Tag Archives: Voivod

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Bloodstock Open Air Part 2 – Live at Catton Hall

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SATURDAY:

After I visit the bust of Lemmy in the RAM Gallery, Brazilian death metallers Crypta are in full flow on the main stage, tearing through the likes of “Lift the Blindfold” and “From the Ashes”, casually stripping away any vestiges of third-day fatigue. And if that wasn’t the perfect wake-up call, then there”s always Bay Area thrashers Forbidden who blast through the likes of “Forbidden Evil,” “Twisted Into Form,” and “Step By Step” aided by summer recruit Dan “Chewy” Mongrain of Voivod. A great show, although a time overrun means we are deprived of the classic “Chalice of Blood.”Continue reading →


PREVIEW: Record Store Day 2024 Essential Rock, Metal and Punk Releases 

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Another Record Store Day is upon us and we are still to bring you our pretty comprehensive list of what releases we think you should be picking up, and labels you ought to support. We get that commercialism and capitalism a kind of destroying the whole world, but at the same time if you love music, and if you especially love underground music, you want to support artists as hardcore as possible. The best way to do that is to put money in their pockets so they can keep doing what you love, and what they love. Continue reading →


CONCERT REVIEW: Voivod – Prong – Hirax Live at The UC Theatre Berkeley

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I headed out to Berkeley for a night of good old-fashioned Thrash and Progressive metal, in what was to be my most anticipated concert of early 2024. None of these bands have ever disappointed me, and I had no reason to believe tonight would be any different. I was pleasantly surprised that the show was nearly sold out. And after a quick stop by the merch table led me to find out sales were brisk, but also that Prong’s excellent recent album State of Emergency (Napalm Records) was sold out for the entire tour and may not be repressed by the label. This is a total bummer but I’m stoked for all the sales, and glad I got one on pre-order when the record came out. Tommy Victor also remarked from the stage the new album was hard to find now.  Feel free to check out our recent interviews with Tommy and the good old times we shared.Continue reading →


New Music Friday Rock and Metal New Album Releases 7-21-23

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Check out our preview of the new metal and rock releases coming out this week for New Music Friday 7-21-23!

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CONCERT REVIEW: Voivod – Imperial Triumphant – Vacuous Depths Live at Floridian Social Club  

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Canadian space thrashers Voivod are celebrating forty years of bringing metal to mortals in the manner you might expect from them… on the road. Given the rising costs of touring this band has become a labor of love. I have seen Voivod multiple times going back to the 80s and while I only listen to them a fraction of what I did growing up, they always hold a place in my heart that inspires me to catch them whenever they land in town. They have a knack for picking hungry young band which forces Voivod to dig into their reserves and bring the A game. When I first saw them on the Nothingface tour Soundgarden opened up for them, as they toured to support “Louder Than Love”. Soundgarden’s live energy was at its peak then, forcing Voivod to turn up their post-apocalyptic heaviness. 

 

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ALBUM REVIEW: VoidCeremony – Threads of Unknowing 

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If you like your death metal brutal, progressive, and quite possibly from another dimension then look no further than genre-bending quartet VoidCeremony. Formed in 2013, the Californian act’s second full-length studio album Threads of Unknowing (20 Buck Spin) delivers more of what was promised on their 2020 debut but with even more intensity and technical virtuosity.

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Voivod, alexisonfire, and Alvvays win for Metal and Rock at the 2023 Juno Awards 

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The 52nd annual Juno Awards and Juno Week 2023 are being hosted in Edmonton, Alberta from March 9 to March 13, culminating in the Juno Awards, which was recently rescheduled to Monday, March 13, at Rogers Place, broadcast live on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos. The Juno Awards are the Canadian version of the Grammy Awards and past winners include Devin Townsend, Striker, and many others. Voided won the “Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year” for Syncro Anarchy (Century Media), beating out Cancer Bats and Get The Shot, while reunited metalcore band alexisonfire won for Otherness. Voivod previously won for its 2018 album “The Wake.” Alvvays  won in the best Alternative Rock category. Also of not, Sam Smith and Kim Petras won best music video for their “Unholy” video clip copying metal’s Satanic and evil tropes, causing a “satanic panic.” To be considered for a nomination at the 2023 Juno Awards, national music release dates had to fall between the eligibility period of September 1, 2021 and November 4, 2022. See the full list of winners. 

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The Weekly Ritual Rock and Metal News Show 1-13-23

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Check out our weekly news show! ? We cover the major stories of the week in heavy music, rock, and metal news, tour dates, and festivals, New Music Friday, and more! 

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Dan “Chewy” Mongrain of Voivod on The “Ultraman” EP,  Touring with Opeth, and Prog

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We chatted late in 2022 with Dan “Chewy” Mongrain of  Voivod! The band had a tremendous year in 2022, with a full-length release “Synchro Anarchy” and a new EP “Ultraman” as well. The band also toured with Opeth  as well as their own headline dates. We discussed the “Ultraman” project, his love for the series, his first-ever lead vocal performance, his appreciation of Japanese fans, some music he has been digging in 2022 such as Child Bite,  and Pat Metheny, and future plans for the band!     

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