Today Voivod’s Nothingface
http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Gu_Bb5R1MG0&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0
Nothingface’s “hit” was the cover of Pink Floyd’s “Astronomy Domine.” The original has some wonderful videos. Above is its 1968 promotional video. By then, Syd Barrett was out of the band, so David Gilmour lip-synched his vocals. The video has some great ’60s hair (male and female). I also recommend these live videos (here, here, here) of the song from back then. (Barrett is in the first.) They show how important lighting was to the band’s presentation.
http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/PosE_pG4Swk&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0
Although I was a fan of the original Headbangers Ball, I somehow missed the video for Voivod’s “Astronomy Domine.” (Otherwise, I would have gotten hip to Nothingface sooner. I discovered countless bands through Headbangers Ball.) Seeing it now is a delight. I love the orbiting camera and the blue aura typical of ’80s metal videos. The tremolo effect in the intro is a lot like that in Ride’s “Leave Them All Behind.” Voivod made the song their own; this is one of those rare instances where both a song and its cover are classics. I wonder if Barrett ever knew how far his song reached.
My first exposure to this song was, indeed, Voivod's. At that time I was unfamiliar with primitive "Floid". Voivod's recording was my gateway into all that great old stuff.
Even though I consider "Floid's" version the definitive, Voivod's gives it a run for it's money.
Either way, this is one spectacular song.
between the "tribal convictions" video and "astronomy domine" voivod left a distinct impression on my 13/14 year-old-brain in the late 80s. i find the older i get the more i like voivod and not just any particular era. all of it. a seriously underrated band.
i'm looking forward to more re-masters of their catalogue from away.
I'd been a Voivod fan since War and Pain, and I didn't consider Nothingface a sellout in any way. I thought Glen Robinson's production was terrific, and they were finally able to tour properly (seeing them headlining over Prong and Soundgarden on their first visit to Vancouver was a watershed moment). I was rooting them on!
Hell Yeah! I still rock this album on occasion–I have it on old cassette and vinyl–and yeah, it's still a classic. 20 years; that's crazy. VoiVod always had great cover art too–their Outer Limits cassette came with small 3-D glasses and artwork!! So ahead of their time. R.I.P. Piggy.
Nothingface's my favourite Voivod moment, in my all-time top 10 actually. If that's a sellout then I guess more bands should sell out.
I had forgotten about Voivod by the time this came out.
I went to see Soundgarden (Louder Than Love Tour) with a buddy and we were busy getting our canned beers confiscated by meathead door guys when we saw Piggy walk by us dressed in a Dead Kennedys tee. Had no idea Voivod was even playing, much less the headliner.
I don't mind this record at all, but my first exposure was to War & Pain and it's still were I hang my fuckin' hat.
Nothingface was my first Voivod record. I obtained it in the middle of my thrash/death obsession of the early 90s and it never really took off for me. It just wasn't heavy enough for me at the time. Years later I ended up with that album with the ant on the cover and had decided that Voivod weren't for me. Yet, I kept hearing about those raw and raging early records. I never came across any here in Utah or I probably would have bought it. Anyway, about two months back I found War & Pain at the local FYE. I thought "what the hell?" I simultaneously rejoice at the new sounds I'm discovering while lamenting all those lost years. Rroooaaarrgghh!!! (or whatever), here I come.
You forgot the umlauts.
Rrr
Yes, they do. Just buy a computer in Germany
Or Finland.
In Windows, at least, you can activate different language keyboards by adjusting the Regional and Language Options in the Control Panel.
Wonderful writing! I love Voivod, this record, and Ride.
Very cool song, always, but I don't think any other band could come even close to the original. Nothingface was where Voivod lost me…
All downhill from here…metal bands start sucking whenever they invoke Pink Floyd. Just look at Enslaved and Nachtmystium.
Queensryche only really started sucking after "Empire" and not The Wall based concept album. But anonymous is definitely on to something.
"Astronomy Domine" is where I got my start with Voivod. Unlike anything else on MTV at the time, it spoke to me clearly. 20 years later, my intensity for their music is even stronger.
Nothingface was certainly Voivod's pinnacle in terms of creativity meeting production and exposure. It was the moment when Voivod broke permanently, from the generic thrash scene. They were in a league all their own by 1989.
Since their third release, "Killing Technology" in 1987, Voivod kept challenging their listeners to evolve and step boldly in new directions. The mere fact that only 4 years separate "RRRoooaaarr" from "Nothingface" is nothing short of amazing.
Many bands start out with a niche sound and broaden as they grow to capture a wider audience. In its drive to expand musical horizons, Voivod took the opposite approach, leaving in its wake a trail thrash listeners that in many cases, just couldn't keep up.