VOIVOD
http://www.myspace.com/voivodband
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 along with elements of industrial and progressive rock to try and create their own unique heavy 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.
History
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). 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.
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. 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, 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.
Studio albums
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)
Michel (aka Away)langevin
Drums, Percussion, Accordion, Artwork
is a founding member of the band and appears in all of Voivod's albums.
Michel has also played and toured with the band Men without Hats and with artist Jim Thirwell / Foetus.
Michel is the brains behind VOIVOD's conceptual albums and lyrics, which go back to his childhood.
He is a fan of science, quantum physics, conspiracy theories, vampires and robotics. Michel also does some 3D computer work as seen in the Negatron artwork, using Softimage software. His favorite bands and musicians include 70's progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator, Bauhaus, Legendary Pink Dots, Nick Drake and Syd Barrett. Michel was born and resides in Quebec, Canada.
Denis (aka Piggy) d'amour
All Guitars, Laser Gun
was a founding member of the band and has appeared in all of Voivod's albums. He wrote most the bands music.
Denis passed away on August 26, 2005 from colon cancer.
Denis was the main architect behind VOIVOD's awesome sound and music. Denis was inspired by guitarists such as Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) , Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Steve Howe (Yes), Robert Fripp (King Crimson) and Alex Lifeson (Rush).
Denis (aka Snake)belanger
Vocals (1983-1994) (2001 to current)
is a founding member of the band and has appeared in the following Voivod albums:War and Pain, Rrroooaaarrrr!, Killing
Technology, Dimension Hatross, Nothingface, Angel Rat, The Outer Limits.
Denis is the original VOIVOD vocalist that made the band's music so unique. A lot of fans consider him the voice of VOIVOD. Denis wrote some of the bands lyrics along with Michel Langevin. After a few years of absence from the musical scene, Denis released an EP with his band Union Made and then rejoined Voivod after Eric Forest left the band, making thousands of fans very happy!
jason (aka Jasonic) newsteed
Bass (2002-Current)
was born on March 4, 1963 in Battle Creek, Michigan. His influences for music and performing are the bass players bands such as Kiss, Rush, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Yes. Jason got his first bass at age 13, and then got bored of it. After 5 years, he started to play bass again and started to get into it seriously. He quit school to join his first band "Flotsam & Jetson". He played in clubs and concerts and released a record with the band.
Jason then joined Metallica and played with them until 2002. After Metallica and before joining Voivod as a member Jason was involved with his music project Echobrain.
Eric forest
Bass and Vocals (1995 - 2001)
Eric appears in the following Voivod albums:Negatron, Phobos, Kronik, Voivod Lives.
he joined the band after the departure of the band's original vocalist Denis Belanger following the recording ot the Outer Limits album.
Eric hails from Toronto, Canada and was a member of bands such as Liquid Indian and Thunder Circus before joining VOIVOD. He is a big fan of old school metal (bands such a Exodus). and is currently playing with various bands and recording songs for his E-Force project.
Jean-Yves theriaut
Bass (1983-1991)
appears in the following Voivod albums: War and Pain, Rrroooaaarrrr!, Killing Technology, Dimension Hatross, Nothingface, Angel Rat.
1982–1991
Vocalist Guitarist Bassist Drummer
"Snake" "Piggy" "Blacky" "Away"
War and Pain, Rrröööaaarrr, Killing Technology, Dimension Hatröss, Nothingface, Angel Rat
1992–1994
Vocalist Guitarist Bassist Drummer
"Snake" "Piggy" "Pierre St. John" "Away"
The Outer Limits
1994–2001
Vocalist Guitarist Bassist Drummer
Eric Forrest "Piggy" Eric Forrest "Away"
Negatron,Phobos,Kronik,Voivod Lives
2001–2005
Vocalist Guitarist Bassist Drummer
"Snake" "Piggy" "Jasonic" "Away"
Voivod, Katorz
2005–Present
"Snake" piggy dead "Jasonic" "Away"
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