Canadian progressive metal pioneers VOIVOD have almost completed work on a video for the title track of their Century Media debut album, Target Earth. The video, created by Italian filmmaker and multimedia artist, Nicola Piovesan, will recreate in 3D Motion Graphics the visions and artwork of VOIVOD drummer, Away (Michel Langevin).
Check out the trailer for “Target Earth” below:

For more information about Piovesan, please visit:
Website: www.chaosmonger.com
Vimeo channel: vimeo.com/chaosmonger/videos

Recorded at producer Pierre Rémillard’s Wild Studios in Quebec and mixed by Sanford Parker (PELICAN, NACHTMYSTIUM), Target Earth features artwork by drummer Away, who used color schemes from each one of the band’s previous albums to make this new masterpiece. The album brings back original bass player, Blacky (Jean Yves Thériault), marking his first recordings with the band since 1991′s Angel Rat. It’s also the first to feature guitarist Chewy (Daniel Mongrain), who cut his teeth playing guitar to the late Piggy’s (Denis D’Amour) riffs, and thus has matched his style to a tee. VOIVOD, as a full group, hadn’t sat down to write a record together since 2003′s self-titled album. The end result harkens back to the group’s late 80s output and after 30 years together as a band, one of their best yet.

To purchase Target Earth, please visit iTunes for a digital copy or CM Distro for various album formats.

Read on for a few reviews of VOIVOD’s critically acclaimed Target Earth:

“…the long-awaited proper follow-up to ['Nothingface'].” — DECIBEL MAGAZINE (8/10)

“…the songs have enough complexity, heaviness, and clever arrangements to make ‘Target Earth’ the most riveting VOIVOD album in more than 20 years.” — OUTBURN MAGAZINE (8/10)

“‘Target Earth’ is an instant classic…a contender for Best Metal Album of 2013.” — METAL SUCKS.net

“Thirty years in, these Canadian legends are still cranking out vital and ripping tracks…” — BROOKLYN VEGAN.com

“This is VOIVOD back to business with their best record since 1990′s ‘Nothingface.’” — AOL NOISECREEP.com

VOIVOD line-up:

Michel Langevin (Away) – drums
Denis Bélanger (Snake) – vocals
Jean-Yves Thériault (Blacky) – bass
Daniel Mongrain (Chewy) – guitar

Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel about Jeff Hanneman’s unfortunate passing. We are here to support you in your grieving process. With sincere sympathy,

Voivod

Here is the Setlist:
00 – Intro (Prolog)
01 – Experiment
02 – Tribal Convictions
03 – Chaosmöngers
04 – Technocratic Manipulators
05 – Macrosolutions to Megaproblems
06 – Brain Scan
07 – Psychic Vacuum
08 – Cosmic Drama
09 – Jack Luminous
10 – Encore: Target Earth
11 – Encore: Astronomy Domine

[Show as slideshow]

Exclaim.ca published this exclusive Interview with Voivod on February 2013.
Picture courtesy of Axel Jusseit.
Voivod Away Mission

By Greg Pratt

If there were any doubts among the faithful about legendary Quebec prog-metal dudes Voivod being able to recapture the magic of their classic line-up era in the absence of deceased guitarist Denis “Piggy” D’Amour, they’re shattered within moments of the title track, which opens this album with a classic, dissonant, riff-based adventure through the best of Nothingface, the heaviest of Angel Rat and the most melodic of Dimension Hatross. New guitarist Dan “Chewy” Mongrain (ex-Martyr) does the guitar hero proud by playing in his style, but never simply aping it. The closing fake-out/fade-out of “Defiance” is a fun and classically Voivod-ian way to end the album, hinting at more studio greatness to come, which the band have said will indeed happen. (Century Media, www.centurymedia.com)

How are things going for you guys right now?
Drummer Michel “Away” Langevin: We’ve enjoyed a bit of a break, but now we’re getting ready for everything to start over again when the album comes out. Right now it’s mainly interviews; I have nine today [laughs]. I’ve asked the other guys to start doing interviews, because I have, like, seven or eight a day, which is great though.

