 After performing in a number of heavy metal bands in high school , Townsend was discovered by a record label in 1993 and was asked to perform lead vocals on Steve Vai 's album Sex & Religion . After recording and touring with Vai , Townsend was discouraged by what he found in the music industry , and vented his anger on the solo album Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing released under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad . He soon assembled a band under the name , and released the critically acclaimed City in 1997 . Since then , he has released three more studio albums with Strapping Young Lad , along with solo material released under his own independent record label , HevyDevy Records . 
 After performing in a number of heavy metal bands in high school , Townsend was discovered by a record label in 1993 and was asked to perform lead vocals on Steve Vai <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>album Sex & Religion . After recording and touring with Vai , Townsend was discouraged by what he found in the music industry , and vented his anger on the solo album Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing released under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad . He soon assembled a band under the name , and released the critically acclaimed City in 1997 . Since then , he <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>has</mark></a> released three more studio albums with Strapping Young Lad , along with solo material released under his own independent record label , HevyDevy Records . 
After performing in a number of heavy metal bands in high school , Townsend was discovered by a record label in 1993 and was asked to perform lead vocals on Steve Vai  mixtape Sex & Religion . After recording and touring with Vai , Townsend was discouraged by wht he found in the music industry , and vented his anger on the solmixtapeum Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing released under da pseudonym Strapping Young Lad . He soon assembled a band under the name , and released tdacritically acclaimed City in 1997 . Since then , he done released three more studio albums with Strapping Young Lad , along wid solo material released under his own independent record label , HevyDevy Records .