Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1995. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing. By 1997, he had recruited permanent members; this line-up, which consisted of Townsend on vocals and guitar, Jed Simon on guitar, Byron Stroud on bass, and Gene Hoglan on drums, lasted until the band's dissolution. Containing elements of death, thrash, black and industrial metal, Strapping Young Lad's music was characterized by the use of complex time signatures, polyrhythmic guitar riffing and drumming, blast beats and Wall of Sound production. The band's musical direction was mainly determined by Townsend, whose battle with bipolar disorder and dark sense of humour were major influences on his songwriting. Townsend was also noted for his eccentric appearance and on-stage behaviour, which greatly contributed to the band's intense live performances. The band gained critical success and a growing underground fan base from their 1997 album City. After a hiatus between 1999 and 2002, the band released three more albums, reaching their commercial peak with the 2006 effort, The New Black. Townsend disbanded Strapping Young Lad in May 2007, announcing his decision to retreat from public view while continuing to record solo albums.

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1240:

Swedish-Novgorodian Wars: A Novgorodian army led by Alexander Nevsky defeated the Swedes on the Neva River near Ust-Izhora, present-day Russia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Neva

1685:

James Scott, Duke of Monmouth , was executed for his role in the Monmouth Rebellion, an attempt to overthrow King James II of England. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Scott%2C_1st_Duke_of_Monmouth

1823:

A fire, accidentally started by a workman who was repairing the lead of the roof, destroyed the ancient Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The church would later be restored by 1840. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_Paul_Outside_the_Walls

1974:

Greek-sponsored nationalists overthrew Makarios III, President of Cyprus, in a coup d'état and replaced him with Nikos Sampson. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makarios_III

1997:

Serial killer Andrew Phillip Cunanan gunned down fashion designer Gianni Versace outside his home in Miami, Florida. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianni_Versace

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

doppelganger (n): 1. A ghostly double of a living person, especially one that haunts such a person.

2. An evil twin. 3. A remarkably similar double http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/doppelganger

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Try to put well in practice what you already know; and in so doing, you will in good time, discover the hidden things which you now inquire about. Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know. --Rembrandt http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Rembrandt