Voivod - Part One: Beginnings to Nothingface
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- I love Voivod! I bought my first album on cassette back in 1985. In February of this year, the band released its 15th studio album, "Synchro Anarchy". It made me want to do a video about Voivod, but many had already been done ranking the albums, talking about favourite albums, or talking about the discography. So, I delved into the band history. There is so much to say that I have broken this video into three parts. Part One covers the early years of Away and the beginnings of the band up to the Nothingface tour.
KT is a top 5 all time metal album for me. Blackie’s bass tone is the ultimate for me.
Yes! I love that album, and Blackie's bass was one of the things that drew me to Voivod.
The story about their “names” was hilarious. Great video thank you
I'm very glad you enjoyed it. As one who participated in theater sports in high school, I can easily imagine Snake wriggling about on stage.
Great job man, easy and fun to listen to and your pronunciation in French is pretty good. Cheers from Quebec.
Thank you, Ghislain! I’ll be doing a 70’s Québec prog video later and I’m biting my nails about reading out so many names and titles in French! I don’t want to sound like a typical Anglophone but perhaps I can’t help that much. I appreciate your compliment!
When my father was young, he went to school with a girl that was michel langevin's girlfriend. He remember seeing Away, in the cafeteria, waiting for his girlfriend to finish her classes while sketching some of the bands first album cover. I always thought it was pretty cool!
Wow! I love a story like that! That’s so cool!
This is an awesome historical retrospective on literally one of the greatest bands of all time! Thanks a lot. I can never get enough backstory of my favorite band. Great stuff my friend. 👍
Wow! Thanks so much! I was really excited about discovering so much that I didn’t know. So it became three videos! I’m glad you like it so much!
@@musicisajourney Absolutely my friend! Anything Voivod in-depth I’m interested in. Thanks again. These videos are awesome! I’m going to see them on the 40th Anniversary tour in a few months! Super stoked!
@@sadboi7537 Oh, I should check to see if they're coming to Japan!
Wow, this is incredible. You are a great storyteller and it’s great to hear such a personal version of this story. I felt like you were speaking directly to me. Your channel was an instant subscription for me. I can’t wait to see what more you have.
Oh, thank you so much for all the encouraging words and compliments! I just do it my way, and if that earns appreciation from someone, I’m very pleased to keep it up. I hope you find some other videos worth your time.
Morgoth is actually a character in the LotR universe. He was like Sauron's master before he was banished. You can read about him in the Silmarillion. Also if I remember Voivod is old Slavic for something like war lord. In fact Voyna (война) still means war in modern day Russian.
I haven’t read the Silmarillion so I didn’t know about that.
Yes, Voivod is a military title in Slavic countries. I first encountered it when I read the Wikipedia article on Elizabeth Bathory. I also saw a video where a Russian guy was interviewing the band and he mentioned about the meaning in Russian.
Viovodina, or in Hungarian Vajdaság is an autonom territory in Serbia, mostly with Hungarian people. Vajda, is a kind of lord, provincial prince. During fights he was the captain. This is the term we use. (In Hungary) Vajda also was used to name the leaders of gypsy camps, communities. It was not a position roma/gypsy choosed, it was a kind of contact person to the non roma.
Thanks for sharing this. Voivod is one of my favorites too.
Thanks for watching and commenting, Edmundo!
Excellent history lesson of Voivod, still after all these years my 2nd fav band of all time. I first heard them at the age of 14 picked up the album War & Pain based on the cool album cover.
Been a huge fan ever since
Many thanks, David, for the compliment! Your experience began as mine did. I picked up War and Pain at the age of 14 based on the cover!
@@musicisajourney thanks for this, Killing Technology is also my favorite album. To me it is as much a (underground) metal classic as Master of Puppets and Reign in Blood. Such an unique sound. Greetings from the Netherlands.
@@FerencHonkoop Yes, I agree that it’s such a landmark album, even though many people go with Dimension Hätross. Thank you for watching and leaving a comment!
Been a fan since War and Pain. This is awesome dude. Well done.
Me too! Thanks so much for watching!
Very interesting, a lot of details, I like it. And yes, I agree that your pronunciation in French is pretty good. I was wondering about the nickname given to Denis D'Amour, Piggy: I don't know if he knew about the Chinese zodiac, but "pig" was his sign. He might had been influenced by that or it is only a coincidence. Vive Voivod!!!
The only thing I read was that he was “the fat kid”. But I like your take on it better.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Indeed, vive Voivod!