I’ve sat with the album for a few months and it’s growing on me even more, and I loved it to begin with. How are you feeling about it now that you’ve had some time to sit with it?
Actually, I haven’t heard it in a while, but we do have a listening party on the 24 of January here in Montreal where we’ll be able to enjoy it with a big P.A. in the club. Otherwise, I’m very happy, in particular with Sanford Parker’s mix; it’s really heavy and psychedelic all at once. He really understood where we were heading.

It definitely has more of a Voivod production sound than the last few.
Yeah, I guess the whole thing is probably a bit trippier than the last few we put out, which were more straightforward. This one is more progressive.

Was the album a great deal of work? The songs are quite complex.
We worked a lot on it because we wanted it to be a bit like Dimension Hatross or Phobos, where it sounds like a long journey, so the songs had to be intricate and we had to have interludes, intros and all that. We worked for a couple of years on the writing and then ended up recording early in 2012. It’s finally coming out, there’s been a lot of work involved and we’re pretty proud of it.

How was it recording with Blacky again?
Oh, it was great. The experience of recording with Blacky was very special, but also he’s become very helpful as a studio engineer. Whenever Pierre Rémillard of Obliveon was not able to track the band, Blacky was recording. It allowed us to work for 17 days non-stop.

Did you feel the old chemistry back with Blacky around?
Yeah, well, you know, we’ve been touring for almost five years already…

Oh, wow, has it already been five years?
Yeah, we reformed in 2008 and we’ve been touring the globe a lot and have become very tight as a unit, so it’s a pretty solid line-up right now. At first, we were asked to reform for Heavy MTL in the summer of 2008 and it was only going to be that one show. We were pretty nervous, of course, to go on stage without Piggy. But the reaction was amazing, the crowd really loved it and we were asked to play another festival, Monsters of Rock in Calgary, with Ozzy and Judas Priest. Then we were asked by our old friends Testament to go to Tokyo, which we released on DVD. It just kept rolling and rolling. For a couple of years, we toured the ’80s thrash metal material and didn’t think about writing a new album; it was only early 2010 that we started writing Target Earth.

Target Earth sounds like classic Voivod. When I say, “classic,” I mean Nothingface, Angel Rat era. It just sounds like we’re right back there.
Yeah, when we started talking about writing a new album, the first thing we heard was a demo by Chewy and Blacky on the guitar and bass. Snake and I were blown away; it really brought us back to Dimension Hatross and Nothingface, and we really wanted to be part of it, so it really started from there. Actually, Chewy and Blacky are responsible for the bulk of the music on the new album; they pretty much rearranged everything, even bits of intros that we recorded were rearranged into songs. Snake and I added our touches to it, and, of course, Snake wrote the lyrics and I took care of the artwork.

What was it like with Chewy? Obviously, this was your first time around without Piggy. Was that hard to get used to?
It was not hard because we toured in 2008 and 2009 and everybody into Voivod accepted Chewy and it just happened very naturally. I think the strangest part was when we first started rehearsing in 2008 for the touring with Blacky and Chewy in the band; it was a brand new thing, of course. Previously, it had been Snake, Piggy, Jason [Newsted] and I, so that was the strange part. It didn’t last long, because Chewy is really good at keeping the Voivod nature intact both live and in music writing. But I must say that I was there all through the 30 years of Voivod and it’s the fourth line-up, so I really learned to re-adapt quickly to everybody’s different style of playing and all that.

It’s been amazing how much Chewy has been accepted. I don’t think I’ve heard one negative thing. Normally when a legendary member of a band passes away or is no longer in that band, people are quite critical of the guy who steps in. But it just seems like with Chewy, everyone just accepted him, I think because he’s doing such a great job.
Yeah, you know, somehow I always felt he was less nervous than we were. He always seemed so confident about taking on the task of replacing Piggy and he had a calm way of approaching things that really eased things for us. I think it’s probably the fact that Chewy is a musical genius, but he’s very humble about it and I think that there’s no arrogance to his persona and everybody seems to be okay with him being in the band. I haven’t heard a bad comment myself. Nothing.

