SEMINAL CANADIANS RETURN WITH EX-METALLICA MAN

A long time ago, at the end of the '80s, three very disparate bands embarked on a tour of America that would lay down the foundation for the alt-rock nation long before Lollapalooza bwas even a twinkle in Perry Farrell's eye. Of the three bands, two would become something close to household names. Those bands were Faith No More and Soundgarden, and over the next few years they would help redefine and reshape rock music.
The third band - the headliners, in fact - weren't so fortunate. Quebec natives Voivod were justly acclaimed as one of the most experimantal and adventurous bands on the planet. Over the course of five albums, they'd broken down barriers that their less progressively minded peers hadn' even realised existed. Voivod beamed the white light of thrash metal through a prism of their own construction; the result was diffracted, strange and entirely unique. Mybe too unique - Voivod never captured the minds of the great record buying public in the way that either FNM or Soundgarden did. They didn't sell a million records off the back of that (or any other) tour, and consequently spent the rest of the nineties stumbling at increasing sped towards anonymity.
Now, a decade on, Voivod have suddenly reappeared in a blaze - well, a noticeable flicker- of publicity. Much of this new-found interest can be laid at the feet of former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted who joined their ranks late last year (alongside former vocalist Denis Belanger, who returned after eight years). But Newsted's presence has done more than merely raise the band's profile, it's seemingly refocused and re-energised them.
Ironically, 'Voivod' is easily their most straight forward (album. Bad English, Kerrang). The angular excesses and head spinning musicianship of the past have been reined in in favour of a more direct approach that's effective and eye-opening in equal measure. Rather than pinballing through time-changes the likes of 'Gasmask Revival' has its feet firmly planted in straightahead rock 'n' roll. But there's still sufficient depth offered up to drag anyone who recalls the glory days back onside (what does he mean by that!?). Voivod won't rectify the failures of the early '90s, but it does herald the return of a once-potent force.

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