I really don't look for "fun" in the way that it was provided on "The New Black" from a band like Strapping Young Lad.
You're probably right about being overly critical, but I'm pretty critical I suppose about all of the stuff I listen to, especially a band that I've been listening to for a number of years that has, at least in my mind, been on the continual downward spiral into the abyss of mediocrity.
The album is the most commercial outing that Strapping Young Lad have ever recorded, and it is (possibly) their least heavy record to date. Yes, Devy did say that "SYL was all about giving the finger...", and over the course of the last three albums, the band has failed to do
just that. The "giving the finger" that was so readily apparent and vicious in its futuristic delivery on "City" slowly melted away until all that was left was the tired mediocrity and tongue-in-cheek humor found on "The New Black". Also, I really don't think that "Far Beyond Metal" is that heavy of a song. Yes, the review was concerned about the "heaviness" of the record because after SYL's debut, the live record, and "City", I expected something heavy, fast - a pissed off and mechanized metal wall of aggressive sound, which I definitely didn't find on "The New Black" whatsoever. I'm not saying that "Devy" has to suck up to people or that he decided to be commercial during the initial writing of the record, but whether he did or not, the final SYL record will go down as a forgettable footnote in their discography and as the most commercial record the band had ever recorded.
The bonus tracks are irrelevant. It wouldn't be difficult to make the case that the album was rushed so as to garner and secure a slot on Ozzfest at all, but again, and regardless, the end result was in Devin's hands and my opinion of the end result isn't a favorable one at all. I believe that Devin just released the record to appease SYL fans, and that he was tired with the band, probably uninspired and that the record was possibly heavily influenced by the suits in the Century Media offices more than anything (which is a common occurrence among CM bands releasing poor sometimes "mainstream friendly" records). Also, I really don't think that the "repetitive" riffs are due to any sort of power metal or NWOBHM influence whatsoever at all, I think they are what they are - "repetitive" and boorish riffs on an otherwise disappointing, uninspired and mediocre record.
That's all.
Uhm..back on topic...Slayer's new record is much better (even if it is a far cry from their classic material) than the new abomination from Marilyn Manson.