I enjoyed this. I saw them first on the Nothingface tour in Cleveland with Soundgarden and Faith No More opening. It was great back when you could see these great bands in a small venue for $24 I think, maybe less. But yeah it wasn't long after that Faith No More released their "Epic" video on MTv. Then "grunge" got a big boost with Nirvana's Teen Spirit video. Voivod just had their own weird unique thing going on that was hard to market to the masses.
Wow! That's cool that you were part of that period in Voivod's history. That tour largely influenced the course change in their music. ($24 for those three bands is a steal!) The cool thing about Voivod is that they always had their own sound, so even when they did Angel Rat, it was still not like anyone else. In the last few years, they finally seem to be getting the recognition they deserve for being unique.
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, Dude!
I saw that show in DC.
This is amazing thanks for presenting this! Found them in 87' by accident when I saw and drooled over the album artwork for Killing Technology. Dimension Hatross and Killing Technology are the best. Voivod is my number 1 influence in my other artistic ventures not on YT. So much gratitude too those guys changed my life forever.
I think Chewy and Rocky could say the same about Voivod changing their lives. I'm glad you enjoyed the videos and that you appreciate this fantastic band so much!
Voivod(Wojewoda in modern Polish)is an old Slavic language word for a person who leads warriors in war. Voivod was a title of a very important figure in Polish medieval history he was a head of kings locally like a count in Western Europe administration this word is still in use in modern Polish and means a representative of the central government in local authorities administration nominated by a Prime Minister. The biggest administration division in Poland is Voivodship (województwo ) with Voivod as the head.
Thank you for the explanation!
I was reading the Wikipedia article about Countess Bathory several years ago when I read the word “voivod”. I was immediately intrigued and looked into it. What I read was as you described.
I also more recently saw a video of an interview with Voivod and the interviewer was Russian. He also pointed out the meaning of the word in his language.
I believe in the video I mentioned how Away read the word in the book Dracula.
Not only Polish, in Russian there is also "воевода", this is an old Slavic thing in general. But it's true that districts are still called wojewódstwo in Poland.
This is excellent, thanks so much! 🤘🏻🖤
@@stephencfranklin Thanks so much for saying so!
I noticed that book about Quebec metal on display. It's still high on my want list as far as Metal books go. I've been a Voivod fan since I got the War & Pain cassette way back when.
Yes, War and Pain was my starting point as well! The book is good! A lot about Voivod but also Dead Brain Cells, too.
Tres bon monsieur...merci!!!
Je t’en prie!
Its hard to describe now, just how game changing this band was. There was just no band thinking and playing the way they did, especially 1983-89.
I was on their Iron Gang mailing list too back in 87/88, they put SO much work into the mailings, and typeface and artwork. I had three or four of their self-released cassettes too! I gave all my cassettes away in the early 00s - duh!!!!
It’s a wonderful thing to be into a band that is doing something really fresh and yet at the time they are not so widely recognized but years later they are hailed as truly original and they turned the music scene on its head. I’m so glad that Voivod is receiving the recognition they deserve finally.
I’ve never signed up as a fan to any band, but I’m envious of you because you got a lot of cool stuff that would be precious to any Voivod fan now. Too bad about the cassettes. I gave all mine away too back in 1991/2. Now I wish I’d hung on to most of them just for the historical significance.
@@musicisajourney well exactly that! They’re great artefacts! I see that some of the cassettes fetch £80-120 on Discogs!! Crazy!
@@OlafProt As limited self-releases, yeah, I can imagine!
Back in the 80's I thought that Voivod were just an atonal, Canadian version of Celtic Frost. Only in recent years have I grown to respect and like what they were doing. Great retrospective
For me they were always atypical. But they were not easy to love for a lot of people at first. Thanks for watching and commenting. I’m glad you came to like Voivod!
But an atonal Celtic Frost actually sounds like an awesome concept though?
Voivod. A fascinating band.
Indeed!
@@musicisajourney ....your coverage on Voivod is exceptional
@@RoryLynott Thank you so much for saying so. I hoped this would perhaps be of interest to some fans of the band, and two years later I continue to read such supportive comments as yours.
Nice video! As a kid i handpainted the cover of the second album (which you pronounced so well) on a t-shirt. Took me weeks, but it looked great. I still have it somewhere...
That’s awesome! I can imagine you did a great job if you spent so much time on it. Don’t lose that one!
Thank you! Veery nice and insightful! Will watch the other Voivod episodes and more on your channel!
I think you will like the three Voivod history episodes. I’ve received the most comments on those. I’m glad so many people like them. I hope you will find something else worth your time, too.
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and comment!
