After the long wait between the release of “City” in 1997 and the last album “SYL” from Canadian maniacs STRAPPING YOUNG LAD - it feels like the new opus “Alien” is upon us in record quick time. Don’t be fooled – this is no rush job by any means.

Devin Townsend’s well documented mental troubles will probably be familiar to some of you. For the un-initiated – he is one of the nicest “insane” people in the world of metal. To create the feeling of absolute chaos that runs central to “Alien” – Devy came off the tablets for a couple of months and just went bonkers in his basement. Whether that was a safe idea or not I’ll let someone else decide, all I know is the end product is fantastic – a tour de force of extreme insanity.

Altho this release is better than previous effort "SYL" by a million miles, “Alien” isn’t as good as “City”. I thought I’d get that out of the way straight off. To be honest, it’s a hard task to live up to – but it’s near as dammit. This album is also not for the first time extreme metaller – a listen of all ten tracks in one sitting is perhaps akin to having someone beat you around the face with a clawhammer. But in a good way of course.

The album sets off on a 4 track assault – “Imperial” and “Skeksis” hinting at the cyber metal sounds of “City”, “Shitstorm” being the most perfect musical definition of insanity I’ve ever heard, and the excellent single “Love?”, which manages to capture you with it’s hooky chorus, as well as being as heavy as a dirty great big anvil, that’s just been dropped on your foot. (Ouch). It becomes apparent that this album has been influenced by Devin’s solo work – with some songs sounding like much heavier versions of material from “Terria”. I don’t mind this at all – I embrace the change!

It’s not all roses of course, as things rarely are. There are a couple of tracks scattered about the course of the album that ruin the flow of things. “Shine” is a non-event track that seems to have stumbled in from one of Devin’s other projects. Also, after the beautiful acoustic respite of “Two Weeks”, the uninteresting “Thalamus” does nothing to get you in the mood for the phenomenal album closer “Zen”. At the end of the day, I’ll forgive them these flaws - as the 3 minute jet-propelled track “We Ride” (complete with newly added guitar solos from the leaked promo) more than makes up for the low points.

A few flaws aside, “Alien” - equal in both intensity and bewildering heaviness - is one of the best extreme metal albums you will hear this year. Or at least until the next SYL album comes around again. If it weren’t for the few annoying bits of filler, this album would be perfect. An essential purchase nonetheless.

Standout Tracks:  Skeksis, We Ride, Zen.

Overall Score:   8 /10