Tribal Convictions revisited (Symphonique edition)

 It’s been about 10 years since I first shared the song Tribal Convictions by VoiVod, and it has only grown in stature with me since then. I love the tribal drum beat by only continuous member, Michel Langevin (or Away, as he is better known - and I just realized that another band where the drummer is the only continuous member is Deep Purple with Ian Paice, which makes for pretty good company), and when I saw that Voivod just released an album with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, because of course they would, it was a great opportunity to bring the track back to life again. 

And yes, I know what you are thinking: Metal and orchestral music don't work. And there are examples that are supporting that claim (Metallica's S&M are fun curiosities, but not really expanding on the original sound, maybe because Metallica's music already is highly orchestrated, especially from Master of Puppets and out, the Norwegian band TNT did something with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra for their 30th anniversary - it wasn’t bad, but it didn’t add all that much. Personally, I loved Deep Purple’s Concerto for Group and Orchestra, written by classically trained keyboardist Jon Lord, but it never got much of a critical acclaim. 

However, there have been major exceptions - and to me, they mainly have come from the more avant garde metal bands, who by nature already have an approach to the music that really invites the sonic expansion that comes with an orchestra. I loved Triptykon’s Requiem Live At Roadburn. I love Amen Ra’s A Solitary Reign with Atomic Orchestra. And I love VoiVod’s Symphonique. VoiVod’s music is often angular and sparse - there aren’t the layers of guitar you can find on Metallica’s album - so the enhancement that an orchestra brings almost makes the initial recording sound like demos or sketches, as the orchestra really fills the sound. And they fill it with the sound of cosmic doom, perfectly fitting their world of sci fi horror. So enjoy the Tribal Convictions yet again - this time with Quebec Symphony Orchestra!