Synchro Anarchy in Ottawa

Synchro Anarchy is the fifteenth studio album, and nineteenth release overall, by Canadian heavy metal legends Voivod, The band brought the magic back to the Bronson Centre on Thursday night along with friends Year of the Cobra and Sunset Hate.

Voivod is a legendary Canadian heavy metal band from Jonquière, Quebec. The band’s current line-up consists of Denis “Snake” Bélanger (vocals), Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain (guitar), Dominic “Rocky” Laroche (bass) and Michel “Away” Langevin (drums). Their musical style has changed several times since the band’s origin in the early 1980s. Starting out as a speed metal band, Voivod have added a mix of progressive metal and thrash metal to create their own unique metal style. They have been credited for helping pioneer the subgenre of “technical thrash metal”. Voivod is also credited as one of the “big four” Canadian thrash metal bands, along with Sacrifice, Razor, and Annihilator. The band found mainstream success in the late 1980s with their fifth studio album Nothingface (1989), which was featured on the Billboard 200 charts.

Opening up for the Canadian metal kings was Sunset Hate and Year of the Cobra. Sunset Hate is a local band made up of 5 dudes who were born and bred to rip and shred with their 80’s bay area inspired thrash. Formed in 2020, they have the single goal to write metal tracks that make you want to run head first into the mosh pit, taking no prisoners, banging your head, raising your fists in the air while screaming at the top of your lungs. Following the local guys was Year of the Cobra, a powerhouse doom/stoner duo, consisting of Amy Tung Barrysmith (vocals/ bass) and Jon Barrysmith (drums).  They use their limitation in instrumentation to their advantage. Leaving space for every instrument to breathe and to shine, they create a vast, larger than life sound aesthetic. Their songs drift relentlessly from classic epic doom laments into oppressive heavy riff architecture; from catchy, almost upbeat rock moments into transfiguring psychedelia.

It always amazes me how metal fans can look so menacing, but be the nicest people around, and this night was no exception. Lots of smiles, lots of black, and lots of head banging. A great night all around.