| | Full Review | Ratings (1250) |
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| 5.0 classic | iversa | March 13th 23 |
For me, Alien has the edge over City. Although I love that record as well, everything on Alien feels perfectly crafted and placed. It is vicious, unique, and sonically awesome. The genius of "Two Weeks" is that it has the same unsettling/sinister feeling as the other tracks despite it being polar opposite in style.
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| 3.0 good | EasterInTheBatcave | June 8th 16 |
Townsend knew that to make a Strapping Young Lad album worthy of the first two, which the self-titled release was not, he would have to return to the dark place inside himself he so feared. To that end, he stopped taking his bipolar medication, and Alien was the result. Though the songs sometimes get held up by stale riffing ("Skeksis"), "Two Weeks" is out of place, and "Possessions" doesn't do anything for me, Alien is ultimately a good album because the stronger tracks are among the band's best ("Shitstorm," "Shine") and the performances are outstanding. Ironically, Alien, despite widespread acclaim, is the reason that Strapping was finished after The New Black, because Townsend knew he could not do what he did to himself again.
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| 4.0 excellent | BRAman22 | June 9th 14 |
Pretty decent album, doesn't seem as melodic as earlier Strapping Young Lad, namely City. Almost more of a djent sound to it as well.
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| 4.5 superb | Monstar1790 | February 16th 14 |
I'll probably up this to a 5 at some point. One of the few examples of excessive compression and clipping
actually BENEFITTING the sound of an album. This record has atmosphere, power, instrumental chops,
brutality and shock value up the ass.
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| 5.0 classic | branflakes911 | April 24th 13 |
Intensely personal, intensely honest, intensely chaotic and intensely heavy; probably one of the most intense albums in death metal. Devin's progressive abilities are fully on display, as he weaves into and out of heaviness, catchiness, melody, bombast, speed, temperament and sheer insanity, sometimes in just one song. What's truly remarkable, though, is that in all that the album never loses cohesion and listens as a solid slab of pure emotion.
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| 4.0 excellent | TRMshadow | February 11th 13 |
the upside is that it's f**king SYL; the downside is it's not City. Still, there's more than a handful of classic SYL face-melters on here, so it's a definite win for metalheads the world over. Check this out even if only for "Love?". 4.0/5
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| 0.0 | macadoolahicky | March 25th 12 |
When Devin Townsend started writing / releasing music as Strapping Young Lad, part of his initial goal was to create musical insanity. While City was crazy and definitely unique, something still wasn't right. The band split up for a bit and later reformed to release a much more death metal oriented self-titled album. Still, this wasn't exactly what Devin and the gang needed.
In 2004, things obviously started falling into place the way they were meant to. It was 2005 that saw the release of SYL's crushing album Alien. The lyrics are quirky and humorous all while remaining necessary to the music, the guitar work is far more progressive and extreme, and the drumming and vocals are the best they have ever been. It is this album that allowed Devin to accomplish his initial goal of achieving musical insanity.
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| 5.0 classic | Destructerator | January 9th 12 |
Devin made a mental sacrifice to go off of his bipolar medication to produce this record... the result is the heaviest, most insane collection of music you'll hear this side of the gates of Hell. A masterpiece.
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| 4.5 superb | XfingTheSullen | April 24th 11 |
Used to be my favorite album by SYL, but got surpassed by City. Be that as it may, tracks like Imperial, Skeksis, Zen and We Ride speak for themselves. EPIC
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| 5.0 classic | amakir | April 22nd 11 |
One of the best metal albums i have had the pleasure to listen to. Devin Townsends vocals on Shitstorm is insane.
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| 4.0 excellent | Staker | December 17th 10 |
Alien is a fantastic, balanced SYL album. From the shitstorm of Shitstorm to the tranquility of Two Weeks, and everything in between. It's also fairly short, so you don't get exhausted.
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| 2.5 average | Commortus | January 7th 09 |
The production is the most notable aspect of this album - Townshend's vocals are echoed to fuck, the riffs hit with the force of a sledgehammer, and the bass sounds like a cannon. However, this really isn't that great of an album, mostly because it's really monochromatic and repetitive. The soundtrack to our impending armageddon? Only if our armageddon consists of grey skies and cracked concrete.
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| 0.0 | Acidicity | January 8th 07 |
A pretty goddamn good prog-death album. Alien is even more insane and chaotic than City, but I think it's ultimately less cohesive and intelligent. Still, the devastating synth-edged downtuned riffs and double bass assaults are still a joy to get pummeled with.
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| 4.5 superb | thrash_fanatic | October 26th 06 |
This album takes parts from SYL and City and blends into one hell of a psycotic industrial metal stomper! Strapping Young Lad are awesome.
