Released 20 years ago
The New Black
Strapping Young Lad · 2006
48 min · 13 tracks · death metal
A relentless fusion of industrial and thrash metal, punctuated by aggressive vocals and intricate arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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Decimator — This track opens the album with a fierce energy, featuring sharp riffs and a relentless pace that sets the tone for the entire record.
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Far Beyond Metal — An anthem that encapsulates the band's playful yet aggressive spirit, it combines humor with powerful instrumentation, making it a standout moment.
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The New Black — The title track showcases complex song structures and intense dynamics, reflecting the band's growth while delivering an unforgettable chorus.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines aggressive vocals with intricate arrangements, showcasing both technical skill and melodic moments.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a relentless pace, maintaining intensity through the first half before introducing more melodic elements.
- Vocal delivery alternates between aggressive growls and clean singing, creating dynamic contrasts within tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short, intense listening bursts
- aggressive energy release
- dynamic emotional shifts
- darkly humorous undertones
Where this album fits
- Career context
- The New Black is Strapping Young Lad's fourth studio album, released in 2006 after their acclaimed record Alien in 2005. This album marked a pivotal point as the band shifted towards a more polished sound while maintaining their signature intensity. It followed a period of lineup stability, solidifying frontman Devin Townsend's role as the creative force behind the band's evolution.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Fear Factory· Meshuggah· Gojira
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Hope
The shift from despair to a glimmer of possibility occurs in this track, where the lyrics pivot towards resilience amidst chaos.
This lyrical transformation represents a significant emotional arc within the album, contrasting earlier themes of disillusionment and underscoring a journey toward optimism.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Decimator 2:53
- 2 You Suck 2:40
- 3 Anti Product 3:56
- 4 Monument 4:11
- 5 Wrong Side 3:35
- 6 Hope 5:02
- 7 Far Beyond Metal 4:36
- 8 Fucker 3:53
- 9 Almost Again 3:43
- 10 Polyphony 1:54
- 11 The New Black 6:11
- 12 The Long Pig 1:22
- 13 Zodiac 4:00
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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