By: Anders

Posted: Aug 2, 2006

The legendary Canadians, with an American scent added in form of bass-mangler Jason Newsted, are now ready with their new album "Katorz", the epitaph of deceased guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, who passed away due to cancer while writing the album. Though before he passed away, he instructed the band on how to use the guitar parts he had recorded on his laptop and told them to finish the album, and so they did.

How is the music so? Ass kicking to say the least, catchy twisted melodic riffing, structured very well and in interesting ways. Often straight ahead, while being technical, with neck breaking breaks and shifts. The guitar lines are, as most of the guitar-play from Piggy throughout the career of Voivod, brilliant and above most, quality-wise. When we are at the guitars, the bass-guitar needs to be mentioned as well, Newsted really excels his play on this record, it's been a long time since I've enjoyed and admired his heavy as fuck bass-lines as much, as I do with his work on "Katorz", really good bass play. There isn't a good Voivod album if "Away" Langevin doesn't deliver his chops behind the drumkit, and he's totally up to par on this album, his play is very inspired, tight and technical as well, he controls the rhythms and paces well, and handles his impressive breaks, as it was a piece of cake. A good, varied and technical performance. The vocals from Snake are also on the top, his snarling singing fits the sombre and dark atmosphere on this album really well and is interesting to follow throughout the 10 tracks, an instrument in its own means.

Production-wise "Katorz" is up to par as well, it is Glen Robinson who has produced the album, he also handled the knobs on Voivod's masterpiece "Nothingface". He has done a really good job, the sound is heavy and well-balanced, it exits the speakers and kicks in your skull, powerful and enchanting. There are still left a lot of space for the instruments, and not a single detail is left out, and the overall sound picture is very complete and compliments the musical outputs perfectly.

To be honest, I was very surprised when I first had listened though this album a good amount of times, I hadn't expected a so powerful and complete album. Voivod has proved to be killer songwriters throughout time, though it's been a while since they've done a real powerful album, living up to their legacy, though now they have again. Trashy hard rock with an outer space atmosphere, catchy, enchanting, technical, but still with a hell of a flow and a good red thread throughout the tracks, and a lot of variation. I have tried to grow tired of this album, but I can't, it just demands more listens, just like the band's older material, yet a timeless classic it seems.

Rating: 9/10

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