July/August 2002
Issue #56
Wow, so many things have happened since last issue. First, I must apologize
for the tardiness of this, there have been a million things going on and
unfortunately the newsletter is the one of the first things to suffer. This
time I decided to ask Devin to describe what he has been up to the past few
months.
The most notable experience of late was definitely Korea. "The experience
was so over the top on so many levels that it easily became one of our
favourite tours ever". The band played the Busan Rock Festival which takes
place on a beach in front of thousands of rabid metal fans. "It had full
pyro, ego ramps and the whole bit. Police escorts to and from the gig. It
was like SYL mania..." It was a little overwhelming. At the time of their
arrival in Korea it was the site of the World Cup Football series, hosted in
Seoul where the band was scheduled to play. Unknown to them before they
left, they were booked to play the opening ceremonies for the World Cup on
Korean national TV - the only Western band to appear. There were a reported
250,000 people on the street an estimated 20 MILLION Koreans watching on
television. "The shows were insanity, the energy on the street as Korea won
their games was amazing, and much inspiration came from the tour." The band
now intends to return there as one of their regular tour destinations.
http://www.cgocable.net/~sos1/SYL/SYLKorea.html
As mentioned before, the recording of both the Strapping Young Lad and Devin
Townsend albums will begin on September 3 at the Armoury Studio in
Vancouver. We are aiming for a February release for both. The new SYL (to be
self-titled) has progressed into a "fully realized, mature sounding version
of all the tasty Strapping bits we've come to know and love. Insane war
anthems, really primal and bleak... no mercy but no malice, just
pulverizing, totally modern music." This record was written in a new way for
Devin where he would introduce the ideas for the songs then as a band, they
would refine and shape those ideas into the SYL mould. "I don't think the
record will surprise those who know and dig Strapping, it's just the obvious
step from where City was to where the new one should be." The song titles at
this time include Consequence, Force Fed, Bring On The Young, Last Minute,
Dirtpride, Aftermath, and Devour, with more to come.
The new Devin project, tentatively called 'Relationship' and is "the
antithesis of SYL's cold, bloody insanity. It is completely over the top
emotionally, and deals with my life and times in dealing with the fairer
sex. It's like a more urgent, heavier Ocean Machine. Futuristic pop, with
information on a few sonic levels. The songs are solid, thick, and no
bullshit with beautiful melody and strong words." It consists of the most
immediate elements of Devin's solo material with "no emo shit or pretentious
sentimentality, just solid complete thoughts, translated into a common theme
that identifies this record in a really human way." This band represents
Terria, Ocean Machine, Infinity and the new one. It is "heavy music unafraid
to be sensitive." So far the song titles are Depth Charge, Storm, Sunday
Afternoon, Thinking About Thinking, Random Analysis, Away, Slow Me Down,
Deadhead but titles may change and all may not be included on the album.
'Relationship' will be recorded almost entirely on Devin's new Nuendo
system. He is thrilled with the program and expects to bring some great
sounds out of it. In getting familiar with Nuendo, Devin has written another
little project called Eko (pronounced 'echo'). He sees it as the first
non-challenging-to-the-listener project he's done. Cool electronic songs
with vocals and guitar, "and is great for pretty days and old people." Eko
will be completed as soon as the studio is reassembled and will likely made
available as the Ass Sordid Demos CD is, by mail order only.
The guys have just returned from Europe and while not quite as mind-boggling
as Korea was, had a great tour. The schedule included only four shows: two
festivals, the Dynamo in the Netherlands and the Knockout in Switzerland, as
well as two headlining shows in London and Paris. The response was fabulous
and really got the guys hyped for recording the new albums in September.
Zimmers Hole shared the stage at both the Dynamo and as the opening band in
Paris, much to the surprise and delight of the audience. Zimmers Hole had a
great reception over there, the shows with full props and pyro. The latter
item did cause a slight problem in that Chris Valagao, singer for Zimmers
Hole, accidentally set himself on fire at the Full Force Festival in
Germany. He was not used to the accelerant provided for him and in the
process of blowing fire managed to set his beard and hair ablaze. He
sustained burns to his face and hands but the trooper finished the set
through the pain. He was provided medical attention and did not let the
incident slow him down a step. Why does everything happen to Val? On his
return home his injured face, and the splotches of red body paint remaining
from the show the previous night, raised suspicions at Canada Customs. He
was delayed three hours trying to explain why he had a two-foot prosthetic
penis in his bag and a vast assortment of hard-core German porn.