I imagine Chewy is very happy to be in Voivod.
Yeah, it’s definitely a dream come true for him. He’s been a fan forever and I believe that Voivod was the first album he bought, but I can’t remember which album. But I think he told me we were the first music he bought as a kid; he got into Voivod when, I think, he was 12 or 13 — pretty young.

There’s a whole generation of us who got into you guys when we were 12 or 13, so it’s pretty cool that one of us is in the band now.
Yeah [laughs], I’m sure it’s a great adventure for him, in terms of travelling and writing new music. It’s a thrill for everybody in the band right now because we’re sort of enjoying a bit of legendary status, so we have a lot of respect.

Looking ahead, is this full-time, full-on? Will there be more albums, more tours? Is it on?
Yeah, we have a big year because this month we are celebrating our 30th anniversary. It’s absolutely great. Target Earth is a way for us to celebrate the 30th year of Voivod and it’s going to be very busy. I know that in mid-March, we have South by Southwest and mid-April is South America, and May is North America, and the summer we’ll be in Europe, and we hope to go to Asia in the fall. In between tours, we’re going to be writing a new album, so it’s pretty busy for us.

Here is some assorted media feedback / praise for the release:

“Denis ”Piggy” D’Amour (1959–2005) is no longer among us, but the first album without this genius is actually the best album the band has released since ”Angel Rat”“ – 8 of 10 Points – Close Up (Sweden)

“This is a sizzling rebirth and the best possible tribute to Piggy’s genius (…)”Target Earth” is stunning!“ – 8 of 10 Points – Metal Hammer (UK)

“”Target Earth” is just Voivod being Voivod being brilliant once again (…) Piggy would be proud“ – 5 of 5 Points, Album Of The Month – Terrorizer (UK)

“There is still no other band that sounds like Voivod!” – 8,5 of 10 Points – Rock Hard (Germany)

“Target Earth” is available now in the following formats across Europe:

- 10-Track Standard CD
- 10-Track Digital Download Version
- 10-Track Gatefold-2LP with 180gr. vinyl (Unlimited black vinyl, various limited colored versions!)
- 12-Track Mediabook-CD (Limited edition with alternate front cover-design in silver on black, 2 stickers, expanded booklet and 2 exclusive live bonus tracks from Roadburn Festival 2012)

Additionally, “Target Earth” is also available as strictly limited mailorder box set (1,000 numbered copies worldwide!) with the following content:

- “Target Earth” Mediabook CD (incl. 2 live bonus tracks and expanded artwork/alternate front cover)
- “Live At Roadburn 2011” CD (Exclusive 10 song Live-CD with 4 pages booklet in jewel case; previously only released by Roadburn Records as limited LP version!)
- VOIVOD belt
- 1 poster (DINA3, Design of the Mediabook-CD cover artwork)
- 2 stickers (Included in the Mediabook-CD)
- 3 exclusive postcards with artwork by VOIVOD’s Away

European customers, get your copy here before it’s too late:
http://www.cmdistro.de/Item/Voivod_-_Target_Earth_-Ltd-_Edition_Box_Set-/1445

All the different physical formats as well as a shirt design of “Target Earth” (white print on black shirt or black print on grey shirt!) can be pre-ordered NOW from the CM Distro webshop within Europe here:
http://www.cmdistro.de/Artist/Voivod/198

An official “Target Earth” EPK can be viewed here:

For a first listen of “Target Earth”, be sure to check out a stream of the album’s title track “Target Earth” HERE as well as the album’s first single (Released as Digital Download and as limited 7” EP) “Mechanical Mind” HERE

“Target Earth” was recorded at producer Pierre Rémillard’s Wild Studios in Quebec and mixed by Sanford Parker (Pelican, Nachtmystium). The original art was once again drawn by drummer Away (Michel Langevin) and features color schemes from each one of the band’s previous albums.

The album brings back original bass player, Blacky (Jean Yves Thériault), marking his first recordings with the band since 1991’s “Angel Rat.” It’s also the first to feature guitarist, Chewy (Dan Mongrain), who cut his teeth playing guitar to the late Denis D’Amour’s riffs and thus has matched his style to a tee. VOIVOD, as a full group, hadn’t sat down to write a record together since 2003’s self-titled album. The end result harkens back to the group’s late 80s output and after 30 years together as a band, one of their best yet.

