Voivod – BMG Albums
VOIVOD
RRROOOAAARRR (2CD+DVD)
Killing Technology (2CD+DVD)
Dimension Hatross (2CD+DVD)
BMG
Released 5 May 2017
Formed in Quebec, Canada, in the early 80s, Voivod are an influential thrash band of serious note and, alongside Annihilator, were one of Canada’s main extreme metal exports. Fluctuating between speed metal and progressive thrash, the band achieved some success in the 80s and, with drummer Away the constant helm, the band are still rocking.
The first album here, RRROOOAAARRR, was originally released in 1986 in Noise Records and showcased some progressive thrash elements. The album opens with some bombastic drums, and the guitars and vocals are ferocious.
https://youtu.be/mM9gYyzS-2c
While it is pretty intense, tracks like ‘Fuck Off And Die’ do sound like they are tripping over themselves to push further and faster than the debut (something like Second Album Syndrome). That said, ‘Slaughter In A Grave’ has a good riff and it does stand out, while ‘Horror’ does have some mature moments. ‘Helldriver’ is much like having your head taped to a running engine, one for serious speed headbangers.
1987’s Killing Technology, while still influenced by Crossover, and the likes of Kreator and Motorhead, is more progressive. The opening title track is 7 minutes of sheer intensity, the vocals a little less shouty, the guitar more cohesive, there’s more direction. The bass guitar work on ‘Overreaction’ is really worth checking out, while ‘Tornado’ really whips up a storm. Beginning to end this album is a serious, mature thrash album with an extra dimension over the previous offering.
1988’s Dimension Hatross follows a similar vein, with production that makes Rrroooaaarrr seem tinny and thinly produced. Several tracks begin with an effects intro yet are as bombastic as over, with some seriously good and ear shredding riffage. Then there’s the cover of the Batman theme, finish with some thrashing fun.
The music is less solid than their twin guitar contemporaries of the genre, but it is certainly as blistering and, as the bonus live material shows, extremely energetic.
All three come with a bonus CD and a DVD, with demo and live material as well as artwork and slideshows, as well as some extensive sleevenotes. Music aside all would get 5/5 on expansion and packaging.
Rrroooaaarrr – 6.8/10
Killing Technology 8/10
Dimension Hatross 8/10
Joe Geesin
RRROOOAAARRR
Disc 1
1 Korgüll the Exterminator [Explicit]
2 Fuck Off and Die [Explicit]
3 Slaughter in a Grave [Explicit]
4 Ripping Headaches [Explicit]
5 Horror [Explicit]
6 Thrashing Rage [Explicit]
7 The Helldriver [Explicit]
8 Build Your Weapons [Explicit]
9 To the Death [Explicit]
Disc 2 Spectrum ’86’No Speed Limit Week-End’; Live at Montreal, October ’86
Disc 3 DVD
Live NYC USA 5/5/86
Live At Long Beach 14/6/86
Live @ Jonquiere High School Canada 20/12/84
Live @ Jonquiere Cultural Centre Canada 27/1/84
Artwork slideshow
Voivod – Snake (Denis Bélanger): vocals
Piggy (Denis D’Amour): guitar
Blacky (Jean-Yves Thériault): bass guitar
Away (Michel Langevin): drums
Killing Technology
Disc 1
Killing Technology
Overreaction
Tornado
Too Scared to Scream
Forgotten in Space
Ravenous Medicine
Order of the Blackguards
This Is Not an Exercise
Cockroaches
Disc 2
Live In Montreal, Spectrum, September 1987
Disc 3 DVD
Live In Brussels, Belgium 28/11/87
Live in Westland MI USA 14/5/87
Live At Sargans Switzerland 1987
Live At Tuttlingen Germany 1987
Live At Rex Club Paris France 1987
Live At Toronto Canada 1987
Artwork Slideshow
Voivod – Away (Michel Langevin): drums
Snake (Denis Bélanger): vocals
Blacky (Jean-Yves Thériault): bass
Piggy (Denis D’Amour): guitar
Dimension Hatross
Disc 1
Prologue
Experiment
Tribal Convictions
Chaosmöngers
Technocratic Manipulators
Epilogue[edit]
Macrosolutions to Megaproblems
Brain Scan
Psychic Vacuum
Cosmic Drama
Batman
Disc 2
Live At the Spectrum, Montreal 1987
Disc 3 DVD
Dimension Hatross Demo
Live Detroit 1988
Live Houston TX 1988
Live CT 1988
Live Long Beach CA 1988
Artwork Slideshow
Voivod – Guitars: Piggy (Denis D’Amour)
Bass: Blacky (Jean-Yves Thériault)
Drums: Away (Michel Langevin)
Vocals: Snake (Denis Bélanger)