So I bought this DVD yesterday... mainly on impulse, but you can't resist a DVD which lists "Naked Cheerleaders!" as one of its special features. The show is intense... I think the setlist is poorly chosen, but that's mainly because I think that starting off with the first 4 songs from their last album SYL made it slow to start. However, as slow to start it may be, once the momentum builds up; unleashed is the pure chaotic frenzy which can only be experienced at a Strapping Young Lad concert.
If anything, this is worth it for Devin Townsend's stage antics alone. Great moments can be had, such as "I SUCK DICK FOR CRACK MONEY!!!", although the stage antics are half the fun of the DVD so I don't want to give them all away.
Something that I don't believe I've seen on a Live DVD before, is that they chose to use split screen effects to show multiple cameras at once, which is both nice, and annoying. Nice because it results in that they don't cut the feed every 3 seconds to look at something else, but annoying in the sense that sometimes you wish that they could focus on a single BIG picture. It isn't split screen all the time though, so that's okay.
Also, as a side note, I find it incredibly hilarious how SYL is rather schitzophrenic with Devin having these passionate singing moments and then half a minute later going on a rampage of rage filled screams. It never really clicked in listening to the CDs or when I saw them on tour last year, but watching it on DVD (separated from the hysteria of the concert itself) it seems pretty goofy... but that's just the way Mr. Townsend is.
The DVD also includes an interview with the band and an interview with the crew which I wouldn't say is all that special, and sadly I couldn't find the naked cheerleaders. I feel slightly ripped off.
Music videos for Relentless and Detox are also included. Both of the videos basically are a mock up of them playing in concert, and are mildly entertaining.
Concert: 10/10
Features: 6/10 (would be higher if they didn't lie to me about the cheerleaders)
Overall: 8/10
</reviewstyle>
BUY OR DIE
If anything, this is worth it for Devin Townsend's stage antics alone. Great moments can be had, such as "I SUCK DICK FOR CRACK MONEY!!!", although the stage antics are half the fun of the DVD so I don't want to give them all away.
Something that I don't believe I've seen on a Live DVD before, is that they chose to use split screen effects to show multiple cameras at once, which is both nice, and annoying. Nice because it results in that they don't cut the feed every 3 seconds to look at something else, but annoying in the sense that sometimes you wish that they could focus on a single BIG picture. It isn't split screen all the time though, so that's okay.
Also, as a side note, I find it incredibly hilarious how SYL is rather schitzophrenic with Devin having these passionate singing moments and then half a minute later going on a rampage of rage filled screams. It never really clicked in listening to the CDs or when I saw them on tour last year, but watching it on DVD (separated from the hysteria of the concert itself) it seems pretty goofy... but that's just the way Mr. Townsend is.
The DVD also includes an interview with the band and an interview with the crew which I wouldn't say is all that special, and sadly I couldn't find the naked cheerleaders. I feel slightly ripped off.
Music videos for Relentless and Detox are also included. Both of the videos basically are a mock up of them playing in concert, and are mildly entertaining.
Concert: 10/10
Features: 6/10 (would be higher if they didn't lie to me about the cheerleaders)
Overall: 8/10
</reviewstyle>
BUY OR DIE