Great Narrative for a one of my favorite bands!! Thanks !!
Thanks a lot! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Hi Peter, thank you for your great work on these three videos, i learned a lot from this great band. Last one Morgoth Tales is a great addition to their glorious legacy. Keep on the good work, you seem like a nice and positive person. Cheers from France.
Thank you so much for your encouraging and positive comment! I haven't got Morgoth Tales yet, but I will. All the best to you!
Just got into Voivod in tge last 3 years but wow, incredible band. Their catalogue is vast and varied, and Synchro Anarchy is an amazing album. Voivod are one of a kind and utterly remarkable!
It’s never too late to get into Voivod! Yes, it’s easy to appreciate how unique they are not only in metal on the international scene but even how they stand apart from other bands in Québec. One of a kind indeed!
@@musicisajourney Also I loved your videos on Voivod and have just subscribed to he channel, if you have any recommendations of similar sounding bands ( no-one sounds like Voivod, given!) or music you think I should check out, please let me know as always looking for new (or old and new to me) music, thanks!
@@miguelLDiablo Thank you, Paul! I wonder if you'll be interested in either my video on Canadian metal bands that I discovered in 2020 or my video on Diminished 5th records. I had permission to feature samples of music for both videos, so you get to hear a little of what each band sounds like.
@musicisajourney that's great, if the videos are in your channel library I will sift through and find them. Thanks for the prompt reply also! Keep the content coming I will be working my way through your videos over the festive season! And seasons greetings from the UK 🇬🇧 😀
@@miguelLDiablo That’s awesome! I hope you find something worth you time! Have a wonderful holiday!
Voivod are an inspiration for all metal bands on how they created a renaissance in their existence to keep moving forward & push the envelope, instead of staying stagnant & just playing it safe (see Testament & countless others old bands)
Yes, that's one thing that's common. Bands went through some changes in the nineties but eventually returned to their eighties sound and stayed there. It's tough because that's often what the fans want. But Voivod know how to sound like Voivod while still trying to make a fresh and exciting album.
Wow thank you very much for this video. It's just fascinating how you tell the story of one of my favorite bands
Thank you so much! I have a special love for Voivod so I'm pleased if others can enjoy my presentation.
How synchronous; i was at a music store in Montreal today, talking pedals with the staff, and they showed me several units made by Voivod’s guitarist, BYW audio.
Would that have been Daniel Mongrain? He's got so much skill. Before Voivod he was with Martyr and that's quite different. He's also played with Gorguts and I think I read that he was with Quo Vadis for a bit.
It’s actually Jean Yves, Who was the founding bassist. He runs BYW audio, he also has a new band, Cœur Atomique, who I was lucky to release on the label. Check my channel, I have a few of their songs on there.
Rrroooaaarrr was the first Voivod record I bought of theirs after they were mentioned in a new releases segment on Headbanger's Ball in '86. I was so excited when Killing Technology came out and got it on cassette. It quickly became one of my all-time favorites. A year later I kind of got out of my thrash phase and lost touch with the band as I was getting more into bands on SST Records and Touch and Go Records. A few years later when Angel Rat was released, I liked the cover art and got it. I was surprised at how different they sounded, but I really dug it. What really impresses me about the band these days is how they've meshed all their sounds over the years into a sort of original genre of its own. I don't listen to much metal these days, but I still break out Voivod from time to time and regard them as a true original force in metal that has survived much longer than other bands from the first wave of thrash.
Yes, I think you've got it right when you say they have become a genre of their own. It is cool that they - as you say - mesh all their sounds. They have created such a range of music with their unique approach that they truly can roam about in their own universe and no matter what they still sound like Voivod.
This is very enjoyable. I like your delivery and dedication to details. I also had never heard a real person who sounded like Darrill from Kids in the Hall.
I really wanted to do a good series for Voivod. As I dug into the history, there was so much I wanted to compile.
What do you mean about Darrell from Kids in the Hall? Do I sound like him? I forgot what he sounds like.
Voivod rules!!!! Great video.
Chris, thank you!!
@@musicisajourney Posting my ranking soon!
Great video, full of interesting information I had no knowledge of. Well done, sir.
Thank you so much for the fine compliments! I’m starting to think I should do all my videos this way from now on.
Definitely my favorite band for a number of years. Was lucky to find them early (roar) and then my favorite killing...
Another of my favorite bands, Die Kruezen, was an influence of theirs.
Oh, I haven’t heard of Die Kruezen (cool name - Die Cruisin’?). I’ll see what I can find on UA-cam now!
