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)
The Prow
Voivod Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plasma flowing from a cask
Piercing overtones
Mainline into my back pack
It's full of clouds in my house
A grey hive, humming white souls
Frenzy reviving the room
Energized by many flumes
Drip-drop, on my head
Wakes me from a thousand moons
Circle dance inside the cave
All movement brings a message
Larvae, in their holes
Waiting for a summer daze
The lyrics of Voivod's song "Clouds in my House" paints a surreal picture of the singer's state of mind. The lyrics suggest that the singer is zoning out in a hall made of glass, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling vulnerable and exposed. The plasma flowing from a cask and piercing overtones can be interpreted as the singer's emotions or thoughts that are overwhelming and difficult to contain. The singer somehow manages to mainline them into his backpack, which could represent the singer's attempt at escaping or suppressing his feelings.
The refrain, "It's full of clouds in my house," further emphasizes the singer's state of confusion and disorientation. The "grey hive, humming white souls" that follows could be interpreted as the singer feeling trapped in their own mind, surrounded by a hive of negative thoughts and emotions that are buzzing around and causing a great deal of stress.
The second half of the lyrics shifts towards a more positive and hopeful tone. The frenzy that revives the room, and the flumes that energize the singer could represent a renewal of life force or creative energy. The drip-drop that wakes the singer up could be interpreted as a moment of clarity. The circle dance inside the cave and the message brought by all movement could signify a return of purpose or direction. The larvae waiting for a summer daze could be a metaphor for the singer's aspirations and desires that are waiting to grow and flourish.
Line by Line Meaning
Zoning in a hall of glass
I am mentally focused in a room that is made entirely of glass.
Plasma flowing from a cask
Electrically charged particles are streaming out of a container.
Piercing overtones
High-pitched and penetrating sounds.
Mainline into my back pack
A direct connection to my backpack, possibly referring to drug use.
It's full of clouds in my house
Metaphorically speaking, there is confusion and chaos in my mind and life.
A grey hive, humming white souls
A hive represents a busy and productive place, but grey implies a sense of gloominess. The humming of white souls could refer to the presence of spirits or supernatural beings.
Frenzy reviving the room
An intense excitement is bringing the room to life.
Energized by many flumes
The room is charged with energy from various sources.
Drip-drop, on my head
Water is falling on my head, possibly symbolic of tears.
Wakes me from a thousand moons
Brings me out of a dream-like state where time feels distorted.
Circle dance inside the cave
People are dancing in a circular formation within a confined space.
All movement brings a message
Every action has a meaning or purpose.
Larvae, in their holes
Underdeveloped creatures, perhaps symbolic of human beings, are waiting in their sheltered spaces.
Waiting for a summer daze
Anticipating a period of rest or ease after a long and difficult time.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Rossi
Piggy was on fire on this one. This is basically a rock album (not metal) with progressive breaks.
Love the ambiance !
evilnewwargod
this is one of the greatest songs ever written they should've put it on that gold disc they shot into space
Saraiva Toledo
@White Christ Same here , I was just unable to enjoy that period between " Phobos " and " Target Earth " ... it all sounded uninspired , weak even ... but then again , you know , I was listening to " RRRoooaaarrr !!!! " as a 14/15 year old so ... there is some bias there , I was consistently blow away by classic after classic in the 80s/90s ... listening to " Killing Technology " when it 1st came out was quite the experience ( which you probably had too judging by what you typed above ) ... and so forth ... actually , to be fair with the band all you have to do is play " The outer limits " and then their reunion album with Snake and draw comparisons .
However , exactly like you, I find myself enjoying their newer material . Those two " kids " they brought in revitalized the band .
White Christ
@Saraiva Toledo Very true. While Voivod was good as a thrash metal band, the Nothingface-Angel Rat-Outer Limits era was what I considered to be the music that defined them and the talent they really had. I remember seeing them live at the Outer Limits tour and some of the audience saying it didn't sound like Voivod. Obviously they were accustomed to their earlier material. I thought they just kept getting better and was hoping they would continue on that trajectory. Of course the departure of Snake after Outer Limits shook up all of that, and though I was happy when he returned it wasn't really until their latest material that they seem to be going in that direction again. I really hope they continue to experiment with their unique sound because I think they are still capable of creating mind blowing original and hypnotic songs without having to conform with their previously established sound.
BaronvonBlutwurst
@Saraiva Toledo agreed..I bought this when it was released and I was blown away .my grindcore/Death Metal band members hated it.
BrecMadak
@Saraiva Toledo Cold Lake was absolute trash, period. If you meant Into the Pandemonium that might have a chance from your dudes, lol.
vapor dreams 翁萎円
This song gives me feelings I've never felt before.
Good Night
I’m so nostalgic for this album
Θεοδωρος Λ.
Yeah , its a psych trip, the summer i was listening to this lp was one of the strangest! Strange feelings induced by this album indeed
YaWantTaters
First live band I ever experienced. These guys blew my mind away; they're the only group to really cause me to rethink my intellectual approach to music and I was stunned at their range of abilities to transition into different tempos, even live. The very dynamic VoiVod.