Archive for October, 2011
Voivod Brings Dimension Hatröss to Roadburn Festival 2012
Posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011
As curator for the 17th edition of the Roadburn Festival, Voivod will transport you into Dimension Hatröss as part of their special headline show during the Au-delà du Réel event on Friday, April 13, 2012. As if the promise of the band’s classic fourth album in its entirety performed live for the first time ever wasn’t enough, the set will conclude with a not-to-be-missed surprise.
Progressive thrash? Thrashing prog? Call it what you like, Dimension Hatröss is a rarity: a concept album that stands the test of time. In fact, the original storyline has been eclipsed by reality, rendering it not so much a fantastic sci-fi trip as an uncomfortably prescient account of the world today. Divided into eight chapters, the album covers everything from the quest to create a utopian society in the face of technocratic and theocratic governments to terrorism and mind control. Plus, it rocks! It rocks in that uniquely hypnotic flight of the space bumblebee way that hums Voivod! at every dissonant turn.
In the book Worlds Away, drummer and artist Michel “Away” Langevin fondly recalls: “…around the era of Dimension Hatross, the music was so complicated we almost didn’t have any interaction with the crowd anymore because we were concentrating so hard on our instruments.”
Today, blower bass maestro Jean-Yves “Blacky” Theriault interacts with the crowd to the point of jumping into the fray mid-song without missing a beat, while consummate frontman Denis “Snake” Belanger adds theatrics. And anyone who witnessed one or more of their blistering shows during the 2011 European tour can testify that guitarist Dan “Chewy” Mongrain positively thrives on the complexity originally crafted by the late great Denis “Piggy” D’Amour.
But what exactly is a Hatröss? In a 1988 interview with Sounds, Away explained: “‘Hatross’ is a word I created from the English word ‘hate’ and the French word ‘atroce,’ from which ‘atrocity’ is derived.” He added, “The music had to be a bit weird for this album, although we kept the heaviness of it.”
Experience Voivod’s Dimension Hatröss in all of its weird and heavy glory for yourself on Friday, April 13, 2012.
Tags: Au-delà du Réel, Dimension Hatröss, Michel Langevin, Roadburn, Roadburn 2012, Roadburn Festival, Roadburn Festival 2012, voivod
Posted in 2011, Festival News | 1 Comment »
Album of the day: Voivod – Dimension Hatröss
Posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011
Lovingly pinched from The Ripple Effect: When we last left our hero, the Voivod was surviving nuclear holocaust, technical dissolution, social anarchy, and an all around bad day. Where Killing Technology was a discordant chant of brutality and chaos, Dimension Hatröss takes the band’s sound one step closer to realization. ...read more
Yob Added To Lineup For Voivod’s Au-delà du Réel at Roadburn 2012; Performing Full Album Show at Afterburner Event As Well
Posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011
Led by Mike Scheidt’s crushing doom riffage and relentless stomp, psychedelic doom metal giants YOB will return to Roadburn Festival 2012 for two one-off performances, each time performing an album in it’s entirety. YOB was originally scheduled to play the 2011 festival, but their European tour got postponed til September ...read more
Black Cobra Added To Lineup For Roadburn Festival Afterburner
Posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011
We’re excited to announce that Black Cobra will be playing a one-off show at Roadburn Festival Afterburner in support of their new album, Invernal. A two man band featuring members of two of the unsung stars of the punk / doom / sludge scene, Cavity and 16. To be certain, ...read more
Red Fang Confirmed For Roadburn 2012
Posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011
Beer-driven, groove-heavy hard rock are what Portland’s finest, Red Fang, deliver on their latest opus, Murder the Mountains. Catchy, fun, cool, and downright awesome, Red Fang bring a welcome return to great rock that still has a sense of humor. Roadburn is extremely proud to welcome Red Fang to Midi ...read more
Black Breath and Celeste Confirmed For Voivod’s Au-delà du Réel at Roadburn 2012
Posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011
We’re very pleased to announce that Black Breath and Celeste are the latest confirmed acts for Voivod‘s Au-delà du Réel at Roadburn 2012. They will join Anekdoten, Aun, Dopethrone and YOB on Friday, April 13th at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland. Black Breath will be bringing blackened death ‘n ...read more
Monday Song: Roky Erickson/Billy Gibbons – Two Headed Dog
Posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011
Every Monday morning we’ll post a kick-ass song to get your week going.
…Of Stardust – Where Purgatory Ends: New York City Premiere on November 3rd
Posted on Sunday, October 30th, 2011
…of Stardust - Where Purgatory Ends will unfold on Thursday, November 3rd at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, NYC. It’s an evening that contains two distinct and parallel events under the same concept. Starting at 6 PM and opening the evening Singe Valah Productions welcomes Romanian Visual Artist Costin Chioreanu‘s amazing exhibition ...read more
Christian Mistress Complete Recording of Possession
Posted on Sunday, October 30th, 2011
Olympia, Washington’s traditional heavy metal band, Christian Mistress, have completed recording their Relapse Records debut album. The full-length, titled Possession, was recorded with former The Fucking Champs guitarist Tim Green at Louder Studios (Melvins, Saviours, Red Sparowes, Unwound) and mastered by John Golden at Golden Mastering. Possession is currently set ...read more
Album of the day: The House of Capricorn – In the Devil’s Days
Posted on Sunday, October 30th, 2011
Lovingly pinched from The Obelisk: Like last their debut in last year’s Sign of the Cloven Hoof, the second album from New Zealander doom foursome The House of Capricorn – titled In the Devil’s Days – is cumbersome. Surpassing that record’s 59 minutes with a full 72-plus, they stretch the ...read more
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