VOIVOD

This includes new boy Jasonic, otherwise known as Jason Newsted. I think that it is fair to say that there has been more noise about Jason joining the band of which he has been a fan for so long, than when he was picked up out of Flotsam & Jetsam to join Metallica. When you are a member of the biggest band in the world just what are you doing leaving them to join a Canadian outfit that have been going for over twenty years?!!

It is something that he has been contemplating since 1995, and he has now joined Snake, Piggy and Away who were all members as long ago as 1984 when the band first came to public recognition. I know that they have released many albums that are viewed as important, but for some reason I had never heard any of their music and somehow had formed the impression that they were noise merchants.

But that is a long way from the truth, as this is a solid slab of metal that moves and grows and is extremely powerful and forceful. Jason has linked up with Piggy in a way that is most unusual. Normally the bass guitar sticks with the drums, laying down a rhythm for the guitars to pit against. But on this album the bass and guitar are often locked together which gives it a distinctive solid sound. Even Motörhead, who have some of the most powerful bass guitar in the business, don't do it like this as in that case Lemmy is providing a rhythm guitar section.

From "Gasmask revival" through to the last song "We Carry On" there is not a filler in sight. Fans of Metallica will flood to this just to hear what it sounds like and they will not be disappointed but rather very surprised and pleased indeed. This is a great album, spoilt only by the fact that it has been set so that it won't play in a PC, which for me is a real pain.

Originally appeared in Feedback #72, Feb 03