Devin starts recording Lamb of God in Richmond, Virginia in the United
States on November 16, days after the PowerProg Festival in Atlanta. He will
be traveling directly from Atlanta to Richmond. The album is expected out in
early 2003 through Prosthetic Records.
Now, to contests. the winners from last issue's promotional mp3 CDs from
Lollipop Magazine are: Thor, Denmark; Nathan, NM, USA; Georg, Austria;
Antonin, France; Ryan, BC, Canada; Arianna, CA, USA.
For this issue, we have two. The first one will require some information. A
couple of years ago our friend, Millard Mulch, recorded Devin describing his
"worst job experiences". Millard took that recording and wrote a song around
it, with Devin on "vocals". He has provided us with 10 copies (and 10 bumper
stickers) of the Sir Millard Mulch CD "The De-Evolution of Yasmine Bleeth"
to give away. Trivia question for this contest is: Name one job that Devin
has had other than in music. a) Longshoreman b) stainless steel fabricator
c) pizza flipper d) Calvin Klein underwear model.
Contest #2 is for one of seven SYL colour glossy fliers and stickers from
the Korean tour. The trivia question is. Name one other country in Asia
where Devin has played a) Britain b) Japan c) Albuquerque, NM d) Kim
Chi. All entries with a correct answer to the trivia question will be added
to the contest bucket for lottery draw on September 30, 2002. Please send
your answer along with your mailing address - Once again, again, and again,
I cannot accept entries that do not include a mailing address. You may enter
as many times as you like but only one entry allowed by email. Fax, email,
and snail mail entries are permitted but must be received by midnight
September 29, 2002.
That's all for now, see you next time!
Fan interview #16
I was listening to Terria the other day (the song "Tiny Tears") and I
noticed that, at the end of the song, Devin chants the words "kyrie eleison"
(at least that's what it sounds like to me). Being a student in catholic
schools all my life, I've heard this particular phrase used a lot in hymns
and prayers throughout the utterly countless hours I've spent at church
services (definitely not by my choice, mind you)-- it's a Greek word and it
means "Lord, save us" (or something reasonably close, I think). anyhow, my
question is in regards to this: was it Devin's intention to use those
specific words to add a spiritual message to the song or did they simply
"just sound right" with the music, so to speak. (USA)
Devin: When I was in high school I was in the honour choir (good singers
from a whole bunch of schools around town). We sang an old Greek hymn that
closed with those lines. It was the first time that music had moved me to
tears so I just included it.
Devin, have you ever considered having (allowing) any of your tracks
rethought/remixed by an external influence? (UK)
Devin: I'm not that interested in that, in all honesty. I am pretty private
about the inner workings of the music that I do.
What's it like to have influenced the latest Korn album, alongside with
stars like NIN and Marilyn Manson??? (France)
Devin: What do you know that I don't?
Question going way back to the recording of Ocean Machine. Did Devin cut &
paste measures on the drumming, or was it played straight through with
punches, etc.? Were the drums a mix of triggered and acoustic? (USA)
Devin: It was pretty much straight through with a few punches and was
triggers mixed with acoustic.
I'm listening to Strapping Young Lad right now and you have an awesome
singing style! How do you get your voice to sound like that? Do you do any
vocal exercises before you go on stage? (USA)
Devin: I do vocal exercises for about 20 minutes before I go on stage. When
I was a kid I wanted to sound like Rob Halford and later wanted to sound
like Perry Farrell. I learned to sing by trying to imitate them while
driving or in the freezer at work.
How does the band feel about Fear Factory calling it quits? I heard that
once when SYL was on tour with Testament Devin make a joke about SYL ripping
Fear Factory off. (USA)
Devin: I think it was about time that they ended it. Regardless of what
anybody says, I was always a fan and they influenced me a whole lot. Through
them I found really heavy bands, not just the Metallicas and Megadeths.
Devin Townsend and Burton C. Bell, the music industry's gods... Devin, since
Fear Factory just broke up, and Burton wants to do a solo album, couldn't
you make a song together or something, since your are some of the most
talented musicians on the face of the earth, and plus it would be F***ING
huge, with your voice and Burton's singing together brutally and heavenly.
(Denmark)
Devin: I would really like to produce Burton's new record. I bet you it's
going to be cool. Would I play on it? Maybe.
