Android Pinguinoid
Аццкий Пингвин-флудераст
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One of the most innovative/progressive bands in metal ever, if not the most innovative and progressive (also in rock, as metal is only heavily distorted, faster and more powerful rock), with a bunch of important albums, while other groups have only one or two. In category of opus, its extent and diversity comparable to Gentle Giant. And maybe not just by that. The band who had also introduced dissonances in heavy metal sound and thus made it even more unbearable (for uninitiated, of course and even more for traditional metalheads [haha]).
Basically, they were quartet, a usual line-up, working under legendary pseudonyms: Away (drums), Snake (vox), Piggy (guitars) and Blacky (bass). Today they are power trio with singing bassist Eric. Have always tried something new and always succeeded, albeit not at the audience. Even today still ahead of its time, and will remain somewhere there for at least a decade. Cult band. For ultimate progheads only, and those constantly interested to hear and listen to something new.
The first album is fairly primitive but still very odd for thrash sound. The second and EP are well aligned by the subgenre and represent classic thrash sound. These may not be of interest to progsters. The third, Killing Technology saw the band introducing tritones, disharmony and more exposed cosmic sound and science fiction iconography, thus showing that whole cosmos is actually blatant, emotionless chaos, especially where humanoids are present. Their science fiction lyrics (even on their recent albums) tell the story about Voivod, the Nuclear Vampire, but in a very subtle way, it doesn▓t make one laugh. The next, Dimension Hatross was more profound (band showed high level of technical skill and genuine metal reviewers immediately paste 'em "technical metal" label), as it is a bit less harsh and a beautiful harmonical(!) dissonances can be heard. Tracks like "Chaosmongers" or "Macrosolutions to Megaproblems" blow everything away.
Lyrically, The Voivod has gone exploring Microcosmos and is caught there for about three subsequent albums. The 5th, Nothingface is more melodic and is actually proper landmark. It unveils bands▓ progressive influences. All tracks are excellent. Dissonances are swiftly interspersed with melodies and harmonies, as they were forever together and waiting for this band to drag them down from akasha, while the cosmic component of sound truly extends itself into its own dimension (space/prog-thrash subgenre). Album starts with groovy "The Unknown Knows", continue with cold, monolithic "Nothingface" and then a great remake of Pink Floyd▓s "Astronomy Domine" (fantastic cover of erupting energy). Then follows anthemic "Missing Sequences" and more paranoiac, but great stream of numbers like "X-ray Mirror", "Inner Combustion" and "Pre-ignition". "Into My Hypercube" is an homage to Peter Hammill. And "The Sub-effect" will blow you away solely for the closing riff. Band and especially singer Snake admire V.D.G.G. and singer Peter Hammill. Snake sounds pretty much like a mix of Waters and Hammill, when these two would do modern, aggressive music. Lyrics on Nothingface are telling the story about creatures which are very humanoid robots, in distant or maybe not very distant future. One of them is "christened as YB-1" and is an example that machinery can feel alienated, too. YB-1 and other menmachines are Nothingface.
Album no.6, Angelrat, represents bands▓ efforts to shift toward more commercial sound. Band did only succeeded to do excellent music but not to evoke larger masses that was intended to. Actually, album was totally overlooked, as also old thrashfans of the band didn't like it and turned their backs to the band. It was obviously too soft. But great! This is how Pink Floyd may sound in groovier, hard rocking cosmic environment with still very strong psychedelic overtones. But Voivod are always Voivod and not any other band. The very best picks out of the yet again excellent recording: crunchy "Panorama", pretty laidback "Clouds In My House", intense rocking "The Prow", otherworldly, subtly darkened "Angel Rat", post-meditating "Freedoom", psychelegiac "Golem" and "The Outcast", leapy "Dummy" and so on. Lyrics tell different stories of different entities from different parts of the Universe, and the front-cover which shows some of these entities, is really grotesque. Like circus from Beta Sirius or something like that.