Just checking out Die Kruezen now. Fucking intense! Love the vocals! I’m going to listen more. Thanks!
@@musicisajourney Whoops! I misspelled. Die Kreuzen is German for "The Crosses". From Milwaukee. First album us a must. October File. I used to see them in Kansas City, MO all the time in the early 80's. Their later stuff I love equally, but October File brings me back to my formative years. Enjoy!
@@markhedquist9597 That's funny because I just recommended them to a friend and also spelled the name wrong. Yes, I know kreuz or kreutz has the meaning of "cross". But I thought it looked like it could be read in English as "die cruisin'". But then I realized I had read and spelled it wrong.
I'll be listening more to see where the best "landing place" is for me.
@@musicisajourney Just wanted to say this Voivod video is the first I've seen of yours. Very well done. I like your presentation style. Very informative and enjoyable. It's clear you have a strong passion for music and are thourough in your knowledge/research. I'll be checking out more videos!
Just saw the last show in Stroudsburg PA...VOI VOD ARE SOOOOO GREAT.....
Since the beginning....I fuckin freaked when I heard War and Pain....Immediately next to Slayer at the top ..
Ooh, that is big praise! War and Pain? I’d love to hear that live!
I watch anything Voivod. 👍🤟🏻
Thanks! I hope it was worth your time!
Hot take: It was all downhill after War and Pain. Their technical improvements and better production meant an unworthy sacrifice of the raw pure energy that was their first album. This is from someone who generally is obsessed with progressive rock, I just didn’t get enough out of their prog metal era. This is a band to me that is first wave black metal / thrash / punk at their absolute best. War and Pain has a very specific atmosphere and guitar tone unlike anything I’ve ever heard and was never repeated.
Killing Technology remains my favourite, but War and Pain is a very close second. You’re right that it has that raw energy that I describe as a rumbling tank of loose bolts and armour plating and spikes held together with spit and gaffer tape. When you look at the more extreme bands of 84/85, they are rougher and rawer than the speedy, technical thrash bands. But while all those others were following a Satanic theme, Voivod went sci-fi. Yes, War and Pain is a monumental album.
I always kinda thought of Nothingface as Voivod's Neuromancer version of Pink Floyd's The Wall. Saw that tour in Vancouver, BC with Soundgarden and Prong. Still have my cherished NF tour shirt.
That must have been an awesome show! That would be cool to have a shirt from that time!
Amazing video!!!! Thank you for this
Thank you for sharing your sentiments!
To The Death has what I consider to be Snake's finest hour as a metal vocalist
He never sounded like that again and it is really cool! I love his vocals on the next few albums, too. But yes, To the Death was unique.
Great video
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this, lots of new stuff we didn't know;) Small thing, Maurice (the Rocket {not the rocker} )Richard was a hockey player, right, so 29:05... believe us, he never was a part of the band, nor had panick attacks! 2nd small thing, Chewy and Rocky didn't know each other at that time. As mentioned in their live stream Nothingface, they discovered that they were at the same concert way later in life... Thanks for the effort though, very nice one🤘👍
Thank you for watching and commenting! Yes, I do hope it was understood that Maurice Richard at 29:05 was the Rocker and not the Rocket! Ha ha! I hope I didn't confuse anyone.
Probably a "Lost in translation" moment over here;) Thanks again!
Thanks that was very informative
I'm glad you thought so!
I was into heavy ass shit when Nothingface came out. I was a kid, and only new of the typical bands at the time, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and a few others. I wanted it to be heavy and fast. I seen the Voivod video for Astronomy Domine and was blow away, it weird and dissonant. I had no clue at the time who Pink Floyd was. So, I purchased the CD and put it on. The intro was all super heavy and awesome. Then the snare hit and it was progressive polka metal. At the time me being 13 I was like WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED! I hated it. But I only had so many albums to listen to. I listened to it over and over and it took me a long time before I realized it was one of the best things ever recorded. I am upset that I never looked for other albums by them. For almost 20 years that was the only album I knew of them and loved it. Now I have collected many and found that their first hour releases are awesome and wish I knew of them back in the day.
Honestly Nothingface was a step down for me at the time. War and Pain and Killing Technology were awesome. It was only years later I began to appreciate Nothingface. I can understand how you felt at first.
Yes, Voivod is awesome! But part of that is their uniqueness, which turns some people off. I hope you keep exploring and more albums of theirs you like.
Thanks for watching and sharing your story!
Killing Technology and Nothingface are on number 1. Word.
Those two I bought when they came out, so they are deeply familiar to me. Dimension Hatross I got much later. So, it's easy for me to agree with you!