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| 4.5 superb | Djang0 | October 30th 25 |
| 2.5 average | JoeTex | April 21st 25 |
| 4.0 excellent | Inveigh | August 14th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | FunJan | February 12th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | jtswope | January 31st 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | vult | August 11th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sarah | August 10th 23 |
| 3.5 great | bikvid | June 18th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Arwuns | April 6th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | haley | March 23rd 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Bren80 | December 5th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | foxxxy | November 21st 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Behexen | November 17th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | TheCrow | November 6th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | PFKlax | November 5th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | jsredna | October 22nd 22 |
| 5.0 classic | kolbasa | August 31st 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Davey | May 5th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | ZFeeney | February 6th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | ElSomni | January 29th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Jerrad | January 16th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | ballout | December 7th 21 |
| 3.5 great | JoneHK | December 7th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Azrael | December 1st 21 |
| 4.5 superb | teo | July 5th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Spag | June 13th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Raoul | June 9th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | jhop | May 27th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Harlz | February 23rd 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Juuso | February 7th 21 |
| 3.5 great | mctang | January 29th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Adol | January 14th 21 |
| 3.5 great | vdop | December 4th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Oobaloo | November 30th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Skiiddz | September 25th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | tcarafi | September 15th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | DG5000 | September 14th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Tib | September 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Trundle | August 24th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | aalqui | July 20th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | JTPlays | July 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Source | July 5th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | luetin | June 18th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | SuzyC | June 11th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zac124 | May 5th 20 |
| 3.0 good | GamamJ | February 5th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Aranox | January 28th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | jfish226 | November 25th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | IAmScott | November 15th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | hpmk26 | October 29th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Nate | October 22nd 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Whyks2 | September 30th 19 |
| 2.0 poor | bmelt | August 29th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | HybridF | August 22nd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Masha2k | August 1st 19 |
| 3.5 great | josh | June 10th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Josh | June 3rd 19 |
| 3.5 great | doofy | April 4th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Gbhill | April 1st 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | GMBass | March 18th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Risodo | July 23rd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | elch21 | July 11th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | rroback5 | November 24th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lestat | November 13th 17 |
| 3.0 good | KOZAKY | October 17th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | ctay145 | October 15th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jhator | August 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | smgsmg9 | August 11th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Enzx | August 8th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | YeeHaw | July 11th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | hsb | June 5th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Since | April 4th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | n3xus6 | March 11th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Winndex | February 23rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | 2ool | February 17th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | February 9th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Jeejee | February 6th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Arron | January 20th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | El Olam | December 30th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rodstar | December 20th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Emim | December 12th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lanas | October 13th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | demigod! | September 15th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Snide | August 22nd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Puckoff | August 19th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Redlar | July 4th 16 |
| 3.5 great | loulou | June 16th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | gilly | June 3rd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | maglib | June 3rd 16 |
| 3.5 great | mRA | May 30th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sapee | April 18th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | CWBrown | February 19th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | BigBlob | February 13th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | tysly | February 10th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | jsounnd | January 27th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | shem | January 26th 16 |
| 3.5 great | 8genre | January 5th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Meshike | December 30th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Keira | December 25th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Trism | December 14th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | TeeDeeM | December 9th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | SYL | November 26th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Archaic | October 26th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bierlag | October 25th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | macneil | October 23rd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mordekai | September 21st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | DazSkunk | September 17th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | ToeFisch | September 10th 15 |
| 3.0 good | Wilk0 | September 3rd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Steev | July 4th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Veldin | June 25th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | JKoppe | May 17th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | JS19 | May 7th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | trvvve | April 29th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lowgain | April 25th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dav85 | February 1st 15 |
| 4.5 superb | heck | January 3rd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | fuzzbutt | December 29th 14 |
| 3.5 great | MOS6581 | December 26th 14 |
| 3.5 great | rawolo | December 15th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Santet | November 5th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Morina | October 30th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Garm | October 27th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pheenix | October 15th 14 |
| 2.5 average | ariich | October 6th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | June 21st 14 |
| 4.5 superb | trilo | May 24th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Mazaku | May 14th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Fujay | April 20th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | ngk44 | April 18th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kroz | February 26th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tale | February 25th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | gas83 | February 25th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sithese | February 23rd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Lunx | February 22nd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Thibs | January 17th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | G2Santos | December 31st 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Omeggia | December 18th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Matte | November 25th 13 |
| 3.5 great | bgf97 | November 13th 13 |
| 3.0 good | adr | November 7th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Kazem | October 26th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fra | October 23rd 13 |
| 2.5 average | sapient | October 11th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sun2Moon | September 15th 13 |
| 3.2 good | Trey STAFF | September 5th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | GaugeOT | August 15th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Dr7 | August 15th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Gnome7 | August 10th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Drawk | July 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Navarre | July 21st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ulshad | July 3rd 13 |