It must be said that all albums have really nice and specific covers made by drummer Away, which has nice style and should open his own gallery one day. After commercial debacle, band wasn▓t really dissapointed (this had come later) and after two years the results were to be observed. And what results. Band has released their 7th, The Outer Limits, for my opinion their best ever. The Voivod, still not returned from the Microcosmos, has (although not knowing for) extremely neatly transformed the sounds of Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Van Der Graaf Generator, Gentle Giant, etc. and earlier harsher Voivod sounds into fantastic blend of space/prog rock/metal. The effort is so finely crafted and done, that defies categorizations and avoids being captured by words. The most important for the larger prog-audience should be cover of "The Nile Song" of Pinky Floydy (so well done and energetic, that when I went listen to More, didn't recognize it, and simply miss it, as original is fairly mellow) and 22+ minute long epic "Jack Luminous", where various fictional personalities appear, and insinuate to rather dark predictions for our planet. Musically, it seems to be influenced by "The Plague of the Lighthouse Keepers" of Van Der Graaf Generator fame, and I don▓t know which suites me more, because both are jewels of the highest "caratry". Opener "Fix My Heart" is made in the vein openers were made on previous recordings. It is powerful and vivid, it makes one jumping around. "Moonbeam Rider" is an ode to space-travelling with emphasized cosmic (psychedelic) dimension. "Le Pont Noir" (Black Bridge) is very dark, slightly depressed song, it is almost gothic, fairly inspired by the darkest Hammill, though I think this may sound darker and menacing than songs Peter usually did. (Mentioning Hammill, it was Away who personally turned me on to Van Der Graaf's and Hammill▓s best efforts). "The Lost Machine" sounds like it was sent directly from the Microcosm, where The Voivod still dwelt (or better said Dimension Hatross). "The Time Warp" is more personal in the sense of relation earthly vs. otherworldly, as it is the "Wrong-Way Street". The closing number, "We Are not Alone" explains us the fact that Outer Limits we know of, are shrinking and that outer Cosmos is coming to us, on a personal level. It's also announced the return of the Voivod from the Microcosm. I don't know how this album was selling, as it proved to be too subtle for waterheaded crowds.
Two years later Negatron was spawned, but without Snake (the reason: being sick to bloody death of musical industry) and Blacky. The rest of the band managed to find bassist and singer in one person, technically proper for Voivod - young Eric. The Voivod was again lyric star and music had returned in severe and cruel times of Killing Technology. With modern wall of sound, it was the real killer, yet again one of a kind.
Subsequent two years had passed, while The Voivod approached Phobos and released all phobias from his subconscious. Phobos is great album, though it is even heavier than its predecessor. It▓s really a scary one. Its sound may grind those un-used-to real heaviness. Beside heavy psychedelics (totally mutated PF influence) I traced some features which are known from the most experimental tracks of Univers Zero or Present. I would recommend it only to bravest RIO fans. Sometimes, I must emphasize, it sounds heavier than Neurosis do. For this album band also covered "21st Century Schizoid Man", though original is to good to be played with much more energy.
Well, when I▓m explaining, how certain recordings sound like, I must also emphasize, that Voivod always manage to transform everything into their own way (or better dimension) and that everybody who might follow my words, should know that will not trace all elements mentioned in first attempt, but will have to listen to albums thoroughly and with certain amount of discipline and patience. Myself, being a long time adept of this band, have first heard Dimension Hatross in 1989, but found nothing in it (it sounded too quirky and out of everything then) until 1993, and need additional few months to become really friend with and understand it. To prog purists and prog starters: I suggest that you begin with Angel Rat or Nothing Face, then proceed to Outer Limits and subsequently to Dimension Hatross. Lovers of sharper sounds should check out Negatron and Killing Technology as well, while Phobos is more for the "chosen ones". Most things made by Voivod are mind-expanding and as the band still influenced by 70▓s prog, we can expect something interesting from them also in the near future. Ten out of ten and ... Highly recommended!!!!! -- Nenad Kobal
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"Гланвое крепког оздоровья и отличног онатсроения!) "(с) blackBDOBA
"Зенит никогда не будет чемпионом" (с) В. Петржела |
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Бо чувство ритма и мелодики у ребяк ,скажем так,не от мира сего.Будто попал в то самое измерение хатросс и слушаю их музыку. 
