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Robb Flynn & Devin Townsend Respond To Accusations That MACHINE HEAD's New Song Rips Off STRAPPING YOUNG LAD

The riff police are out in full force.

The riff police are out in full force.

Earlier today, we heard the first new single off Machine Head's upcoming album, Catharsis called "Beyond the Pale." If you haven't heard it, here it is:

Almost immediately, many listeners pointed out that the opening riff sounds a hell of a lot like Strapping Young Lad's song "Love."

I guess enough people tweeted at Devin Towsend about it, because he responded in a series of tweets, and to say he took the high road is a clear understatement:

“People asking me about riff similarities: I don’t have an opinion really. I’ve written riffs my whole career that sound like something else.

“I’ve used whole themes from other albums, movies or soundtracks. Art is a collage of your experiences, you taking clippings and reassemble.

“Heres the best part about comparison of MH new song to ‘Love’ I basically ripped off the SYL chorus from this song:”

Townsend then link's to Yes' track "City of Love."

Flynn saw Townsend's tweets and thanked him for being so cool about it:

“Shout out to @dvntownsend for being so cool. The Riff Police pulled me over, I got a $300 infraction for that one!! Like Dime bag always used to tell me ‘we’re all just sharing riffs man’.”

“Got a lot of respect for you Devin, super talented musician, amazing producer (as the palaces burn production crushes all!)

“And while I would proudly admit that I stole a Riff from you… Was just a happy accident.

“Riff on brother!!”

I take Flynn at his word that it was just a coincidence and no harm was actually intended. Plus, it's just rock and roll.

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