In the 80s, the Canadian Metal scene gave to the world many excellent and eternal names in Metal. It was the time when EXCITER, ANVIL and many others were in their finest moments, when Metal was the greatest musical style of the world (according to Sam Dunn's documentary "Metal - A Headbanger's Journey"). But if we speak of aggressive Metal genres, no one could beat VOIVOD. I still remember the first words of a review I saw on a Brazilian Metal mag (called Rock Brigade) in December, 1986, about "Rrröööaaarrr", their second album: "a hardcore war tank invading and destroying a poser's nest". Now, 31 years after its original release, what is left to say about this re-release of "Rrröööaaarrr", in a special version?

Maybe it's the true reason I say time and time again about clone bands and those who try to emulate their sound: you can't. It's impossible, because VOIVOD is the original. No Metal Punk clone can create such impact! "Rrröööaaarrr" didn't lose its power after all these years. In those days, the band was still far from that Progressive Metal insight they would have in the future. On this album, VOIVOD was still showing their Thrash Metal fury using a total Hardcore insight with MOTORHEAD influences. "Rrröööaaarrr" is far more aggressive, nasty, raw and brutal then their first album, 1984's "War and Pain". It's a fine picture of that moment, when the bands were trying to sound fast and more extreme than the others. But the quartet did their music in a fine and excellent way.

The sound production of the album was done by Mike Amstadt, but as you all can hear, the band used an uncommon insight: of course it sounds like a studio album, but the band is trying to be near as possible to their live shows. This explain the filthy and raw energy that flows from the speakers, but with a very good sound quality, that allows us all to understand what they were playing. The design for the cover, created and done by Away (the band's drummer) shows what the lyrics are about and what the band's musical work is. Piggy's guitar catching riffs and noisy solos, Blacky technical distorted bass sound, the heavy drumming of Away and the nasty filthy vocals of Snake are the elements that turns "Rrröööaaarrr" in a classic of the style. The band's lyrics are about futuristic wars and other matters in this way are the different from those satanic futile lyrics from the past.

Best songs? Are you kidding me? I'll say it once more: "Rrröööaaarrr" is a classic, so there are no best songs, because the album is perfect! As a reference for you, the feast of guts and blood show on "Korgüll the Exterminator" with its fine guitar riffs and very good bass playing, the hymn "Fuck Off and Die" with its fast tempos and great drumming, the dirty Rock 'n' Roll that you can feel on "Slaughter in a Grave" (the MOTORHEAD musical influence is clear here), the massive atomic strike of "Thrashing Rage" and "Build Your Weapons", and the final scream of death given on "To the Death!" (maybe their finest on the album, with a fine work of the entire band, but the vocals are special).

But this new release has many bonus songs, the live versions of the band unleashing the manic fury on "Spectrucm '86 - No Speed Limit Week-End" songs (this was a live Demo Tape back on 1986), a live show in Montreal, on October 1986. Be prepared, because even the recording is not excellent, the abrasive music of the quartet shows its energy on songs as "Korgüll the Exterminator", "Ripping Headaches", "Fuck Off and Die", "Iron Gang", "Warriors of Ice", "Nuclear War", one of the first versions for "Ravenous Medicine" (that would be released on their next album, "Killing Technology"), and their classic "Voivod", are here to testify the power of this quartet.

"Rrröööaaarrr" is a testimony of a very good time in Metal, and to hear it again is a great opportunity. Take this opportunity, dear nephews and nieces!