Strapping Young Lad mastermind Devin Townsend has recently revealed that the band\'s upcoming album, \"The New Black\", will likely be their last. However, SYL drummer Gene Hoglan has rejected reports that the band will split up shortly after completing their current tour. In a recent interview with Finland\'s Imperiumi webzine, Townsend stated:\"I signed a five-album deal with Century Media and this is now the fifth. There you have five records; they are very happy with that and I\'ve done my job. Next!\"
Asked what the Century Media people thought when he told them that he was going to take rest of the year off to be with his family, frontman Devin Townsend said:
\"Well, this might get me in trouble, but I couldn\'t care less. Should I be on tour while I have a newborn baby at home? My wife is pregnant, so should I be far from home drinking booze and pretending that I care about heavy metal?\"
However, Gene Hoglan has issued the following statement in repsonse to the comments made by the frontman:
\"Dev is burnt out, and of course he can change his mind quicker than bolt of lightning, but, just two days ago, he and I were talking about the next SYL record, what we\'re gonna do on it, and how absolutely mind-blowing it will be. We are taking some time off for Devin to have some much-needed family time, but, we are hitting the road again in March 2007, headlining tours of both America and Europe, as well as Australia and the Far East.\"
The legendary drummer has assured Strapping Young Lad is not disappearing anytime soon:
\"We are too good to just dissolve, and those are Dev\'s words. (...) We are a fuckin\' fungus. No cream or lotion is gonna do us in that easily. Unless, of course, it\'s Vagisil.\"