I've noticed a few recurring themes on a lot of your albums - a couple
really stick out. What is the signif-icance of "3am"? Is it a metaphor for a
particular frame of mind or mental state? (Australia)
Devin: I would say it's a metaphor, it's like the witching hour when the
whole world is asleep and things happen, even if just for a minute. It was
from a Roald Dahl book I read as a kid. I've had some strange things happen
late at night.
What, if anything, are you most proud to call Devin Townsend material?
Devin: Probably Infinity and Terria. Both of those records represent steps
to the next level of song writing for me.
You use a lot of keyboards in your music, which you do good, but have you
ever thought of filling these spaces (or gaps or..), with different layers
of guitars, like if you ever heard Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation. If you
understand. Just thought it would be interesting. (Norway)
Devin: I used to be a big fan of Thurston Moore. A lot of the sounds on my
records are guitar layers and are often mistaken for keyboards.
Has anyone in the team heard of a comic book artist called Jim Woodring?
(Australia)
Devin: I absolutely love him. I think he is fucking brilliant.
Devy, I'm curious to hear about your spiritual life beliefs. *as simplified
as possible cause I can imagine how complex they are and you don't exactly
wanna be writing a fuckin thesis because of one measly question*. It's
ob-vious through your music that you've delved deeper into it than most
through your own under-standing rather than accepting it for face value,
your lyrics put the whole process into words greater than any prophet or
book ever could, thoughts like "we are what we are, I'll see you on the
other side" sum it up in its entirety! (Australia)
Devin: I just believe in playing heavy metal and trying not to hurt anybody.
I don't know, it is too big a question. Everything is nothing and nothing is
everything. It is all a paradox and the confusion of the paradox is the key
in order to get past it. You only get past it once in a while. When you do,
you are reminded that everything is doing exactly what it should be doing
which is humbling and ultimately the whole deal I think.
Is it true that you will be joining Megadeth? (UK)
Devin: Why would you want to join Megadeth. Join the Dave Mustaine band
without Dave Mustaine? Please don't hold auditions for the Devin Townsend
band if anything should happen to me.
Have a question? Send it in! Although, please take the time to read the
previous fan interviews as questions that have been answered previously will
not be asked again. We also don't answer "what do you think of _____ band"
questions. Please indicate what country you are from. J
Issue #56
Wow, so many things have happened since last issue. First, I must apologize
for the tardiness of this, there have been a million things going on and
unfortunately the newsletter is the one of the first things to suffer. This
time I decided to ask Devin to describe what he has been up to the past few
months.
The most notable experience of late was definitely Korea. "The experience
was so over the top on so many levels that it easily became one of our
favourite tours ever". The band played the Busan Rock Festival which takes
place on a beach in front of thousands of rabid metal fans. "It had full
pyro, ego ramps and the whole bit. Police escorts to and from the gig. It
was like SYL mania..." It was a little overwhelming. At the time of their
arrival in Korea it was the site of the World Cup Football series, hosted in
Seoul where the band was scheduled to play. Unknown to them before they
left, they were booked to play the opening ceremonies for the World Cup on
Korean national TV - the only Western band to appear. There were a reported
250,000 people on the street an estimated 20 MILLION Koreans watching on
television. "The shows were insanity, the energy on the street as Korea won
their games was amazing, and much inspiration came from the tour." The band
now intends to return there as one of their regular tour destinations.
http://www.cgocable.net/~sos1/SYL/SYLKorea.html
As mentioned before, the recording of both the Strapping Young Lad and Devin
Townsend albums will begin on September 3 at the Armoury Studio in
Vancouver. We are aiming for a February release for both. The new SYL (to be
self-titled) has progressed into a "fully realized, mature sounding version
of all the tasty Strapping bits we've come to know and love. Insane war
anthems, really primal and bleak... no mercy but no malice, just
pulverizing, totally modern music." This record was written in a new way for
Devin where he would introduce the ideas for the songs then as a band, they
would refine and shape those ideas into the SYL mould. "I don't think the
record will surprise those who know and dig Strapping, it's just the obvious
step from where City was to where the new one should be." The song titles at
this time include Consequence, Force Fed, Bring On The Young, Last Minute,
Dirtpride, Aftermath, and Devour, with more to come.
