Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
VOIVOD’s AWAY On Teaming Up With Orchestra For ‘Symphonique’ Album: ‘It’s Like A Soundtrack For A Dystopian Sci-Fi Movie’
Canadian metal band Voivod have released "Symphonique", a live album recorded with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, marking the latest milestone in a decade that has already seen them play the Montreal Jazz Festival, win a Juno Award and be the subject of both a documentary and a book. Drummer Michel "Away" Langevin discussed the project with Blabbermouth, describing it as akin to a soundtrack for a dystopian science-fiction film, and noted that a new studio album is expected in 2027. The interview also came shortly before news broke that frontman Denis "Snake" Belanger would miss the band's summer European tour for personal reasons, with former singer Eric Forrest stepping in.
The album was recorded on 4 June 2025 at the Grand Théâtre in Quebec City and runs to 12 songs across 73 minutes, reworking both new and classic Voivod material—including "The Unknown Knows", "Nuclear War" and a cover of Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine"—into orchestral arrangements. Guitarist Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain, who joined in 2008 following founding guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour's death in 2005, worked closely with orchestrator Hugo Bégin over several years to develop the arrangements, drawing inspiration from cyberpunk film scores such as "Blade Runner" and "Mad Max".
In short
- Voivod release orchestral live album "Symphonique" with Quebec Symphony Orchestra
- Recorded June 2025; 12 tracks, 73 minutes, reworking old and new songs
- Frontman Snake to miss European tour; Eric Forrest filling in
Explained simply
Voivod is a Canadian metal band that has experienced a creative resurgence over the past decade, winning a Juno Award, being the subject of both a documentary and book, and performing at major venues including the Montreal Jazz Festival. Their latest release, Symphonique, is a live album recorded with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, representing an ambitious collaboration that fuses their metal music with orchestral arrangements.
The album comprises twelve songs recorded in Quebec City in June 2025, reimagining both classic Voivod tracks and newer compositions alongside a cover of Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine" as full orchestral pieces. Guitarist Daniel Mongrain worked closely with orchestrator Hugo Bégin over several years to develop the arrangements, drawing inspiration from cyberpunk film scores such as Blade Runner and Mad Max.
Drummer Michel Langevin has described the project as resembling a soundtrack for a dystopian science-fiction film, reflecting the band's longstanding engagement with futuristic and dystopian themes. The band expects to release a new studio album in 2027, continuing a period of creative exploration and musical reinterpretation.