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When: May 1, noon.
Tickets and info: US$20 at Devintownsendshop.com
In July 1997, Devin Townsend released Ocean Machine: Biomech. The second solo album from the founder, lead singer and guitarist of raging heavy-metal act Strapping Young Lad was one of many musical shifts in the prolific player’s long career. The dense character of the recording showcases the multi-tracked “wall-of-sound” character that would come to be a consistent feature of his recorded output.
First coming to fame at age 19 performing lead vocals on Steve Vai’s Sex & Religion album, Townsend toured the world with Vai and the Wildhearts. Discouraged by the music business, he formed Strapping Young Lad (SYL) as an outlet for his considerable rage. Featuring Townsend, guitarist Jed Simon, bassist Byron Stroud and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan, SYL developed a dedicated global following, particularly in northern Europe and the U.K.