Customer Reviews

Outer Limits

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Poor Voivod. When everyone's favorite innovative science fiction conceptualist band from Quebec were signed to MCA in 1988, that should have been a foot in the door toward the platinum sales and widespread promotion they so greatly deserved. But what happens to so many great groups unfortunately happened to Voivod, they were overshadowed by vastly inferior "artists". In the late 1980s, people were more interested with fluff like Poison and Warrant. And conversely in the early 1990s, if you weren't from Seattle (or at least sounded like you were from there), people wanted nothing to do with you. So all of this should have prevented Voivod from putting out great music?

HECK NO!!!

1993's The Outer Limits shows Voivod going toward a more accesible direction. The riffs aren't as heavy as previous albums. The tempo changes aren't as wild or plentiful. And the production sounds fuller and glossier, losing that edgy, low-budget feel that many metal and punk fans feel is essential for preserving a band's "integrity".

"Fix My Heart" is nothing but unpretentious hard rock at its best. "Moonbeam Rider", "The Lost Machine", and "We Are Not Alone" are great sci-fi rockers as only Voivod can do. The band does an excellent job covering Pink Floyd's "The Nile Song". I prefer their 1989 cover of "Astronomy Domine", but this is still nothing to be ashamed of by any means. "Time Warp", my favorite song on the album, doesn't sound like it would be too out of place for Rush during their Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures era. As great as these songs are, and the others I haven't mentioned, none of them can compare to the 17 and 1/2 minute "Jack Luminous". The lyrics deal with the good guy titular alien who visits Earth to prevent a takeover from President X-D, an evil alien dictator who uses media manipulation to aid in his conquests. What should be hokey, pretentious, and boring actually turns out to compelling and fun.

But before closing out I must say that things might just be looking up for these fellers. While I don't care much for nu-metal, System of a Down and Mudvayne cite Voivod as an influence. SoaD and Mudvayne being two of the best bands of a genre so cluttered with whiny negativity. Jason Newsted gave up a lucrative career with Metallica to join this band, which really made me respect him a lot more. And the group had a 2003 slot on the Ozzfest tour, giving them an opportunity to pick up a few extra fans. Seeing how Limp Bisquick and Korn really aren't selling that much anymore, maybe the musical revolution I've been waiting for for years is finally here. Man I hope so.

This album came out in in 1993, when the biggest bands on MTV were Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Snoop Doggy Dogg. Most of that stuff bored me at the time, mainly because I was discovering things like The Outer Limits. This was the very first Voivod CD I ever owned, and I've been in love with it for over 10 years now.

In some ways this album is a continuation of the direction Voivod had been heading in at least since Nothingface, but it really isn't imaginable without Angel Rat as a predecessor. The biggest difference between the two is in the production, which is bigger and heavier than Angel Rat, as well as the songwriting, which is a lot stronger, in my opinion. Piggy's guitar work on this album has astonished me for over a decade -- his creativity and use of layering single lines and chords really does manage to create an "unearthly" sound. Plus he uses quartal harmony (notably in "The Lost Machine" but also in "Moonbeam Rider" and elsewhere), which is highly unusual for metal -- it's something you'd normally find in jazz and modern classical music.

I love Voivod not because I am a die-hard metal fan but because they have made a unique and lasting contribution to the genre. To me, The Outer Limits is a big part of the Voivod legacy and will always remain one of my favorite albums.

For my money, this is the high point of Voivod's career. I was so blown away by this thing that I actually bought five more copies to send to friends around the country. I've never done that with ANY other recording by ANY other artist. Amazing and ROCKIN'!

As others here have commented on,this incredible album unfortunately came at the worst possible time for this type of "metal".This is some amazing songwriting,any doubts to the talent possessed by this band only need hear this! It truly is a shame how criminally overlooked Voivod was at this time.Such is life,I suppose

The Outer Limits is one the best produced theme albums around, truly spectacular. This is by far my favorite Voivod album. It is a tasteful mix of progressive heavy rock with amazing unconventional guitar parts and sounds coupled with very syncopated drumming and stellar vocals. If your are a musician, this is required listening and playing. The album has an alien theme to it which includes a 17:28 masterpiece "Jack Luminous" which is loaded with time and tempo changes and out of this world progressions. The album also contains the Pink Floyd cover "The Nile Song", which like their other Floyd covers, is an outstanding homage to the song done extremely well and very powerful. The CD comes with 3-D glasses, yes 3-D glasses, and a book of 3-D pictures relating to each song! VERY COOL! Just buy it, look, listen, and enjoy! I rate this album 7 stars out of five stars. This will always be an all time favorite album of mine.

I'm not going to go into a lot of detail on this CD. I'm going to concentrate on one song. There are other pretty good songs on it but track #7 Jack Luminous has grown in my mind to the point where I have stated calling it my Favorite song. Yes that's right...my favorite song of all time. I know that sounds a bit extreme and I'm really not going to try to defend it since it's a personal thing but I find myself listening to it more than any other song .... ever.

My favorite music has always been music that tells a story. That story can be largely implied by mood as it is in the music of many classical composers or it can be more explicit. The important thing for me is that I feel like I have been on a journey after listening to a piece. It can almost be exhausting. Jack Luminous does that for me in spades. The song is quite long (over 17 minutes) and has several sections. In places it sounds very much like music from old 50s Sci-Fi movies or TV shows. This is obviously intentional given the name of the CD and its cover art. Other sections sound more metal or even punk.

As for the story the song tells, on the surface it sounds a bit cheesy. An alien comes to earth to warn people of an impending take over by a second evil alien. However if you listen to the lyrics it sounds relevant. It is more a story of taking the easy way out and losing your freedom in the process.

Voivod has always had a way with lyrics. I'm not sure why, but their use of words almost seems simplistic yet genius at the same time. Like someone who doesn't know English well and puts it the words that are slightly off or common clichés to make their point. I can't really explain why it works, it just does. You have to listen to it. Very unique.

this is the most main stream cds the released but it has some great songs and they used a session bass player and toured with him(he player alot of blackys bass lines as good as blackys originals.)this cd is a very good release considering the cds to follow with the new bass/vox.

My version has the 3-D glasses..and that is a very unique idea!! something alot of bands could and should do!!

This is the more heavy and less ''commercial'' version of ANGEL RAT..which was a great album(see my review!)

Every song on here is 100% VOIVOD!!! no one can touch them when they are at their peek..and this was their peek!!

This stars off with the upbeat ''FIX MY HEART''..very catchy and full of LIFE!!

''LE PONT NOIR'' is a dark number..that is also CATHCEY!!
''WHY DOSENT HE WANT SECRACEY''

''JACK LUMINOUS'' ha..17 freakin minutes long..no one can touch that..and it dosent get boring either!! THE BEST ON THE ALBUM!!

''WRONG WAY STREET'' is great as well..GREAT LYRCIS about how we are living in a NOG HELL!!(well to me thats how they appear!)

''WE ARE NOT ALONE'' is a great closer..it wraps up the theme to this SCI-FI METAL ride!!

I have had this for what seems like for ever..one of my PERSONAL FAVE albums..skrew ''GERNES'' this breaks em all..
AND AWAY WAS ONE OF THE BEST DRUMERS EVER..EVER!!

AND R.I.P. PIGGY..YOUR PLAYING WAS LIKE NO OTHER!!

As a fan of all Voivod eras, I can definitely say that "The Outer Limits" is their highest achievement. A Sci-Fi type of musical landscape can be felt throughout the album, but every track has its own color and tone. To be played on continuous repeat when driving your car, especially for long road trips.