Further news about VOIVOD and “Target Earth” soon…

VOIVOD premieres new single “Mechanical Mind” on Pitchfork.com;
European 7” EP pre-order; European tour starting next week!

In anticipation of their upcoming 13th studio album, Target Earth (due out January 21st, 2013 in Europe and January 22nd, 2013 in North America), Canadian progressive metal pioneers VOIVOD will be releasing the album’s first single, “Mechanical Mind,” as a digital download and as a 7” vinyl (with the VOIVOD skull etching by the band’s own drummer Away as the “b-side”) on October 8th in Europe and October 9th in North America. To hear “Mechanical Mind” and to get your first preview of Target Earth, please head over to Pitchfork.com for the exclusive track stream:

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/14327-mechanical-mind/

The 7” EP version of “Mechanical Mind” (available in hand-numbered 1000x copies, # 001 – 200 on red vinyl, # 201 – 400 on blue vinyl and # 401 – 1000 on black vinyl) can be pre-ordered in Europe here:

http://www.cmdistro.de/Artist/Voivod/198
VOIVOD have recently announced a European tour´, starting early next month, October 2012. The shows will be supported by crust legends Doom (on 4 shows in UK/Ireland) and then Unkind from Finland on the dates between October 10th and the 20th. The shows in Spain see VOIVOD supporting their labelmates Arch Enemy. Here is an overview of all dates and ticket links:

VOIVOD – European Tour 2012:

Wed 03.10.12 – The Exchange – Bristol, UK Tickets
Thu 04.10.12 – NQ Live – Manchester, UK Tickets + Doom
Fri 05.10.12 – The Well – Leeds, UK Tickets + Doom
Sat 06.10.12 – The Village – Dublin, Ireland Tickets + Doom
Sun 07.10.12 – Garage – London, UK Tickets + Doom
Mon 08.10.12 – Magasin 4 – Brussels, Belgium + Unkind
Tue 09.10.12 – Doornroosje – Nijmegen, The Netherlands Tickets + Unkind
Wed 10.10.12 – Turock – Essen, Germany Tickets or Tickets + Unkind
Thu 11.10.12 – Loppen – Copenhagen, Denmark + Unkind
Fri 12.10.12 – Betong – Oslo, Norway + Unkind
Sat 13.10.12 – Brew House – Gothenburg, Sweden Tickets + Unkind
Sun 14.10.12 – Hafenklang – Hamburg, Germany Tickets + Unkind
Tue 16.10.12 – Cassiopeia – Berlin, Germany Tickets + Unkind
Wed 17.10.12 – Progresja – Warsaw, Poland Tickets + Unkind
Thu 18.10.12 – HooDoo Club – Prague, Czech Republic + Unkind
Fri 19.10.12 – Dürer Kert – Budapest, Hungary Tickets + Unkind
Sat 20.10.12 – Bloom Club – Mezzago (Milan), Italy Tickets or Tickets or Tickets+ Unkind
Sun 21.10.12 – Bad Bonn – Düdingen, Switzerland Tickets
Mon 22.10.12 – Le Korigan, Luynes, France Tickets
Tue 23.10.12 – Totem – Pamplona, Spain Tickets + Arch Enemy
Wed 24.10.12 – Cine Teatro – Corroios, Portugal Tickets
Thu 25.10.12 – Capitol – Santiago de Compostela, Spain Tickets + Arch Enemy
Fri 26.10.12 – La Riviera – Madrid, Spain Tickets + Arch Enemy
Sat 27.10.12 – Razzmatazz 2 – Barcelona, Spain Tickets + Arch Enemy
Tue 30.10.12 – MILK Club – Moscow, Russia Tickets
Wed 31.10.12 – Nosturi – Helsinki, Finland Tickets

To get the latest VOIVOD updates, be sure to download the band’s new free app for mobile smart phones here:

iPhone:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voivod/id543666457?mt=8

Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobilecartel.voivod&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5tb2JpbGVjYXJ0ZWwudm9pdm9kIl0.

Blackberry:
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/130055/?lang=en

Stay tuned for more news about Target Earth and VOIVOD coming soon!

