Voivod (band)

Voivod
Voivod on Masters of Rock 2009 in Vizovice
Background information
Origin	Jonquière, Quebec, Canada
Genres	Progressive metal thrash metal speed metal alternative metal
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Metal Blade Noise MCA Mausoleum Hypnotic Chophouse The End Relapse Century Media
Associated acts	Metallica Flotsam and Jetsam Martyr Project Failing Flesh Ozzy Osbourne Probot
Website	www.voivod.com
Members	Michel "Away" Langevin Denis "Snake" Bélanger Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain Dominique "Rocky" Laroche
Past members	Denis "Piggy" D'Amour Jean-Yves "Blacky" Thériault Pierre St. Jean Gilles Brisebois Eric "E-Force" Forrest Jason "Jasonic" Newsted

Voivod is a Canadian heavy metal band from Jonquière, Québec. Their musical style has changed several times since the band's origin in the early 1980s. Starting out as a speed metal band, Voivod have added a mix of progressive metal and thrash metal to create their own unique metal style, and are credited as one of the "big four" Canadian thrash metal bands, along with Sacrifice, Razor and Annihilator.

They are considered by many as one of the most influencial metal bands from the 80s, influencing and gaining praise from multiple bands and across numerous genres.

Since its inception in 1982, Voivod have released thirteen studio albums, as well as one EP, one live album, two compilations, seven demos and one DVD featuring a live concert. The band found mainstream success in the late 1980s with their fifth studio album Nothingface (1989), which is Voivod's only album to enter the Billboard 200 charts, peaking at number 114. Voivod's most recent studio album is 2013's Target Earth, which is their only album with the lineup of Snake (vocals), Chewy (guitar), Blacky (bass) and Away (drums).

Voivod was formed in 1982 in Jonquière, Quebec, Canada. Influenced equally by the new wave of British heavy metal, the burgeoning hardcore punk scene and 1970s progressive rock, Voivod forged a distinctive brand of heavy music that often relied on lyrical themes such as Reagan-era Cold War politics, post-apocalyptic literature and science fiction. Killing Technology (1987) began the band's evolution in earnest, with the character from Voivod's album covers (drawn by drummer Away and named as "Korgull" on 1986's Rrröööaaarrr) 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 and storytelling on the following Dimension Hatross. Voivod was one of the first thrash bands from Canada to gain popularity outside of their country's borders, reaching the peak of their global popularity with the 1989 album Nothingface which featured a cover version of Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine". Other progressive rock covers include Pink Floyd's "The Nile Song" on their 1993 album The Outer Limits and "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson on Phobos. Much of the band's sound comes from guitarist Piggy's use of dissonant chords, usually played in the high register of the guitar, used extensively on Nothingface. Albums like Dimension Hatröss are dominated by unexpected time signatures and guitarist Piggy's liberal use of dissonant, unconventional minor chords.