In 2022, Quebec thrash legends Voivod celebrated their fortieth anniversary with the release of the excellent Synchro Anarchy (which Chris reviewed here) and a tour. To cap off that milestone, they went back into the studio with Synchro Anarchy‘s producer Francis Perron and recorded a new album, Morgöth Tales. The album serves as a victory lap both for the celebration of their fortieth anniversary and the success of that last album. Except, it’s not really a new album. It’s kind of a greatest hits album. Except it’s a greatest hits album performed by the current line up of the band and only covering the band’s first twenty years. In the age of streaming and the majority of the band’s discography available, it’s a strange idea to release a studio of new recordings of old songs.
In theory, it’s an interesting idea to have the current lineup of Voivod re-record tracks from throughout the band’s discography. There’s a curatorial eye on the song selection since the album focuses on lesser-known songs throughout their early career. Yet why do them as studio recordings? Other than the opening track “Condemned to the Gallows,” which was only available on the cassette release of War and Pain and the Metal Massacre V compilation, the majority of these songs are easily available via streaming or physical media. Is this meant as a middle finger to labels or former members? It’s not unheard of in either case. See Taylor Swift for the former and Roger Waters for the latter. Except, former bassists Jason Newstead and Eric “E-Force” Forrest perform on tracks from their specific eras of the band. The only significant contributor to the band that’s not involved is former bassist and co-founder Jean-Yves “Blacky” Thériault. So you could make a case since none of the songs from his second time in Voivod are on here, it’s meant to exclude him. Except all the songs from his first time in the band, which is six songs here, are credited to him in some way. The concept of the album is simply a strange choice for a band with as much momentum as Voivod have right now.
So the question is why isn’t this a live album? The reason to ask is because Voivod sound great on this album. They remain one of the best of the early thrash pioneers and this album showcases just how tight this current lineup is. Longtime lead vocalist Denis “Snake” Bélanger and longtime drummer Michel “Away” Langevin sound in top form while the newer members guitarist Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain bassist Dominic “Rocky” Laroche match them. Even at forty years old, the band still plays with the efficiency and brutality of a Zentradi war machine. Meanwhile the sequencing, from opening with “Condemned to the Gallows” and closing with the excellent new title track, is inspired. The band wisely draws material from every album in their first 20 years of existence. Doing so creates a through line highlighting the band’s consistency in performing their brand of sci-fi inspired progressive thrash. The only downside is it excludes their inspired choice of covers on albums from Pink Floyd’s Astronomy Domine to Neal Hefti’s Batman theme. In that way, this album justifies its existence. When greatest hits compilations were things and were well done, they existed as a curated assembly of a band’s legacy. Voivod are certainly a band with a legacy worth curating. Still, think of what a great live album both a set list this fully realized and a line up this strong could add to the band’s legacy.
Regardless of the strangeness of this album’s conception, Voivod’s legacy as an influential band is indisputable. They still rank as one of the best thrash bands of all time. Their inclusion of progressive and psych elements into thrash metal influenced later Québécois technical death bands like Gorguts and Cryptopsy. Even as a legacy band, this line up is as good if not better than the classic line up. For people new to Voivod and likely to see this line up perform live, this is a solid primer. This album won’t mar that legacy and aspects of it will only reinforce it. It’s simply a strange idea with solid execution.
— D. Morris
Morgöth Tales is available now on Century Media Records. For more information on Voivod, visit their Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and official website.
Nine Circles 