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Voivod (band)

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Voivod

Voivod is a progressive metal band from Canada. They evolved through an early speed metal phase, through thrash metal. Formed in 1982, they are originally from Jonquière, in the Saguenay region of Quebec.

Biography

Influenced equally by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and the Reagan-era Cold War, their early, post-apocalyptic music later evolved into outright science fiction. 1987's Killing Technology began this evolution in earnest, the character from Voivod's album covers (drawn by drummer Away and named as "Korgull" on 1986's Rrroooaaarrr) significantly being depicted in a spaceship. Drawing more heavily on hardcore punk than metal influences by this point, Voivod began evolving without the aid of increasing speed on the following Dimension Hatross. Voivod was one of the first thrash bands out of Canada to gain popularity outside of their home country, reaching the peak of their popularity with the 1989 release Nothingface which featured a cover version of Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine" (from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn).[1] They later covered another Pink Floyd song, "The Nile Song" (from More), on their 1993 release The Outer Limits.Much of the band's sound comes from guitarist Piggy's usage of dissonant chords, usually played in the high register of the guitar, used extensively on Nothingface. Albums like Dimension Hatröss are dominated by dissonant chords, unexpected time signatures and guitarist Piggy's liberal use of unconventional minor chords.[2]

Two of the four founding members (bassist Jean-Yves Thériault and vocalist Denis Bélanger) left Voivod in the early 1990s. Jean-Yves got involved with dance and electronic music, while Denis Belanger isolated himself to battle his drug problems and eventually started a new project, Union Made. Meanwhile, the band recorded four albums as a trio in the mid-to-late 1990s with new member Eric Forrest, nicknamed "E-Force", handling both vocals and bass guitar. Forrest was badly injured in a car accident in Germany in 1998, and that incarnation of Voivod never regained the momentum they lost during his rehabilitation. After Eric Forrest left the band, his insurance company attempted to sue the band for the injuries he sustained in the crash, as he was in the care of the band at the time. Voivod briefly disbanded in 2001 before Bélanger returned to the band. The last incarnation of Voivod featured three of the four founding members: Denis Bélanger (aka Snake, vocals), Denis D'Amour (Piggy, guitars), and Michel Langevin (Away, drums) along with Jason Newsted (Jasonic, of Flotsam and Jetsam and Metallica) on bass guitar. Guitarist Denis D'Amour died at the age of 45 on August 26, 2005 due to complications from colon cancer.[3] Their most recent record is Katorz (which is an "alternative" way of writing "quatorze", fourteen in French), released in July 2006. The album is based around riffs found on the laptop of guitarist Denis D'Amour. Just prior to his death, he left instructions for his fellow bandmates on how to use them.

Langevin confirmed that Voivod was planning to work on their final studio album in late 2007,[4] which will contain tracks recorded with D'Amour before his death. For the recordings of this final album the band had invited their previous members Blacky and Eric Forrest. Langevin also launched a new 'kraut rock-esque' band in 2007, Kosmos, who issued a self-titled debut via the End Records in September.

Line-ups

Year Band Recordings
Vocalist Guitarist Bassist Drummer
1982–1991 Snake Piggy Blacky Away War and Pain, Rrröööaaarrr, Killing Technology, Dimension Hatröss, Nothingface, Angel Rat
1992–1994 Snake Piggy Pierre St-Jean Away The Outer Limits
1994–2001 Eric Forrest Piggy Eric Forrest Away Negatron,Phobos,Kronik,Voivod Lives
2001–2005 Snake Piggy Jasonic Away Voivod, Katorz
2005–Present Snake Unknown Jasonic Away Untitled final studio album

Discography

Studio albums

Main article: Voivod Discography

Trivia

References

  1. ^ allmusic.com
  2. ^ rockdetector.com
  3. ^ http://www.theendrecords.com - Voivod (Canada)
  4. ^ blabbermouth.net


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