very elegant solution: X2 + Y2 = Z². Although I’m far from a mathematician, I enjoyed the thought that two opposing ways of thinking could be linked by a simple equation. I was just struck with that during the Alien time, and it just so happens that ‘Ziltoid 2’, ‘Z²’, is an answer for me—of how to proceed. It just seems to tie up everything, including Strapping, in a way that I think is satisfying." Release Alien was released on March 22, 2005, selling 3,697 copies in its first week. It reached No. 32 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, and No. 35 on the Top Independent Albums chart. Critical reception Critics praised Townsend's inventiveness and the dynamism of the songs in which "melody and discord meet midway"; Adrien Begrand of PopMatters wrote "Strapping Young Lad have raised the bar yet again", while Blabbermouth.net's Krista G. called it "a total and complete metalized SHIT FIT" and one of the best albums of the year. Townsend himself has gone on to state that "Alien" is the Strapping album that he's "most proud of". Track listing Personnel Strapping Young Lad Devin Townsend – guitar, vocals, keyboards, samples, production, engineering Gene Hoglan – drums Byron Stroud – bass guitar, associate production Jed Simon – guitar Additional personnel Dave Young – keyboards, vocals Will Campagna – live keyboards Male vocal choir Chris Valagao, Rossy Living, Cam Krotche, Will Campagna, Shane Clark, Ross Gale, Christ Stanley, Will Cochrane, Ash Manning, Ross Empson, Mike Quigley, Billy Marquardt and Jeff Cook. Female vocal choir Laurielynn Bridger, Marnie Mains, Ani Kyd, Tammy "Tamz" Theis, Magdalena Bulak, Shay Ward, Steph Reid, Deborah Rodrigo-Tyzio, Michelle Madden, and Joanna Ussner. Children vocals Dorian Glaude-Living, Damian Moore, Ethan Belcourt-Lowe and Jayden Gignac. Production Shaun Thingvold – engineering, mixing Kristina Ardron – 2nd engineering, editing Ryan Van Poederooyen – drum technician Alex Aligizakis – editing Scott Cooke – editing Bryan Seely – editing, assistant Rob Stefanson – assistant Alan Wong Moon – assistant Greg Reely – mastering at Green Jacket Studios Travis Smith – art consultant Per Johansson – artwork, layout design Omer "Impson" R. Cordell – photography Charts References 2005 albums Strapping Young Lad albums Century Media Records albums Albums produced by Devin Townsend Albums recorded at Armoury Studios