Things started slowly sliding downhill for them after, their next album being poorly received, 1991's Angel Rat. 'Grunge' was taking hold, with bands such as their former opening act, Soundgarden, enjoying a rise to stardom. Blacky left the band just before Angel Rat's release. 1993 saw the release of The Outer Limits album. Following the subsequent tour, Snake quit Voivod. The former Liquid Indian man, Eric "E-Force" Forrest replaced Blacky and Snake in one fell swoop on bass and lead vocals, and would stay with the band for two albums, 1995's Negatron and 1997's Phobos. 2000 saw an EP (Kronik) and live album (Lives), and in 2001 a car accident invalidated E-Force with a broken back. The group was put on hiatus, until eventually the decision was made to reform the band with Snake. Voivod fan Jason Newsted, fresh from Metallica, filled the vacant bass slot. This version of the band would go on to release 2003's self-titled album, Voivod.
Guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour sadly died on 25th August 2005 from colon cancer aged 45. After his diagnosis he spent the last 2 months of his life recording ideas & guitar parts for several albums worth of new songs. After his death the rest of the band completed work on Voivod's 14th album, Katorz, released in July 2006 and Infini in 2009.
By July 2010, Voivod had been writing and recording new music (including Dan Mongrain on guitar). On July 4, 2012, Voivod announced the title of their thirteenth studio album, Target Earth, which was released on January 22, 2013. Target Earth has a more progressive sound than some of their last few albums, and is a return to a more "classic" Voivod sound that can be heard on Dimension Hatross and Nothingface. All the music was written by Blacky and Chewy, while Snake focused on lyrics, and Away took care of the artwork.
On July 10, 2014, it was reported that Blacky had left Voivod again. It was announced that he was forced out of the band. For months he requested meetings regarding the band business and artistic affairs, but was denied such talks by one of the other members. In late January 2015 the band released the new single "We Are Connected" which is the lead track from the 7-inch split vinyl disc with the band At the Gates. It is the first music to feature new bassist Dominic "Rocky" Laroche. They also released a new, five-track EP, entitled Post Society, featuring two new tracks and a cover of Hawkwind's "Silver Machine", on February 26, 2016.
As early as February 2015, Voivod began work on their fourteenth studio album, which was to be released in 2016 but later pushed back to 2017. The band was expected to begin recording the album in August 2017. In June 2017, Langevin told Rock Sverige that the songwriting was almost completed with an estimated release for early 2018. He also said that the album would probably be a double-album on vinyl due to the songs being "really long and progressive", describing them as "seven or eight minutes long songs" and with it being a concept album as well. In November 2017, the Voivod members began recording another album, titled The Wake, which was released in September 2018. The master tapes for Voivod's MCA-era albums were long thought to have been destroyed in the 2008 Universal Studios fire; this was later disputed by Blacky, who revealed in late 2019 that the master tapes for Nothingface, Angel Rat and The Outer Limits were located in a facility in Pennsylvania, after persistently questioning Universal staff, and claimed that they are now in his possession.
Voivod's fifteenth studio album, Synchro Anarchy, will be released on February 11, 2022.
Current members
Michel Langevin (Away) – drums (1982–present)
Denis Bélanger (Snake) – vocals (1982–1994, 2002–present)
Mongrain (Chewy) – guitar (2008–present)
Dominic Laroche (Rocky) – bass (2014–present)
21st Century Schizoid Man
Voivod Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
At paranoia's poison door
Twenty first schizoid man.
Blood rack barbed wire
Politicians' funeral pyre
Innocents raped with napalm fire
Death seed blind man's greed
Poets' starving children bleed
Nothing he's got he really needs
Twenty first schizoid man.
The lyrics of Voivod's song 21st Century Schizoid Man offer a disturbing commentary on the state of humanity and society in the modern age. The opening lines, "Cat's foot iron claw, neuro-surgeons scream for more, at paranoia's poison door, twenty first schizoid man," suggest a sense of helplessness and desperation felt by many people in modern society. The metaphor of a cat's foot and iron claw could represent the predatory and destructive nature of humanity, while the reference to neuro-surgeons could signify a scientific community that is treating the symptoms of mental illness without addressing the root cause.
The second verse continues with a series of disturbing images, including "blood rack barbed wire" and "innocents raped with napalm fire," referencing the atrocities of war and violence that continue to plague our world. The references to "politicians' funeral pyre" could be seen as a commentary on the corruption and greed of those in power, who are more concerned with their own interests than with the welfare of their constituents. The final verse highlights the ultimate futility of human desire, with the line "nothing he's got he really needs," suggesting that despite our best efforts and material possessions, we are ultimately unfulfilled and unsatisfied.
Overall, the song portrays a bleak and dark image of contemporary society, reflecting the band's own views on the challenges facing humanity in the present day.
Line by Line Meaning
Cat's foot iron claw
The grip of power and control is as strong as the sharp talons of a cat.
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
Even those who are professionally trained to heal are driven by the desire to inflict pain and dominate others.
At paranoia's poison door
The fear and suspicion that grips society is leading to dangerous and damaging behaviors.
Twenty first schizoid man.
This is a critique of modern society that is marked by fractured, contradictory identities and an inability to form meaningful connections with others.
Blood rack barbed wire
The brutalities of war and conflict result in unimaginable human suffering and devastation.
Politicians' funeral pyre
The political system is failing the people it is meant to serve, resulting in cynicism and mistrust.
Innocents raped with napalm fire
The horrors of war are visited upon those who are most vulnerable, leading to untold trauma and destruction.
Twenty first century schizoid man.
The modern world is characterized by a sense of chaos, fragmentation, and dislocation, leading to a profound sense of alienation and disconnectedness.
Death seed blind man's greed
The endless pursuit of wealth and power is damaging the planet and perpetuating inequality and injustice.
Poets' starving children bleed
The creative spirit is dying, and it is stifling the voices of those who seek to create positive change in the world.
Nothing he's got he really needs
Despite the abundance of material wealth in society, individuals still feel a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction, as if something is missing from their lives.
Twenty first schizoid man.
This is a call to action, urging us to work towards a more humane and just world, free from the violence and greed that is so prevalent in the modern era.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robert Fripp, Michael Rex Giles, Greg Lake, Ian Mcdonald, Peter John Sinfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
richie Vieyra
Wow no sabia que coverearon a king crimson les salio con madre
foch mi life
Excellent cover!!! and know I usually hate most covers!!!!
Vadim Burov
Гении!
владимир овчинников
И те ,и другие
wade sprynczynatyk
Nice 👍
ROO TREINLAVERY
🤘🏻
Mark Harwood
Appropriately evil and therefore satisfactory.
Robspike17
Ozzy osbourne's cover was good, but this takes it to the next level