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)
We Are Connected
Voivod Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flight cases and rolls of tape
Connecting, returning home
Chewing cups of Styrofoam
Template for shocking news
Terminal of awful blues
Moving lips, but there's no sound
Final call, and now you're gone
So far, mind-blowing far
So hard, heart-breaking hard
So hard, forced to understand
Our whole world has reached its end
I'm fastened to reality
A boarding pass for eternity
In the desert lives a burning man
There's a probe about to land
All my thoughts are taking off
Above the clouds where I get lost
So far, mind-blowing far
So hard, heart-breaking hard
Sadness fumes, fuel perfume
Mind excused, soul exhumed
Spiral down, swirl around
Without sound, leave the ground
Fly forever
Reach the never
Life's not over
Be remembered
We just keep on travelin'
Is it worth giving so much in the after?
So much on the future?
We are made for riding
Is it worth saving so much to carry on?
Too much for nevermore
So much to carry on
Too much for nevermore
So much to carry on
Too much for nevermore, nevermore
Nevermore
Is it worth giving?
Is it worth saving?
So much to carry on
Too much for nevermore
There's no real destination
In no time, it's a new horizon
The chem trails across the sky
Are guiding us all through the night
At the counter of lost and found
Touch the ground, deep and profound
We have a friend, passed away
We'll meet you there, we'll go one day
So far, mind-blowing far
So hard, heart-breaking hard
So far, mind-blowing far
So hard, heart-breaking hard
So far, so hard
So far, so hard
The song "We Are Connected" by Voivod is about a group of people who get lost in the valley between night and day and their car breaks down. They then proceed to walk millions of miles until they see a creepy old house with an old man inside. The old man welcomes them and speaks of an impending alien invasion. The group looks into the night but sees nothing until they hear a low flying sound and see alien ships around them. The song ends with the realization that they are not alone.
The song features themes of isolation, uncertainty, and the unknown. The journey that the group undertakes is a metaphorical one as they search for a way out of the valley, both literally and figuratively. The creepy old man can symbolize someone who has knowledge of what lies ahead but is unable to do anything about it, adding to the sense of helplessness and uncertainty.
Overall, "We Are Connected" is a song that talks about finding comfort in the idea that we are not alone, even if the company we keep is not necessarily friendly.
Line by Line Meaning
We were lost in the valley
We were unsure of our direction in life
Midway between night and day
In between different stages of our lives
Which way's the goddamn highway??
We need guidance or direction in life
So, we walk ten million miles
We embark on a long and difficult journey
All across some countryside
We explore new territories
Until lightning struck the sky
An unexpected event occurred
Hey!
Expressing excitement or surprise
This house looks so creepy
Expressing unease or suspicion
Anybody home?
Asking if anyone is present
Look out! There's somebody!
Warning others of a presence
We're not alone
Recognizing the presence of others
Up three creaking wooden stairs
Ascending to an uncertain destination
An old man with no hair, stares!
Encountering a mysterious stranger
Sitting in a rocking chair
In a position of comfort and authority
Please be my guest
Offering hospitality and welcome
He says I'm glad you are here
Expressing gratitude for our presence
I have been waiting for years
Preparations have been made for our arrival
You see, they land in my field
Referring to extraterrestrial beings
Tonight's the night
The anticipated moment has finally arrived
You'll see, don't you worry
Ensuring others that they will be safe
Make yourself at home
Encouraging relaxation and comfort
Maybe they'll be friendly
Optimistically hoping for peaceful interaction
Or maybe not, but
Acknowledging the possibility of danger
What if we're all crazy?
Questioning our own sanity
What if we're alone?
Considering the possibility of isolation
Then the sky is empty
Life is devoid of purpose
And we're alone
No one is there to share the journey with us
We are alone
Reaffirming the sense of loneliness
Looking deep into the night
Gazing into the unknown future
We'll see if the old man's right
Validating the stranger's predictions
So far, there's nothing in sight
The outcome remains uncertain
Except frostbite
Physical discomfort has set in
Flying low without a sound
Aliens have arrived undetected
Spinning down, touching the ground
Landing and assuming a corporeal form
We're not going home
Choosing to stay and explore the unknown
They are green and ugly
Aliens do not conform to our expectations
Who wants to go home?
