I often wonder if Strapping produces the same conflicting feelings in other people as it does for me. City was a monumental album that forced me to look at metal and myself in a different light. It was a massive thing and the anguish and rage on it felt so REAL. When Dev and the crew came back for SYL, Alien and New Black it felt different. Well, I should really say SYL and The New Black specifically felt different because something felt un-authentic about them. Alien wasn't the same as City but had it's own uniquely scary vibe that felt honest. SYL and The New black are good albums with some great tunes but I didn't get the same intensity from them. So when I heard that Strapping had reached it's conclusion after TNB, I understood.

That leads me to Deconstruction and the parallels people see to Strapping. I think that if there is any parallel to be drawn it is the level of honesty that is conveyed through the music and the lyrics. I mean of course there are heavy thrashing guitars, fast drums and screaming but you can the feel that there is the intensity again, even though it is coming from a different place. Instead of that intensity coming from a place of rage, insecurity and fear, it is coming from a the mind of a man who is desperately trying to be honest about his recent life and showcasing that frustration in doing such a simple yet complicated task. So, superficially Deconstruction can remind us of Strapping but the place it's coming from is completely different and that is what is important to comprehend.

Ugh, this is going to sound really presumptuous BUT I think the important thing for Devin to understand is that he's made a very mature statement with these records that goes beyond what the typical listener is going to be willing to try and understand. Most people just want to throw on an album, put on some sunglasses and flash devil horns at old ladies as they ride by them in their car. Thinking and music are a dangerous combination in this day and age and a lot people that aren't willing to invest themselves in these 4 albums beyond the typical observations might be disappointed, rageful or just plain confused. This is especially true with Deconstruction as it's the most complicated and emphatic piece of project.

You gave us something incredible and beautiful. Please don't take the criticism or comments too much to heart. As long as you keep making honest music that moves you and consequentially moves us, you will always have faithful fans in your corner. Humor and metal CAN co-exist. Beautiful flute music is OK. Slappin' the bass to some folk music is great! Just keep doin' what you do, please.

[Octillus]

I'm in love with this post.

Yeah, what Mr Sink said. Word for word.

I know I'm in the minority, but I think SYL is the best SYL album as a whole. Fuck! There are fucking ants on my computer screen!

City is definitely more authentic sounding than Alien, but he was in a very different place when Alien was recorded. I still feel like some of the rage (particularly in Shitstorm) might be a bit forced, but for the most part I still get the same feelings from Alien as I do City, especially during Thalamus. That big "FUCK YOUUUUU" is so perfect.

The number one most important part of writing good music is staying true to your motivations. Anything forced will almost automatically sound worse than anything honest IMO. Genre should just be a byproduct of inspiration rather than an end goal.

The number one most important part of writing good music is staying true to your motivations. Anything forced will almost automatically sound worse than anything honest IMO. Genre should just be a byproduct of inspiration rather than an end goal.

Very well said. No matter if you feel metal, soft, or even avant garde experimental jazz, as long as it's what you genuinely feel it's gonna come out pretty good. That's the main selling for music to me, is the emotional value of it. To hear an honest mood in a song, and think "I feel the same way", is awesome. When I hear something that's forced, it makes me feel like I'm listening to someone get raped though. It just has a very uncomfortable vibe that almost sounds like the musicians are going "help me!!" in the back ground.

What I loved about SYL was precisely that it was pure anger and rage, there was an honesty about it that I never felt in any other extreme metal I've heard... consequently, I don't like most extreme metal, especially the stuff where the "singer" just barks like a dog the whole time. I guess there's a difference between "I'm not getting my way all the time" anger and the rage of someone who has been genuinely pushed to the breaking point and has finally exploded.... the latter I could relate to in spades, the former just comes across as whining... or like some WWE wrestler talking smack before going into the ring.

I could never get into Pantera for the same reason, or Metallica for that matter. In both cases I loved the music, but Hetfield and Anselmo both come across to me as "F_CK YEAH, I'M SO F_CKING TOUGH MOTHERF_CKER, I'M GONNA KICK YOUR F_CKING ASS, F_CKING METAL!!!" etc. etc., yeah, yeah, *yawn* whatever...

Decon FTW!

I'm just wondering if Devin will ever incorporate SYL songs into his live setlists.

doubt it....syl had it's time, and they reigned supreme. Devin seems to be on a completely different level right now, his musical options have exploded ten fold.

on a different note i just found a funny song about batman/superman...so crappy it's pretty funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofYqSef5M9c
and no i'm not trying to spam.

