WAR AND PAIN

The first Voivod album "War and Pain" isn't progressive at all. It's similar to thrash and avant metal bands like Slayer, Blind Illusion, Kreator and Celtic Frost. They do have a distinctive sound thanks to guitarist Denis D'Amour's inventive riffs (jazzoid metal). Just look at the titles of the songs, and you know you're in for an hour of thrashing madness (no "Close To The Edge" here, friends). I once read in Kerrrrang that Voivod was described as "alarm clock metal". Pretty accurate. The only indicator of anything remotely similar to the pioneering progressive path Voivod would eventually embark on...would be the final track "Nuclear War". It reminds me of the self-titled song "Black Sabbath" meets Red-era King Crimson. A lot of power chords with interesting time changes.