4:37 - kitty!
A common element to many of my videos. :)
brilliant thank you
Thank you so much for watching and commenting!
"Brain Scan" on Hatröss was inspired by the fact that Piggy had developed a brain tumor & had to have treatment.
Ah, yes! I read about the tumor and treatment. But I didn't read that it inspired the song. That seems like an obvious one now. Thanks for pointing it out!
Cats always need to be centre of attention. :)
I first heard Warriors Of Ice on The Friday Rockshow (BBC Radio 1 here in the UK) back in 84, I'd never heard anything like it, then a fellow metalhead mate from school bought the Speed Kills compilation with Destruction, Celtic Frost and the almighty Voivod with the title track War and Pain, that was it, it was like a tailor-made band for me.
A lot people just don't realise what a crucial band Voivod were for pushing the boundaries of technical metal, take To The Death for example, the second half after the breakdown, the snare's doing a straight metronomic beat whilst the kicks are doing 2 hits on the backbeat followed by a triplet double kick roll all at a pace between punk and hardcore, there was nothing like this at the time.
The same continuation on Killing Technology with Order Of The Blackguards, with the standard Discharge beat into the double-bass roll, of course that was just the start of their experimental goodness.
The 80s were a fantastic time for music. :)
Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together, really informative, and just showing those photos of their surroundings gave so much meaning to tracks like Pre-ignition.
Looking forward to watching parts 2 and 3 also. :)
Sorry for the wall of text, Voivod are in my top 5 bands out of 100s, have been passionate about them for a long time.
I was very glad to read your wall of text, Gavin. Thank you for taking the time to share so many thoughts. I love what Voivod were doing right from War and Pain, but they really took it - or began taking it - to another level with Killing Technology. I didn't notice the drums to the extent that you pointed out, so I'll have to listen again and pay close attention. Yes, Voivod remain one of my all time favourite bands, too. That's why I have to have all their studio discography!
A great comment that brought me back to those Friday Rock Show nights as a teenager in 80s Britain. Like you, I heard Warriors of Ice and War and Pain and then idolised Voivod. They combined sound, art and character; they created their own world. Dave Grohl's comments on discovering Voivod also mirrored my own. Best wishes with everything, and may we feel forever young. 😊
❤
You are the Chris Hedges of Heavy Metal. How does it feel? Cheers for the channel, man.
I’m guessing that is a big compliment. Now I have to Google Chris Hedges. But thanks so much for the kind words!
@@musicisajourney It really is. Great channel man! Check out Hedges, too...! Great stuff to say
@@sluggygrumble5164 Thanks! I will do that.
Trust Kerrang magazine to be shocked & disgusted by anything that didn't sound like Def Leppard.
I'll just reply with BAHAHAHAHA! Good one!
Hey Maurice Richard is the drunk lawyer from the Anvil movie right?
I don't know, but that would be an especially fun piece of trivia. I have the DVD but I haven't had time to finish watching it. There was a lawyer near the beginning who was telling Lips what the band needed in a manager, right? Maurice sure got Voivod's career going. If that's him in the movie, that would be pretty freakin' awesome!
@@musicisajourneyAhh no it’s not, I just listened to the commentary on the DVD & they name him. A dead ringer though.
@@kenny832 Oh, well. Thanks for the research anyway.
War and Pain, best voivod album of all time
I still hold that one in very high regard!
rrröööaaarrr
I hear ya, man!
Interesting point of view, a little made up but hey it is understandable when all you have here is one side of the story.
There are always two sides. The Internet gave me most of one side. There was promise of more from the other side but that had yet to materialize. If we are talking about the same thing. I’m always interested in hearing the story from both if I can find it.
@@musicisajourney Yeah! there is many more sides, unfortunately there is a side that we will never hear from, miss that old friend. P.s. if you like send a pm. Good work!
@@jeanyvestheriault8362 Thank you, Jean-Yves. It would be a privilege for me to send you a pm. By the way, when I was researching interviews, articles, and documentaries on the Internet, I heard there would be a book published in 2019 or 2020 with many words from you. But that book was not published. If you care to comment, I will send you a pm.
@@jeanyvestheriault8362 Rather embarrassing but I'm not sure how to send a pm on UA-cam. It says that option has been removed. Thank you for the invitation, though.
@@musicisajourney Yeah I just realize that we can't send pm message on youtube, how stupid is that, but like I just said, go to my website or even go to my facebook page, I'm not someone hard to contact.
Yes , Killing is my favourite too, maybe i listened to it more than reign in blood at that time
I certainly have!