In the later part of the decade, the sound broadened as the band began experimenting with melody, dynamics and storytelling, inching ever closer to prog and further from metal. Away’s artwork, which adorns not only all of Voivod’s albums and merchandise but that of other bands’ as well, illustrates these points, completing the experience for the fan. Conceptually, they broached topics of nuclear war, animal abuse and pollution. The end result coincidentally aligned with the young speed metal scene, but it was clear that there was more to the music than power chords and blazing solos. In the early ‘80s, Denis “Snake” Belanger, Denis “Piggy” D’Amour, Michel “Away” Langevin and Jean-Yves “Blacky” Theriault (heretofore referred to by those nicknames) formed Voivod in Jonquiere, Quebec, pulling influences from NWOBHM, hardcore and ’70s prog-rock. The evolution of their music is worth its own story, alongside the history of the musicians involved. These boys from Canada have created music that ranges from screaming thrash to Rush-style prog to straight-forward hard rock, but on every album are signature elements of their sound: dissonant chords, odd time signatures, homemade sound effects, thunderous drums and thought-provoking lyrics delivered with conviction.

Anyone who lumps Voivod in with any other genre of metal could benefit from this introductory course to one of the most influential, original and rabidly-followed rock and roll bands in the last 30-plus years.

Voivod albums