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)
Too Scared to Scream
Voivod Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got to tell me why
Can you tell me why?
Why don't you wanna tell me why?
Looking at me like this
Following me in the dark
Just arrived in this town
Except for the shadows on the wall
They look like no others
Feel my ??? when I'm ???
You're gonna tell me why
You've got to tell me why
Can you tell me why?
Why don't you wanna tell me why?
Just came back from Morgoth
I've developed a chemical imbalance there
The stress rises on my depression
And I need a fix-
I run away from everybody
I'm an experimental schizo
For (the spiders?)
You're gonna tell me why
You've got to tell me why
Can you tell me why?
Why don't you wanna tell me why?
Don't know their language
But I understand what they say!
Sure, I know their intentions
Kill me and leave me to rot!
They've taken part of it
I'm living in an endless nightmare
See what people couldn't see
Living in my own world
I (can?) get into others
It couldn't be worse
The world knows the truth
Except for those who are chasing me
The terror ( here will?) never stop
Never stop!
I've had enough of this
(Violence here without morals?)
I ran away yesterday
My brain??? don't feel so sure
Paranoid, sceptic
Cannot live with this malfunction
Was ????
Where was I born? I wanna go back
???
(When you see I'm me, people die?)
When you have to run for your life
Maybe you're gonna change your track
When you are like me, three bullets in your back
But you have to keep the same way
'Cause they know all the tricks, and that's the game they play
That's the game they play!
That's the game they play!
Tha-Tha--game they play...
Tha… they play...
The lyrics of Voivod's song Too Scared to Scream seem to be the ramblings of a disturbed and paranoid individual. The song starts with the singer demanding to know why someone won't tell them something. They are then described as being followed in the dark and feeling alone despite the shadows on the wall. The singer suggests that they have a chemical imbalance from a recent visit to "Morgoth" (which could be a reference to J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth) and that they need a fix. They refer to themselves as an "experimental schizo."
The paranoia continues to grow throughout the song. The singer claims they can understand the language of those who want to kill them, and they're living in an endless nightmare. They're delusional and think they can enter other people's worlds. The world knows the truth about them, but they're being chased by those who want to do them harm. The song ends with the singer saying that they've had enough, that they want to go back where they were born, and that people die when they see them.
One possible interpretation of the song is that the singer is a victim of some kind of government experiment or conspiracy. The references to Morgoth and experimental schizophrenia suggest that they may have undergone some kind of medical testing or treatment. The paranoia and fear of being pursued suggest that they have uncovered something that someone wants to keep hidden. The line "when you are like me, three bullets in your back" suggests that the singer knows they are in danger and that violence is a real possibility.
Line by Line Meaning
You're gonna tell me why
Speaker demands an explanation from an unknown entity
You've got to tell me why
Speakers demands an explanation from an unknown entity
Can you tell me why?
Speaker asks an unknown entity if they know the reason
Why don't you wanna tell me why?
Speaker questions why an unknown entity would refuse to explain
Looking at me like this
Speaker describes someone staring at them intently
Following me in the dark
Speaker explains that someone or something is trailing behind them in the shadows
Just arrived in this town
Speaker has recently entered a new location
And I'm alone--
Speaker is currently by themselves
Except for the shadows on the wall
Speaker is surrounded by looming shadows on the walls
They look like no others
The shapes of the shadows are unique
Feel my ??? when I'm ???
Meaning unclear
Just came back from Morgoth
Speaker has recently returned from a location called Morgoth
I've developed a chemical imbalance there
Speaker describes having a chemical imbalance after being in Morgoth
The stress rises on my depression
Speaker's depression is worsening due to stress
And I need a fix-
Speaker requires a solution to their emotional state
I run away from everybody
Speaker seeks solitude
I'm an experimental schizo
Speaker identifies themselves as a schizophrenic undergoing experimental treatment
For (the spiders?)
Meaning unclear
Don't know their language
Speaker cannot understand what is being said to them
But I understand what they say!
Speaker clarifies that they do comprehend the intentions behind the words spoken to them
Sure, I know their intentions
Speaker is certain of the intent behind others' actions toward them
Kill me and leave me to rot!
Speaker is certain that others want to murder them and dispose of their body
They've taken part of it
Speaker describes having a piece of them taken away
I'm living in an endless nightmare
Speaker feels that they are stuck in a never-ending bad dream
See what people couldn't see
Speaker has insight that others are not privy to
Living in my own world
Speaker feels isolated in their own world
I (can?) get into others
Meaning unclear
It couldn't be worse
Speaker believes the situation could not be further from ideal
The world knows the truth
The truth about something is widely known
Except for those who are chasing me
Only those pursuing the Speaker are unaware of the truth
The terror ( here will?) never stop
Speaker fears that the fear and danger will never end
I've had enough of this
Speaker is fed up with the current situation
(Violence here without morals?)
Meaning unclear
I ran away yesterday
Speaker fled from something 24 hours ago
My brain??? don't feel so sure
Speaker is unsure about the clarity of their thoughts
Paranoid, sceptic
Speaker is paranoid and doubtful
Cannot live with this malfunction
Speaker cannot sustain themselves with this internal issue
Was ????
Meaning unclear
Where was I born? I wanna go back
Speaker is contemplating their origins, and desires a return to it
???
Meaning unclear
(When you see I'm me, people die?)
Speaker suggests that their presence results in death
When you have to run for your life
Speaker reflects on the life-threatening circumstances they face
Maybe you're gonna change your track
Speaker predicts a change in someone's plan or motive
When you are like me, three bullets in your back
Speaker likens themselves to someone who has been shot three times
But you have to keep the same way
Speaker emphasizes the importance of maintaining one's path
'Cause they know all the tricks, and that's the game they play
Speaker warns that others are experienced and will try to deceive
That's the game they play!
The previous statement is reiterated
That's the game they play!
The previous statement is reiterated
Tha-Tha--game they play...
The previous statement is reiterated
Tha… they play...
The previous statement is reiterated
Contributed by Aaron G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.