Voivod

Formed in 1982 in Jonquière, Voivod started its musical journey with a speed metal formula that the band continuously evolved over the years. Influenced by the emerging new wave of British heavy metal, the thriving punk-hardcore scene, and 70s progressive rock, Denis Bélanger (vocals), Denis d’Amour (guitar), Jean-Yves Thériault (bass), and Michel Langevin (drums) literally invented their own style. This style owes much to the unique technique of their historic guitarist Denis d’Amour, who sadly passed away in 2005, and to lyrics that explore themes of lyricism, post-apocalyptic literature, and science fiction.

Voivod also stands out as the first Canadian band of this genre to export their music beyond the country’s borders, embarking on worldwide tours across all continents. In 2002, the group made waves by recruiting bassist Jason Newsted, an original member of the popular American band Metallica from 1986 to 2001. Newsted participated in the recording of the albums “Katorz” (2006) and “Infini” (2009). The quartet garnered further attention in 2006 when their song “The X-Stream” was featured in the video game Guitar Hero II.

With nearly thirty years of career and a discography comprising fifteen studio albums (“War and Pain,” “Rrroooaaarrr,” “Killing Technology,” “Dimension Hatross,” “Nothing Face,” “Angel Rat,” “The Outer Limits,” “Negatron,” “Phobos,” “Voivod,” “Katorz,” “Infini,” “Target Earth,” “The Wake,” “Synchro Anarchy”), four EPs (“Trashing Rage,” “Post Society,” “The End of Dormancy,” “Ultraman”), three live albums (“Voivod Lives,” “Warriors of Ice,” “Lost Machine”), three compilations (“Kronik,” “The Best of Voivod,” “To the Death 84”), and one DVD (“Tatsumaki: Voivod Japan 2008”), not to mention hundreds of shows across the globe, Voivod undeniably stands as a legend in the world of metal.