I'm sure you've noticed, but quite a few folks also ask why Devin doesn't make another "Ocean Machine" or "Terria." With some folks, you'll just never win. You just have to keep moving on, even if it means alienating your entire fanbase. Some will follow, some will never forgive you, and some new folks will give you a shot. It is kind of like friends and family. We grow as people, we start doing our own thing, and sometimes the folks closest to us in our lives just cannot accept that. They always want you to be the kid you were in high school, or that crazy cousin, or whatever. They may criticize you and try and tear your new world down in order to make you appreciate the way things used to be, all in hopes that you will revert and be who they want you to be. Who you used to be.

"Dude, why do you want to do that? That's just stupid! Remember when we were kids, and we used to want to do this? We should so do that! Wouldn't that be awesome? It would be so much better than the shit you are doing now."

Change is brutal for some folks.

I agree. I was also thinking that... well, I make music myself, and my direction, feelings and motivations constantly change with time. I love Ocean Machine, it's among my absolute favorite albums of all time... but it doesn't even cross my mind to want more of it from Dev. Maybe it's because I know the feeling of "I'm not there anymore" -- even if in a much shorter timeframe, because I'm 20, so it's kind of funny that I would compare myself to him in that way. But it's like... I wouldn't want to be forced to do the music I did a year ago. Let alone 10 or 15! I can definitely see that.

So my point is people who are personally involved in making music are more likely to understand the idea of moving forward artistically.

Of course there are also musicians who like to play the same tune for god knows how many years. You know the bands. They just have their sound and they don't ever really move from it... it seems to work for them and their fans, but I don't get that mindset. It seems incredibly boring to me. Part of any Dev's album's (Ocean Machine, Terria, City... each one really) charm is, for me at least, the feeling of "That was the time of that". Like it's a long process with different "phases of exploration" pinpointed on records. This makes every album unique and different in whichever way.



And just on a sidenote, my girlfriend who usually listens to mellow, mostly quiet stuff (and plays cello) fell in love with Deconstruction. She was stunned, absolutely loved it. There's some great power in that record. I've been listening to it since the leak and it keeps getting better. I love how rich it is, I think the stream-of-consciousness style really suits me.


EDIT: I've just realized, after all that "same sound is boring" talk I was like "Wait a minute, I LOVE Bad Religion". Haha. Well I guess generalizing isn't too good. But on the other hand... they are pretty comfortable with following their heart. Some of the songs on the last album (Dissent of Man) sound like Tom Petty and if Brett Gurewitz feels like writing a country-tinged pop-rock love song, he does it. So I think the argument was more about the bands that cling to "Oh we can't do that, we sound like THIS". Or maybe they don't want to leave their comfort zone. But... seeing my favorite artists leave their comfort zone is so much fun!

[The Dev]

and, it seems a few others around here are either confused or misunderstanding something about Deconstruction and I personally can't quite untangle it from the many interview and comments I've read. You just said "decon should be viewed separately from Syl" and you also say that "I listened to Syl on the plane. I loved some of it, so intense". If you don't see Deconstruction as intense how do you personally distinguish or differentiate the music on it from SYL's music - (maybe it's a question of aggression)!? If you do see Deconstruction as intense how do you reconcile it's music with music you don't wish to make or have "stamina for"?

There's many different types of intensity, no?

Having people in your family pass away is a different intensity than doing coke or something.... eating whole lemon is different than eating a good peach, both intense in the right circumstances.


I don't know what the differences in anything I do are. I just knew how I felt while I was making it.

There's many different types of intensity, no?
Having people in your family pass away is a different intensity than doing coke or something.... eating whole lemon is different than eating a good peach, both intense in the right circumstances.
I don't know what the differences in anything I do are. I just knew how I felt while I was making it.

Firstly many thanks for the response - appreciated! I think I may know what you are saying now. I haven't listened to SYL in quite some time so I'll need to explore these subtle differences of intensity better. Regardless, I do hope Deconstruction doesn't go the way of SYL for you i.e. people asking when the next one is.

SYL is intense, like eating a whole lemon. Deconstruction is intense, like eating a good peach.

I think I read that right

[Octillus]

I used to eat whole lemons but I can't anymore. I don't know if that's supposed to mean anything.