Looking Back in Anger at Voivod's "War and Pain"

 This album is almost 40 years old. How has it stood the test of time? Lets dig into it and find out. Funny enough the eponymous opening track, is the song the band always seems to close out it's sets with these days. The anthemic gang vocal feel of the chorus sets a more memorable tone than some of the chaotic thrashing that follows. "Warriors of Ice' can not deny the band's leaning into a crustier punk sound at the time. The dissonance does not ring out the same way as the albums that followed, but you can hear the staples of their sound begin to refine here. While the overall sound is very cross over punk, you can hear how Rob Halford influenced Snake in terms of phrasing. I always forget how rough around the edges this album was. A stark contrast from the prog rock they would merge into. 

"Iron Gang" finds the band continuing to bang things out in a similar direction. They are running of thrash tinged momentum. As a teenager I was able to hear how punk this album was , as the lines were already blurred with bands like DRI , Cro-mags, and Suicidal Tendencies when it came to what was punk and what was metal, the title track merely hints at the atmosphere the band would later bring. I guess listening back to this album I heard the diamond in the rough being harvested from this otherwise raw explosion of sound. "Blower" perhaps holding more common ground with bands at the time like Slayer, with Snake lending yelping screams to the occasion. I can hear why punks tend to flock to thrash as the two have more in common than not. 

I prefer the darker mood to "Live For Violence" the rumble of the bass here is more apocalyptic than not. There is something grim to Snakes delivery on this song as well. Given the recklessness of their youth here, you can still hear a desire to write songs. Away's drumming had already begun to move him to the head of the pack right from the start of his career. This can be heard on "Black City" .  You can also detect how this album might influence black metal bands of the future. Snake's voice almost has a croak to it. "Nuclear War' is a powerful closer. Darker than most punk at the time. The sonic range of the guitars gave a glimpse into how they would continue to set themselves apart. I will give this album a 9. Not their best, but a rough look at what was to come.