| 5.0 classic | ehoc42 | May 17th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | CK | March 16th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zamora | March 14th 13 |
| 3.0 good | 5amue1 | March 12th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Spesh | January 27th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Zeg | December 30th 12 |
| 3.5 great | facupm | December 16th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | IMZA1793 | December 11th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | leycec | November 29th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | srm90 | October 30th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kadaver | October 30th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Mojito | October 7th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Dizchu | September 29th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | nikonic | September 23rd 12 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | September 14th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Meowza | August 25th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | viri | August 14th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Lani | August 5th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Trebor. EMERITUS | August 3rd 12 |
| 3.5 great | afox13 | July 29th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Leliana | July 28th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Hsmz | June 25th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tokamak | June 18th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Azazzel | June 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rizen | May 23rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rail | May 3rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | TLX | April 17th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Dashy | April 2nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Thor | April 1st 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Host78 | March 21st 12 |
| 4.5 superb | ANJ45 | March 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | m0n0kl | March 4th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | RodTFD | February 27th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Jackus | February 8th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | amp112 | January 3rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | pauke | December 29th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Kris/KJ | December 8th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | ZKG777 | November 25th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | rattboi | November 16th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Dummit | October 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | vakuola | October 11th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | musik | October 9th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | rica | October 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 7kthulu | September 23rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | MikeC26 | September 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jon1988 | September 11th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Zool | August 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | kabster | August 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | true | August 14th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Totes | July 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | tables | July 20th 11 |
| 3.5 great | iZac | June 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dev518 | May 23rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | ameypv | May 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Apollo | April 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Raidho | April 16th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Scoot | April 6th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Smaizi | March 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aether | March 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | jayfatha | February 19th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | YUJOS | February 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | itchy | February 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 37er00 | January 26th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hybrovi | January 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Volatile | December 19th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | JaiWrap | October 20th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oceans | October 17th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | pippo22 | October 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | TheStig | October 13th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Spec | September 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Voivod STAFF | September 18th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | MO | September 17th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | laarx | September 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wolfe | August 27th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | dabam | August 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom2704 | July 28th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | met65 | July 3rd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Skubny | June 20th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Gee | May 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | TBliss | May 21st 10 |
| 3.0 good | Mevz | April 29th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jruined | April 8th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | M87 | April 3rd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jebull | March 20th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | CutMan | February 17th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hoenir | February 14th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Manland | February 8th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | bakor | January 4th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | drewkar | December 27th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | pride | December 7th 09 |
| 3.5 great | NoiseIP | November 22nd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | AlexAix | November 22nd 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Bullitt | November 19th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Merkin | November 18th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | aeuk | November 16th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Terria | October 28th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Essence | October 18th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mags172 | October 18th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | qwe3 | September 28th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Curse. | September 16th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Eibwolf | September 15th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Set | September 12th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smooz | September 9th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Eskate87 | September 5th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Awake88 | September 2nd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Muikuli | August 22nd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Skyler | August 16th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | chaos17 | August 13th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Shaad | June 19th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | J2e2c | May 31st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | awf170 | May 30th 09 |
| 2.5 average | Asaura | May 18th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zeranna | April 6th 09 |
| 3.5 great | zuzek | April 4th 09 |
| 3.0 good | DaTwig | March 19th 09 |
| 3.0 good | Bleak | March 4th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | SVIIB | February 20th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | feehan | February 19th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | KILL | February 1st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nauseum | December 23rd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Takkeh | December 20th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Winxco | December 3rd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Satana | November 23rd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ben101 | October 8th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | valtiel | September 27th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | gafel | September 10th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | mikev | August 3rd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | RG560M | July 26th 08 |
| 2.0 poor | Kage | July 17th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | 01JP | July 17th 08 |
| 2.5 average | s7mon | July 2nd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | morjens | April 19th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | csaboo | April 14th 08 |
| 4.8 classic | Ryan P STAFF | March 14th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | ma7erick | February 14th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Sponer | January 25th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zaktto | January 24th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | fazzy | December 1st 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | SparkyX3 | November 18th 07 |
| 3.0 good | Zoo | October 14th 07 |
| 5.0 classic | Salami | September 25th 07 |
| 3.5 great | DerMond | September 11th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kuukkis | September 5th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ant0 | August 6th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Doxa | July 30th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tyler EMERITUS |
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