As Flaming Wrekage’s brutal fourth album tickles your earholes, you know this is something special. …
Have you checked out the video footage from Voivod’s 35th anniversary tour? If you have, epic isn’t it?
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If you haven’t, get on it before the French-Canadian prog-punk-thrash-metal hybrid heroes break ground on the Australian leg of their world tour this week. Voivod have been having a crazy time. “The chemistry on stage is fantastic,” chuckles drummer and co-founder, Michel “Away” Langevin.
It’s not just the chemistry between the band that remains electric after all this time, but between the fans as well. Celebrating 35 years on the sci-fi thrash metal warpath, this is as much a party for the fans to share with the band as it is for Voivod to share with each other. “We’re lucky,” says Away, “We have a super loyal following. They show up to the shows, they buy the albums, it’s fantastic for us. If anything we are gaining momentum these years,” he finishes with a ring in his French-Canadian accent.
Momentum, indeed. Voivod have always been relatively underground–never in the 35 years they’ve been a band have they really broken into mainstream metal. Of course, in creating for themselves their own Batcave, a place where they can craft out classics like Killing Technology, Dimension Hatröss, The Outer Limits, plus last year’s banger The Wake, they guaranteed their own longevity. “I know we’re mentioned a lot by other bands,” says Away, “And other people, like, that have a lot of exposure, like Dave Grohl, that’s helped a lot.
“I think in terms of longevity, I think it’s a matter of writing the music you want to play. That’s important. People can feel the honesty.
“We’ve always evolved in some sort of parallel dimension and I think people can appreciate that side of Voivod.”
Last time we were there [ Australia ] was in 2000, so we’re putting together a very nice set list, covering many albums. It’s super exciting for us, it’s a thrill.
[ Michel “Away” Langevin ]
Away speaks with a genuine warmth when he mentions the sense of community there is to be found when attending a Voivod show. “That actually keeps me going,” he says, “The fact that people are really loyal to us. Year after year I meet old and new friends and travel the world and play music. I just can’t stop! It’s been 35 years!”
Longer than most Voivod fans have indeed been alive, a fact that makes Away bell-like chuckle ring strong once more. “It’s the case for many people coming to our shows!” Voivod recently toured Europe where Away says, their shows were well-attended and by many young people. “Singing the latest material, too, which is great!” he says. Counting up Voivod’s studio albums–14 in total–the loyalty and dedication continued for Voivod when they released The Wake in September 2018. Their first release since 2013, in a way The Wake propelled Voivod into a spotlight that they didn’t have already. Away can’t decide whether or not there’s something particularly different or special about The Wake compared to their previous releases. “It’s really hard to tell,” he says. “9/10, 4/5 reviews, even in Rolling Stone magazine–not something we expected! We worked so much on every detail of this album it seems that in the end it paid off.
“We instinctively went back to the prog-rock, with a lot of fusion [of] trash punk in it. It’s a very complex album, very intricate with the concept.
“I think it’s what many people listening to Voivod were hoping we would release, but it’s not like we sat around and discussed it, it came out naturally. It’s great that people relate to that, it’s motivating for us in writing new material.”
Away pauses to sip on his cooling cup of coffee, and honestly, with the energy Voivod deliver on stage (go watch those video clips) he needs all the caffeine he can get ahead of their shows this week. “Last time we were there was in 2000,” he says casually, “So we’re putting together a very nice set list, covering many albums. It’s super exciting for us, it’s a thrill.”
Catch Voivod at the following dates:
Wednesday 23 January // Crowbar // Brisbane
Thursday 24 January // The Basement // Canberra
Friday 25 January // Max Watts // Melbourne
Saturday 26 January // Crowbar // Sydney
