 Strapping Young Lad began working on their next album , Alien , in March 2004 . Feeling that the band 's previous album did not live up to expectations , Townsend decided to take his music to a new extreme . To prepare for the new album , Townsend stopped taking the medication prescribed to treat his bipolar disorder . " I think that as an artist , in order for me to get to the next plateau , I kind of feel the need to explore things and sometimes that exploration leads you to places that are a little crazy , " he explains . " And Alien was no exception with that . " Although Townsend considered the album an " impenetrable mass of technicality " , it was well received on its release , selling 3 @,@ 697 copies in its first week and appearing on several Billboard charts . Around this time , Townsend also contributed to the soundtrack of the video game Fallout : Brotherhood of Steel . 
 Strapping Young Lad began working on their next album , Alien , in March 2004 . Feeling that the band <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>previous album did not live up to expectations , Townsend decided to take his music to a new extreme . To prepare for the new album , Townsend stopped taking the medication prescribed to treat his bipolar disorder . " I think that as an artist , in order for me to get to the next plateau , I kind of feel the need to explore things and sometimes that exploration <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>leads</mark></a> you to places <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='drop_aux' title='4'><mark>are</mark></a>a little crazy , " he <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>explains</mark></a> . " And Alien was no exception with that . " Although Townsend considered the album an " impenetrable mass of technicality " , it was well received on its release , selling 3 @,@ 697 copies in its first week and appearing on several Billboard charts . Around this time , Townsend also contributed to the soundtrack of the video game Fallout : Brotherhood of Steel . 
Strapping Young Lad began working on their next mixtape , Alien , in March 2004 . feelin dat da band  previoumixtapeum did not live up to expectations , Townsend decided to take his music to a new extreme . To prepare for the new album , Townsend stopped takin tdamedication prescribed to treat his bipolar disorder . " I think that as an artist , in order for me to get to the next plateau , I kind of feel the gotta explore things and sometimes that exploration lead you to places a little krazy , " he explain . " And Alien was no exception with tdat. " Although Townsend considered the album an " impenetrable mass of technicality " , it was well received on its release , sellin 3 @,@ 697 copies in its first week and appearing on several Billboard charts . Around this time , Townsend also contributed to the soundtrack of thdaideo game Fallout : Brotherhood of Steel .