Praise The Lowered

Dev seems to be discussing the drug use and his early years and where it eventually lead him. I assume a lot of Strapping Young Lad was written while on drugs (and while off bi-polar meds).

Either way, great way to start this album. Goes to show that he's going to talk about some serious shit.

I agree with Arkturus. I think it goes back to Dev's past drug habits and peer pressure that sometimes (actually, a lot of times) goes with that, hence the "Smoke that weed, boy!" line.

This song is basically him giving in to all the fans of his old stuff who only want him to make metal. He changed his life and has mellowed at least a little bit with age, but some people still just wanted the insane metal stuff. So here he prepares himself to throw away all the changes he's made, basically saying "FINE, YOU FUCKING WANT METAL??! HERE'S YOUR FUCKING METAL!!!" ...and drifts back into his previous lifestyle (if only for this album).

the intro to the story, a prelude that says "it's time to let go and start over again, by becoming wild."

Anyone catch the fact that if the song title wasnt "praise the lowered" it could have easily passed for "praise the lord"?

Okay so this is the intro to the album, the concept of which Devin has explained as about a man obsessed with understanding the true nature of reality, going to great lengths to do so. The intro sets the scene, a man in great turmoil, battling his addictions: "tonight it's soda water, soda water, soda water boys" The duality of his existence and the suppression and eventual break out of his darkest demons are expressed beautifully by the contrast between beginning and end of the song, with the first half slow and serene; his mind chipping away ("get ready, one won't stop the flow) at his sober and responsible lifestyle "console your child... get him ready". The midpoint begins to show the turn from control to chaos as his addictions start to overwhelm him, progressing at first from singing about sobriety to being stoned and back to stone sober (the stoned sticking around as it creeps closer). And so his addictions begin to scream at him, telling him they want to drink the wine, take acid, heroin and smoke crack cocaine. Eventually they demand he "smoke that fucking weed boy" and "drink the wine". He breaks at the final and most crucial moment and slips into his addiction. He revels in it and wishes pain upon himself; "bring the pain!". And so our character's descent into hell (an aspect of the album Devin has confirmed during interview) begins here.

As you can see I view this song as a conversation between the light and dark within the main character, and Devin is drawing on his own experience and expressing his own feelings through the tale. He's spoken at great length in the past on his troubles with mental health, drugs and addiction. This album, about facing your fears and overcoming them (again, Devin has confirmed this in interview), is Devin's way of "putting to paper" or in this case, to CD, his struggle with and eventual overcoming of his troubles.

That's my interpretation, anyway.

Ok, so maybe you guys are all right here..

When dealing with self hate, like Devin does, you get tempted by the negative habits to make you feel better. It doesn't mean you act upon them, but they are there. When you are bored or realise how normal your life is, you realise how interesting your life used to be. you realise how easy it would be to move back to that life, but then you realise how hard it would be to leave that place AGAIN. scroll forward three songs on the album to Juular and that would tie in. The video is a massive clue, the old deranged man v calm sober and steady Devy. The whole album deconstruction is a very frank and open explanation of his addictions and his mental health issues. respect to the guy.