Voivod
With their 13th full-length album, Voivod welcome back original vocalist Denis Belanger, and bring on board none other than Jason Newsted ofMetallicafame. They’re clearly enjoying a fresh lease on life. Indeed, here they recall the rough and punky days of the new wave of British heavy metal. With "Rebel Robot," though, they rediscover their old rhythm-shifting form. "The Multiverse"’s echoing, head-spinning intro evolves into a complex monster, as Belanger howls about the incomprehensible enormity of everything. He rises to the occasion yet again during the discordant but melodic "Divine Sun" and the churning, shape-shifting "Invisible Planet." Occasionally, they drift into more conventional heavy rock, and one wishes they'd included some sonic experimentation along the lines of the grim and freaky extra track that follows the apparent closer "We Carry On." Nevertheless, their new-found exuberance is a joy to witness and, hopefully, the presence of Newsted will help them find them an overdue large following.--Dominic Wills