•
Rating: The Voivod discovered to their cost in 1991 that the years of thrash and streetwise metal were over. However, demonstrating that they had become a mature band, they quickly and gracefully buried the flop album “Angel Rat”; grace that permeates the entire subsequent release of '93: “The Outer Limits”.
“The Outer Limits” is the album where the band's progressive shift definitively takes hold. Practically speaking, we're talking about a greater emphasis on melody in compositions, a greater use of psychedelic sounds, and, rhythmically, obviously less regularity. The themes, however, remain more or less the same, strongly tied to cyberpunk culture.
The listening experience, however, begins, just to contradict myself, with a track that recalls the old days: engaging heavy metal, very biker style and Judas Priest-like. "Moonbeam Rider”, even the title evokes Pink Floyd-like images, yet the experimentation stops at ultra-reverberated riffs and arpeggios and a more catchy chorus than the usual thrash standards.
The transition is gradual, but we’re already there: “Le Pont Noir” is pure metal psychedelia, beautiful and mutating, to the point that it later explodes into a progressive and syncopated fury, only to close as it began. At this point, Voivod no longer surprise; the immersion in psychedelia reaches its peak with “The Nile Song”, and for the second time in their history, after “Astronomy Domine”, the Canadians embark on the reinterpretation of Pink Floyd songs. Once again, the result is more than good.
Track number five, “The Lost Machine”, real progressive rock now emanates from the instruments in the form of aggressive riffs, but permeated with madness and very technical and powerful bass lines.
A title that has little to do with metal introduces one of the album's most eccentric tracks.
“Time Warp” is a track that simultaneously recalls: the glam-stained hard rock of Judas from "Living After Midnight," the extreme technique of Megadeth from "Rust In Peace," and the progressive melodies that we will find a year later in some parts of "Awake" by Dream Theater.
How to define the seventh track? Completely nonsensical? Genius-like? Simply TOO long? Certainly, after a few listens, “Jack Luminous” will appear to be just quite nerve-wracking; continuing consistently, I concluded that it's illogical, but still too complicated to be fully enjoyable.
Tracks nine and ten are respectively comparable to Queensryche and the thrash punk rock of Motorhead.
A peculiar album that does not capture attention, but once deciphered, one cannot help but appreciate it if one loves American metal culture.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Moonbeam Rider (04:10)
Ride
Ride on
Ride the sunrise
To higher ground
Ride
Ride on
Ride the hog high
You're glory bound
Ride
Ride on
There is no time
You're moving on
Ride
Ride on
There is a sign
Another town
Bad muckin' luck and misery
All is forgotten memories
Trouble and time left way behind
Trouble and time, a thousand crimes
And all the things you will regret
And all the things you can't forget
There's no reason to be ashamed
For your many ill-gotten gains
And the moonbeam shines on the chrome
Ride
Ride on
Don't you realize
What's going on
Ride
Ride on
The road to the stars
You're riding on
Did you ever live in this world?
Were you ever within your world?
Ride on and on until you're gone
Do you believe you now are free?
Do you believe you're born to be
The Moonbeam Rider in the sky
The Moonbeam Rider in the sky
06 Time Warp (03:54)
What will happen if I can't come back?
What if I should fall between the cracks?
Will I go back and forth down on-line?
Wherever! It's a question of time
Watching my sand glass
I count to a thousand
I flip it over
A lifetime in my hand
I set the counter
And switch on the power
Transform my matter
Am I gone forever?
Am I tomorrow or yesterday?
Another second's just passed away
Upcoming present and future past
Am I the first? Could be the last
Over and under
I spiral down the line
I'm getting closer
I must be right on time
Closer, closer
07 Jack Luminous (17:28)
Listen! Listen to me! Can't you hear me?!!
Listen! I beg of you!!
I have escaped the one who rules deep in space
He knows my name, I know his game
Now that I'm here, he will know where I am...
And he will get you too!!
And he will make you believe whatever he wants
Inside your brain, he'll play his game
Listen now!
Please! Don't you believe/whatever he says... whatever he says...
I'm no preacher, I'm no space cowboy
I'm no flash in the pan!!
Don't you know that you have another thing coming?
You are not safe, here in this place
Are you aware you face your lat dead line?
I am here to warn you... President X-D will be on your TV
Electron waves, a pixel face
Listen now!
Please! Don't you believe/whatever he says... whatever he says...
You will never switch him off, when you're hypnotized
Don't you dare to call his bluff, he's well organized
He gets around...
Listen to me, it's not easy... to let you be
Happy in your world, and you can't imagine
What will come from the Milky Way, far away
My words are clear, we can't stay here... what do you fear?
Happy in your world, and you can't imagine
What will come from the Milky Way, far away
You, people of this world, be prepared to greet Me
You, people of this world, you will submit to Me!
Deep into my third eye, you are getting sleepy
Deep into my third eye, now you belong to Me!
Now! Is the time, together we can change this place.. for the.. better
Now, focus on my voice, will you do it for me?
Now, focus on my voice, yes you will do it for me!
I'll give you everything, but you must come to me
I'll give you everything, but you'll have to join me!
Now! Is the time, together we can change this place.. for the.. better
You will never switch him off, when you're hypnotized
Don't you dare to call his bluff, he's well organized
X-D is coming... the sky is changing
X-D is coming... my head is spinning
And what about Hydra, Sirrah, Pollux and Gemma...
Diadem, Bellatrix, Mirach, Izar...
Lies are what we once knew, time to live something new, hey hey
We can no longer take things for granted
We can no remember what we wanted, hey hey
We're not slaves anymore, now we know what life is for
We don't fight anymore, he is what we're living for
We're not slaves anymore, now we know what life is for
We don't fight anymore... not anymore...
More than tears fill my eyes, as bright ships dot the sky
More than fear is in sight, as moon and sun stand by... and cry
So? This is the end, I'm leaving now, farewell my friends
X-D is now in control, making plans for His new home
Fate lights me from within, to the stars I'm fleeing
Earth heeds not my warning, forever sleepwalking... dreaming
So? This is the end, I'm leaving now, farewell my friends
Maybe one day, time will tell, I'll be back and break the spell...
I'll break the spell... break the spell...
Loading comments slowly