Preferring the excitement of the unknown to the safety of familiarity
God! We are so lucky!
Expressing gratitude for a unique experience
We're not alone
Finding a sense of belonging with extraterrestrial beings
Welcome aboard
Encouraging further exploration of uncharted territories
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Denis Belanger, Michel Langevin, Dominic Laroche, Daniel Mongrain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Sarmiento
Tie together this old waste
Flight cases and rolls of tape
Connecting, returning home
Chewing cups of styrofoam
Template for shocking news
Terminal of awful blues
Moving lips, but there’s no sound
Final call, and now you’re gone
So far, mind blowing far
So hard, heart breaking hard
So hard, forced to understand
A whole world has reached its end
I’m fastened to reality
A boarding pass for eternity
In the desert lives a burning man
There’s a probe about to land
All my thoughts are taking off
Above the clouds, where I get lost
So far, mind blowing far
So hard, heart breaking hard
Sadness fumes
Fuel perfume
Mind excused
Soul exhumed
Spiral down
Swirl around
Without sound
Leave the ground
Fly forever
Reach the never
Life’s not over
Be remembered
We just keep on traveling Is it worth giving… So much in the after? So much on the future? We are made for riding Is it worth saving… So much to carry on? Too much for never more! …Never more!
There’s no real destination In no time, it’s a new horizon
The chemtrails across the sky
Are guiding us all through the night
At the counter of lost and found
Touch the ground, deep and profound
We have a friend, he passed away
We’ll meet you there, we’ll go one day
So far, mind blowing far So hard, heart breaking hard
Ivanka Verde
Snake's voice is still at its best. This song reminds me a lot the recent sounds of Target Earth. I still miss the old War and Pain sounds, those were great but they're always evolving themselves and that's awesome. Even if they have changed that much, they're still making great music. My fav bands for 6 years, so proud of it.
Walter Moldren
Are they still your fave band? They've been my fave band for almost 30 years now.
N.I.B
We've always been connected with Voivod
Excellent song, as expected of the lords of progressive thrash. Long live Voivod.
babysgottalocomotive
This is great stuff. The band has definitely not lost what it was that made them fucking awesome.
Jack Luminous
Ride That Voi Vod Train, Baby...
We are connected. Piggy lives forever. Morgoth Land, Up!!!
Gretgor
Progressive and weird, just as expected from Voivod. Loving this, I hope the entire album is this eerie and complex, it'd be awesome.
David Sarmiento
Tie together this old waste
Flight cases and rolls of tape
Connecting, returning home
Chewing cups of styrofoam
Template for shocking news
Terminal of awful blues
Moving lips, but there’s no sound
Final call, and now you’re gone
So far, mind blowing far
So hard, heart breaking hard
So hard, forced to understand
A whole world has reached its end
I’m fastened to reality
A boarding pass for eternity
In the desert lives a burning man
There’s a probe about to land
All my thoughts are taking off
Above the clouds, where I get lost
So far, mind blowing far
So hard, heart breaking hard
Sadness fumes
Fuel perfume
Mind excused
Soul exhumed
Spiral down
Swirl around
Without sound
Leave the ground
Fly forever
Reach the never
Life’s not over
Be remembered
We just keep on traveling Is it worth giving… So much in the after? So much on the future? We are made for riding Is it worth saving… So much to carry on? Too much for never more! …Never more!
There’s no real destination In no time, it’s a new horizon
The chemtrails across the sky
Are guiding us all through the night
At the counter of lost and found
Touch the ground, deep and profound
We have a friend, he passed away
We’ll meet you there, we’ll go one day
So far, mind blowing far So hard, heart breaking hard
Genre Slur
Wow! I really hope their new recordings move in this direction, and flesh out this more stripped down, psychedelic framework. Amazing.
Psycroptopsy
Wow this was a real trip!!! Mongrain truly is channelling the soul of piggy through his guitar.
The Hermit
i think is very difficult to find good music from these recent years, Voivod still making great music.