The new Devin project, tentatively called 'Relationship' and is "the
antithesis of SYL's cold, bloody insanity. It is completely over the top
emotionally, and deals with my life and times in dealing with the fairer
sex. It's like a more urgent, heavier Ocean Machine. Futuristic pop, with
information on a few sonic levels. The songs are solid, thick, and no
bullshit with beautiful melody and strong words." It consists of the most
immediate elements of Devin's solo material with "no emo shit or pretentious
sentimentality, just solid complete thoughts, translated into a common theme
that identifies this record in a really human way." This band represents
Terria, Ocean Machine, Infinity and the new one. It is "heavy music unafraid
to be sensitive." So far the song titles are Depth Charge, Storm, Sunday
Afternoon, Thinking About Thinking, Random Analysis, Away, Slow Me Down,
Deadhead but titles may change and all may not be included on the album.
'Relationship' will be recorded almost entirely on Devin's new Nuendo
system. He is thrilled with the program and expects to bring some great
sounds out of it. In getting familiar with Nuendo, Devin has written another
little project called Eko (pronounced 'echo'). He sees it as the first
non-challenging-to-the-listener project he's done. Cool electronic songs
with vocals and guitar, "and is great for pretty days and old people." Eko
will be completed as soon as the studio is reassembled and will likely made
available as the Ass Sordid Demos CD is, by mail order only.
The guys have just returned from Europe and while not quite as mind-boggling
as Korea was, had a great tour. The schedule included only four shows: two
festivals, the Dynamo in the Netherlands and the Knockout in Switzerland, as
well as two headlining shows in London and Paris. The response was fabulous
and really got the guys hyped for recording the new albums in September.
Zimmers Hole shared the stage at both the Dynamo and as the opening band in
Paris, much to the surprise and delight of the audience. Zimmers Hole had a
great reception over there, the shows with full props and pyro. The latter
item did cause a slight problem in that Chris Valagao, singer for Zimmers
Hole, accidentally set himself on fire at the Full Force Festival in
Germany. He was not used to the accelerant provided for him and in the
process of blowing fire managed to set his beard and hair ablaze. He
sustained burns to his face and hands but the trooper finished the set
through the pain. He was provided medical attention and did not let the
incident slow him down a step. Why does everything happen to Val? On his
return home his injured face, and the splotches of red body paint remaining
from the show the previous night, raised suspicions at Canada Customs. He
was delayed three hours trying to explain why he had a two-foot prosthetic
penis in his bag and a vast assortment of hard-core German porn.
Devin starts recording Lamb of God in Richmond, Virginia in the United
States on November 16, days after the PowerProg Festival in Atlanta. He will
be traveling directly from Atlanta to Richmond. The album is expected out in
early 2003 through Prosthetic Records.
Now, to contests. the winners from last issue's promotional mp3 CDs from
Lollipop Magazine are: Thor, Denmark; Nathan, NM, USA; Georg, Austria;
Antonin, France; Ryan, BC, Canada; Arianna, CA, USA.
For this issue, we have two. The first one will require some information. A
couple of years ago our friend, Millard Mulch, recorded Devin describing his
"worst job experiences". Millard took that recording and wrote a song around
it, with Devin on "vocals". He has provided us with 10 copies (and 10 bumper
stickers) of the Sir Millard Mulch CD "The De-Evolution of Yasmine Bleeth"
to give away. Trivia question for this contest is: Name one job that Devin
has had other than in music. a) Longshoreman b) stainless steel fabricator
c) pizza flipper d) Calvin Klein underwear model.
Contest #2 is for one of seven SYL colour glossy fliers and stickers from
the Korean tour. The trivia question is. Name one other country in Asia
where Devin has played a) Britain b) Japan c) Albuquerque, NM d) Kim
Chi. All entries with a correct answer to the trivia question will be added
to the contest bucket for lottery draw on September 30, 2002. Please send
your answer along with your mailing address - Once again, again, and again,
I cannot accept entries that do not include a mailing address. You may enter
as many times as you like but only one entry allowed by email. Fax, email,
and snail mail entries are permitted but must be received by midnight
September 29, 2002.
That's all for now, see you next time!
Fan interview #16
I was listening to Terria the other day (the song "Tiny Tears") and I
noticed that, at the end of the song, Devin chants the words "kyrie eleison"
(at least that's what it sounds like to me). Being a student in catholic
schools all my life, I've heard this particular phrase used a lot in hymns
and prayers throughout the utterly countless hours I've spent at church
services (definitely not by my choice, mind you)-- it's a Greek word and it
means "Lord, save us" (or something reasonably close, I think). anyhow, my
question is in regards to this: was it Devin's intention to use those
specific words to add a spiritual message to the song or did they simply
"just sound right" with the music, so to speak. (USA)
Devin: When I was in high school I was in the honour choir (good singers
from a whole bunch of schools around town). We sang an old Greek hymn that
closed with those lines. It was the first time that music had moved me to
tears so I just included it.
