Most metalheads know that before Jason Newsted joined Metallica, he put out an album on the influential label Metal Blade with Phoenix thrashers Flotsam and Jetsam. Around the same time, the bassist struck up a friendship with Canadian progressive-metal icons Voivod, who were also just getting their feet off the ground on Metal Blade. When Newsted left Metallica two years ago, he got in touch with his old buddies in Voivod to see whether they wanted to write some new music with him. They did — and things went so well that he ended up joining the band.
"Flotsam and Jetsam looked up to Voivod quite a bit because Voivod always seemed quite a bit ahead of everybody else," says Newsted of his first exposure to the group, who perform with Sepultura next Thursday at the new Lido in Revere. "They had the concept and really good ideas and someone that did great art. They really looked like they belonged together. From that time on, I was always in the store the first week when their records came out. They were original, and that’s what made them special. That’s probably why not very many people know about them yet, because they were just a little too weird for a lot of people, maybe a little too progressive as far as the metal stuff goes. But now that time has gone by and bands like Tool have made good headway — you know, if you asked those guys in Tool, they would tell you about Voivod."
Boasting sophisticated arrangements and a reckless attack that bordered on punk, Voivod were one of metal’s best-kept secrets for the better part of the ’80s. On their ’89 disc Nothingface, their first for MCA and fifth overall, they turned some heads with their hit cover of the Pink Floyd psychedelic classic "Astronomy Domine," and they actually headlined a club tour over future stars Soundgarden and Faith No More around the same time. After two more major-label albums, frontman Snake and bassist Blacky departed, leaving guitarist Piggy and drummer Away to soldier on with replacement frontman Eric Forrest on the group’s late-’90s indie releases.
On their new Voivod — which Newsted is releasing on his Chophouse label — they welcome Snake back into the fold after a 10-year absence. The thunderous roar of the first single, "We Carry On," is the sound of a band on a mission, as is its chorus: "This is our time/This is our song/This is our life/We carry on." As always, Voivod delve into science fiction ("Invisible Planet") and social commentary ("Blame Us"), but for the most part, the lyrics are personal.
"The main thing I wanted to say on this record is I’m really happy to come back," Snake explains. "When you have the opportunity to do this in front of people and enjoy yourself, that’s one thing no money can buy. We still have something to prove. Jason has accomplished a lot of things in his life and so have we, but it’s not over yet. We have the same goals we were working for when we were young."
This summer, Voivod will head out on the highest-profile tour in their 20-year history when they join the second-stage line-up at OzzFest. And now that Newsted has also landed a plum gig in Ozzy Osbourne’s band — this after Metallica stole Ozzy bassist Robert Trujillo away to replace Newsted — he’ll be pulling double duty à la Zakk Wylde for the duration of the tour. "It’s already quite overwhelming for me," he admits. "But you can’t let those kind of things pass by. When the man calls and says, ‘Will you come and play some old Black Sabbath songs with me?’, what do you say other than ‘What time do you want me there?’ "
Voivod open for Sepultura next Thursday, May 15, at Lido at Wonderland, 290 Northshore Road in Revere. Call (781) 289-3080 for directions, (617) 423-NEXT for tickets.
