Voivod (band)

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Voivod is a heavy metal band from Jonquière, Quebec, Canada. Their musical style has changed several times since the bands origin. Starting out as a speed metal band, Voivod has added a mix of progressive metal and thrash metal to try to create their own unique metal style. Despite a number of band member changes over the years and the death of original guitarist Denis "Piggy" d'Amour in 2005, Voivod continues to record and tour their last release being Katorz in 2006.

[edit] History

Influenced equally by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the burgeoning hardcore punk scene and 70’s Progressive Rock, Voivod forged a distinctive brand of heavy music that often relied on lyrical themes such as Reagan-era Cold War politics, post-apocalyptic literature and Science Fiction. 1987's Killing Technology began the band's evolution in earnest, with 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 from Canada to gain popularity outside of their country's borders, reaching the peak of their global 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 Soundtrack from the Film 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. Voivod has confirmed they will be playing at the Heavy MTL show the 22nd of june. Voivod also confirmed that they will be playing at the Monsters of Rock Festival in Calgary, Canada on July 26, 2008. The Band will consist of Bélanger, Langevin, Blackie and Dan Mongrain on Guitar. Jason Newsted is still a member of the band but is unable to perform at both gigs.

[edit] Line-ups

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Main article: Voivod Discography

• War and Pain (1984, Metal Blade Records)
• Rrröööaaarrr (1986, Noise Records)
• Killing Technology (1987, Noise Records)
• Dimension Hatröss (1988, Noise Records)
• Nothingface (1989, Mechanic Records/MCA Records)
• Angel Rat (1991, Mechanic Records / MCA Records)
• The Outer Limits (1993, Mechanic Records/MCA Records)
• Negatron (1995, Mausoleum)
• Phobos (1997, Hypnotic Records)
• Voivod (2003, Chophouse Records/Surfdog Records)
• Katorz (2006, Nuclear Blast Records/The End Records)
• Untitled 12th album (2008/2009, Nuclear Blast Records/The End Records)

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• The song "X-Stream" is featured in the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 game, Guitar Hero II.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Record company and Jason Newsted's website
• Voivod at MySpace
• Voivod at Rolling Stone
• kvltsite.com's review of Kosmos