h e a t h e r

All progressive-metal listeners that do not have any music by Voivod should, in my opinion, go right out and find some — starting with Nothingface. This band is one of the greatest the subgenre has to offer, and has been so for over fifteen years. They are also unfortunately somewhat obscure compared to the Dream Theaters of the world. Voivod are quirky, catchy, tight, and impossibly original: a sci-fi prog-metal hybrid. They draw influences from Rush, Pink Floyd, VDGG, King Crimson, and... Metallica and various other speed-metal bands. I'll do my best to describe what this sounds like so any interested parties can investigate....to be short, a metallic version of King Crimson's "Red" or "21st Century Schizoid Man" with (early) Pink Floyd mixed in. But maybe that's not being fair, since Voivod are so unique. And strangely enough, Voivod are one of the most energetic and eccentric bands I have ever heard. In terms of energy, they are quite like Gentle Giant in that they are very hyperactive, dynamic and sometimes spontaneous. But Voivod is, I think, catchier. Most of the songs mix some really great mellow and quirky space-rock with manic speed-metal in odd time signatures. They also have a crazy sense of dynamics: sudden tempo changes or maniacally increasing tempos/pitch, lots of loud-soft and stop-go-stop dynamics, and so on. The songs are all very catchy, groovy, and the vocalist is excellent — what a personality! Read the lyrics as well, especially if you're a science fiction buff. I realize it's selfish to plug your favorite bands, but I think that these guys have been way overlooked for too long. This is a band with such a unique musical (and lyrical) personality, such energy, that I can't help but believe that most prog and metal people would enjoy it. So, check it out — while it is still in print. review by Heather Mackenzie — 2-10-01 —

g a r y n

This is the fifth full length from Quebec's avant-metallers, the last with their original lineup, and arguably, their best release. When it came out in 1989, I was just beginning to expand my interest in metal, and a friend of mine recommended Voivod and loaned me their 2nd LP, Rrroooaaarrrr! It was the late '80s and I had been into Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica and similar bands considered 'extreme' at the time. Make no mistake, though. Voivod's earlier work is more in line with Euro-Thrash than watered down American speed metal. I couldn't believe my ears! It was cacophony! A bit too extreme for my tastes, I balked at further exploration. Two weeks later, I tuned into a local college radio station and heard a band covering Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine". As it turned out, the DJ was late and previous jock had put Nothingface in the CD player and let the whole disc play repeatedly. After about three continuous listens, I had to have this album, and when the DJ finally showed up and back announced it as Voivod, I was blown away. Having heard much more of their material over the last 10 years, the band's gradual shift from thrash to a more ethereal brand of metal seems more logical than it did when Nothingface came out. If I had to determine a point on that path where they were at their strongest, I'd say Nothingface is probably it. Where many metal bands were putting out the same formulaic pap, Voivod had grown up and out, virtually creating their own genre. From the start, they were different - asserting that Voivod was a post-human creature existing in a cyber-universe metaphorically parallel to our own. Each release expanded on this concept and the creature morphed and grew accordingly. With Nothingface, the Voivod was embroiled in a new and furious world, having just escaped Dimension Hatross. Here, with a suddenly neutered identity, the Voivod began to combine its concepts of physical science, philosophy, politics and the ultimate impact of these elements on the self. Each song here is an expression of its new Nothingface identity, and each explores different facets of the Voivod's learning process and the products thereof. Musically, Nothingface has some excellent moments. I have to admit, though, that listening to it in 2001 isn't as enthralling as it was in 1989. Back then, the fresh sound of a metal band exposing its prog roots was captivating. It sounds a little dated to me now, and the often-driving 8/8 sigs wear thin on my Magma-addled brain. To be objective, however, Voivod was (and still is) a band of amazing musicianship and Nothingface lets them all demonstrate that well. Piggy's guitar is astoundingly more Frippy than ever; Snake's vocals are remarkably dynamic and intelligible; Blacky's bass tone pays due respect to the instrument itself (very rare in metal); and Away's drumming branches out, while also keeping them all in line. Of course, Away's lyrics and artwork are what really floored me back then, and are the most outstanding element of Voivod to me to this day. I'd like to recommend that those among us who explore the various pseudo-progs check this CD out, and as Heather mentioned, any prog-metallers who have somehow conducted their studies without discovering Voivod are in for a treat. review by Gary Niederhoff — undated —