VOIVOD – Target Earth
Century Media – Out Now
2013 is a very important year for Voivod. Having survived the passing of founding member Denis “Piggy” D’Amour, various line up changes and, most importantly, Mayan calendar prophesies of the end of days, the Canadian Prog Thrashers have decided to celebrate thirty years of existent in the most appropriate way – by releasing a new studio album! Yes, you heard right!
Having successfully trial-tested guitarist Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain (of Mystery and Gorguts fame) and with legendary bassist Jean-Yves “Blacky” Theriault back in the help, the quartet locked itself in Quebec’s Wild Studios and, against all odds, recorded one of the best albums of their career – the ten track opus “Target Earth”.
A certain section of the band’s oldest and most devoted fans, the same people that found albums such as “Voivod” (2003) and “Katorz” (2006) too soft and straight forward for their liking, have already openly expressed their objections towards a release of a Voivod album sans Piggy but even they are bound to experience a massive change of heart as the ten compositions that put together “Target Earth” are simply the heaviest and most technically inspiring material since the glorious days of “Nothingface” (1989).
Chewy has managed to produce riffs and harmonies similar to those employed by his late predecessor and infuse them with both urgency and passion. Blacky’s bass tunes and Away’s thunderous drumming add much dynamism to the proceedings while Snake has come up with some of the most varied and emotionally challenging vocal performances to date.
The albums kicks off with the short futuristic intro and the subsequent crushing riff of the same-titled composition “Target Earth”, whose strong affiliations with “Nothingface” in terms of style and mood made it an instant classic in my ears. It was Snake himself who, during our recent interview, first ‘warned’ me of the numerous technical intricacies relating to the tribal-themed “Kuskap O’Kom” but I seriously doubt that the English language possesses the right type of words to describe this gem.
The one composition that came somewhat closer to my heart is “Empathy For The Enemy” – a six minute track filled with dynamic riffs and beautifully-crafted lead melodies while the technically imposing “Mechanical Mind” is no too far behind. Blacky’s return to Voivod is truly celebrated in both “Warchaic” and “Resistance”, while “Kaleidos” is a perfect sample of the band’s schizophrenic musical character.
It is at this very moment that Snake decides to steal the show, providing top quality performances in both the military-themed “Corps Etranger” and the rhythmically varied “Artefact” while, in true Voivod fashion, “Defiance” will both impress and surprise with its choice of theme and unusually short duration.
Thirty years is a very long time for any band to nurture its creativity, but, then again, Voivod are simply not just any band. Though unsure how any Voivod album lacking Piggy’s musical DNA might sound, I knew that the end result would at least be decent and my faith in the four Québécois was rewarded with what will undoubtedly become a career-defining release.
“Target Earth” is the kind of album that many bands/musicians will have dreamed of creating but which only a group like Voivod possess the skills to bring to life. This is an album that you simply have to have in your music collection. What a way to start one’s Metal year!
John Stefanis
Rating: ***** (5.0/5.0)
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