VOIVOD online:

http://www.voivod.net

http://www.voivod.com

http://www.facebook.com/Voivod

http://www.irongang.com

Century Media Records online:
www.centurymedia.com
www.myspace.com/centurymediaeurope
www.youtube.com/centurymedia
www.twitter.com/centurymediaeu
www.facebook.com/centurymedia
Century Media Webshop:
www.cmdistro.com

Voivod has added some dates in Germany and France to their European tour 2012.
Check out the entire list here:

VOIVOD – European Tour 2012:
Wed 03.10.12 – The Exchange – Bristol, UK
Thu 04.10.12 – NQ Live – Manchester, UK
Fri 05.10.12 – The Well – Leeds, UK
Sat 06.10.12 – The Village – Dublin, Ireland
Sun 07.10.12 – Garage – London, UK
Mon 08.10.12 – Magasin 4 – Brussels, Belgium
Tue 09.10.12 – Doornroosje – Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Wed 10.10.12 – Turock – Essen, Germany
Thu 11.10.12 – Loppen – Copenhagen, Denmark
Fri 12.10.12 – Betong – Oslo, Norway
Sat 13.10.12 – Brew House – Gothenburg, Sweden
Sun 14.10.12 – Hafenklang – Hamburg, Germany
Tue 16.10.12 – Cassiopeia – Berlin, Germany
Wed 17.10.12 – Progresja – Warsaw, Poland
Thu 18.10.12 – HooDoo Club – Prague, Czech Republic
Fri 19.10.12 – Dürer Kert – Budapest, Hungary
Sat 20.10.12 – Bloom Club – Mezzago (Milan), Italy
Sun 21.10.12 – Bad Bonn – Düdingen, Switzerland
Mon 22.10.12 – Le Korigan – Luynes, France
Tue 23.10.12 – Totem – Pamplona, Spain + Arch Enemy
Wed 24.10.12 – Cine Teatro – Corroios, Portugal
Thu 25.10.12 – Capitol – Santiago de Compostela, Spain + Arch Enemy
Fri 26.10.12 – La Riviera – Madrid, Spain + Arch Enemy
Sat 27.10.12 – Razzmatazz 2 – Barcelona, Spain + Arch Enemy
Tue 30.10.12 – MILK Club – Moscow, Russia
Wed 31.10.12 – Nosturi – Helsinki, Finland

Voivod will be announcing their European tour 2012 officially next week. A single will be released for this tour from the forthcoming “Target Earth” record slated for Jan 29, 2013 worldwide release.

Wed 03.10.12 The Exchange, Bristol, UK.
Thu 04.10.12 NQ Live, Manchester, UK.
Fri 05.10.12 The Well, Leeds, UK.
Sat 06.10.12 The Village, Dublin, Ireland.
Sun 07.10.12 Garage, London, UK.
Mon 08.10.12 Magasin 4, Brussels, Belgium.
Tue 09.10.12 Doornroosje, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Thu 11.10.12 Loppen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Fri 12.10.12 Betong, Oslo, Norway.
Sat 13.10.12 Brew House, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Wed 17.10.12 Progresja, Warsaw, Poland.
Thu 18.10.12 HooDoo Club, Prague, Czech Republic.
Fri 19.10.12 Dürer Kert, Budapest, Hungary.
Sat 20.10.12 Bloom Club, Mezzago (Milan), Italy.
Sun 21.10.12 Bad Bonn, Düdingen, Switzerland.
Tue 23.10.12 Totem, Pamplona, Spain. w/Arch Enemy
Wed 24.10.12 Cine Teatro, Corroios, Portugal.
Thu 25.10.12 Capitol, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. w/Arch Enemy
Fri 26.10.12 La Riviera, Madrid, Spain. w/Arch Enemy
Sat 27.10.12 Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona, Spain. w/Arch Enemy
Tue 30.10.12 MILK Club, Moscow, Russia.
Wed 31.10.12 Nosturi, Helsinki, Finland.

We regret to inform our fans that the Shockwave Festival as it was advertised is no longer

New dates will be posted soon and news about the new Voivod record “Target Earth”