the Strapping logo because
that is what it is! A giant monolithic Strapping logo hurtling through
space, ala Stanley Kubrick's '2001'.
7.You have your own website on the internet
www.strappingyounglad.com,
Do you think that with the Internet is better way to promote your work
and have direct feedback from the fans?
The internet can be a great place to show
off your wares. It can be used intelligently for self-promotion and the
instant feedback is wicked! It's something an old-schooler like myself
is slowly growing accustomed to. The drawback to the internet it can promote
thievery such as down-loading songs and stuff which tends to hurt bands
who are past the point of merely needing their songs to be heard. People
like to talk a lot of shit on message boards, but I find that part of it
hilarious!
8.What are your plans after the release of
"Alien"? Are you planning to play in Greece?
We are hitting the road and starting the world
tour in April. We will be coming to Europe before the end of the year and
we would love to play Greece! We really hope we get to! That
is one of the few places that Strapping (or any of my bands for that matter)
have yet to play but we love our Greek fans and we appreciate their support.
9. What do you do in your spare time? (If you
have one?)
Spare time tends to be reserved for sleep.
We tend to be workaholics in this band, although I am probably the laziest.
However, I get the chance to play my PS2 now and then. I'm currently finishing
"Grand Theft Auto-San Andreas." Big fun!
10. Can you give a Top 10 of your favorite
records?
Off the top of my head because I do not know
if I have a top ten. These are albums I like (in no particular order):
"Terror Squad" - Artillery
"I hate therefor I am" - Cyclone Temple
"Seven Churches" - Possessed
"Knight at the Opera" - Queen
"Dancing Naked in a Mind Field" - M.I.R.V.
"Grass Roots" - 311
"The Whole Story" - Kate Bush
"Green" - Forbidden
“Innervisions" - Stevie Wonder
"What's Going on" - Marvin Gaye
11. Thank you very much for answering the questions,
good luck with the new album and take care.
C ya all! Bunch more comin' at ya now...
Gene.
Costas "C.O.B" Meidanis
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