Devin, have you ever considered having (allowing) any of your tracks
rethought/remixed by an external influence? (UK)
Devin: I'm not that interested in that, in all honesty. I am pretty private
about the inner workings of the music that I do.
What's it like to have influenced the latest Korn album, alongside with
stars like NIN and Marilyn Manson??? (France)
Devin: What do you know that I don't?
Question going way back to the recording of Ocean Machine. Did Devin cut &
paste measures on the drumming, or was it played straight through with
punches, etc.? Were the drums a mix of triggered and acoustic? (USA)
Devin: It was pretty much straight through with a few punches and was
triggers mixed with acoustic.
I'm listening to Strapping Young Lad right now and you have an awesome
singing style! How do you get your voice to sound like that? Do you do any
vocal exercises before you go on stage? (USA)
Devin: I do vocal exercises for about 20 minutes before I go on stage. When
I was a kid I wanted to sound like Rob Halford and later wanted to sound
like Perry Farrell. I learned to sing by trying to imitate them while
driving or in the freezer at work.
How does the band feel about Fear Factory calling it quits? I heard that
once when SYL was on tour with Testament Devin make a joke about SYL ripping
Fear Factory off. (USA)
Devin: I think it was about time that they ended it. Regardless of what
anybody says, I was always a fan and they influenced me a whole lot. Through
them I found really heavy bands, not just the Metallicas and Megadeths.
Devin Townsend and Burton C. Bell, the music industry's gods... Devin, since
Fear Factory just broke up, and Burton wants to do a solo album, couldn't
you make a song together or something, since your are some of the most
talented musicians on the face of the earth, and plus it would be F***ING
huge, with your voice and Burton's singing together brutally and heavenly.
(Denmark)
Devin: I would really like to produce Burton's new record. I bet you it's
going to be cool. Would I play on it? Maybe.
I've noticed a few recurring themes on a lot of your albums - a couple
really stick out. What is the signif-icance of "3am"? Is it a metaphor for a
particular frame of mind or mental state? (Australia)
Devin: I would say it's a metaphor, it's like the witching hour when the
whole world is asleep and things happen, even if just for a minute. It was
from a Roald Dahl book I read as a kid. I've had some strange things happen
late at night.
What, if anything, are you most proud to call Devin Townsend material?
Devin: Probably Infinity and Terria. Both of those records represent steps
to the next level of song writing for me.
You use a lot of keyboards in your music, which you do good, but have you
ever thought of filling these spaces (or gaps or..), with different layers
of guitars, like if you ever heard Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation. If you
understand. Just thought it would be interesting. (Norway)
Devin: I used to be a big fan of Thurston Moore. A lot of the sounds on my
records are guitar layers and are often mistaken for keyboards.
Has anyone in the team heard of a comic book artist called Jim Woodring?
(Australia)
Devin: I absolutely love him. I think he is fucking brilliant.
Devy, I'm curious to hear about your spiritual life beliefs. *as simplified
as possible cause I can imagine how complex they are and you don't exactly
wanna be writing a fuckin thesis because of one measly question*. It's
ob-vious through your music that you've delved deeper into it than most
through your own under-standing rather than accepting it for face value,
your lyrics put the whole process into words greater than any prophet or
book ever could, thoughts like "we are what we are, I'll see you on the
other side" sum it up in its entirety! (Australia)
Devin: I just believe in playing heavy metal and trying not to hurt anybody.
I don't know, it is too big a question. Everything is nothing and nothing is
everything. It is all a paradox and the confusion of the paradox is the key
in order to get past it. You only get past it once in a while. When you do,
you are reminded that everything is doing exactly what it should be doing
which is humbling and ultimately the whole deal I think.
Is it true that you will be joining Megadeth? (UK)
Devin: Why would you want to join Megadeth. Join the Dave Mustaine band
without Dave Mustaine? Please don't hold auditions for the Devin Townsend
band if anything should happen to me.
Have a question? Send it in! Although, please take the time to read the
previous fan interviews as questions that have been answered previously will
not be asked again. We also don't answer "what do you think of _____ band"
questions. Please indicate what country you are from. J
