Townsend 's solo run lasted until 2002 . After a five-year break from recording , Strapping Young Lad reunited to record a new album . Townsend credits the album , '' Strapping Young Lad '' , as an emotional response to the attacks of September 11 , 2001 , in the United States . " If the world 's about to blow up , " said Townsend , " let 's write the soundtrack for it . " The album 's lyrics were based more around fear and insecurity than the " hostile " lyrics of '' City '' . Musically , '' Strapping Young Lad '' was less industrial than '' City '' , and more reminiscent of death metal , with a " larger-than-life " rock production style . Townsend cited Front Line Assembly , Grotus , and Samael 's '' Passage '' as influences . The self-titled album was released in February 2003 . It received lukewarm reviews , with critics finding it inferior to '' City '' , but it was the band 's first charting album , entering at 97th place on Billboard 's Top Heatseekers chart
attacks of September 11 , 2001
September 11 attacks
Devin Townsend