Review by Chris Pratl on October 18, 2017.

The latest Voivod CD, Target Earth, has to be one of the most anticipated releases in recent years. Sure, Infini was released only back in 2009, but for whatever reason Voivod is one of those bands that just solicits fanaticism with each release. A lot of people might have thought that with Piggy's passing the band would and should just call it a day, but such is not the case, and happily so. 

Anyone familiar with the later years of Voivod's career knows full well that the all-in thrash assault of the early years is left to antiquity and nostalgia nowadays, but that matters very little when hearing an album of such fine quality like Target Earth. The album opens with “Target Earth”, a groovy metal romp through the fray of the accepted lines of progressive-singed metal. I really liked it, especially the chorus which is sort of ethereal and quite memorable. When “Kluskap O'Kom” emerges it's really apparent that Voivod is pulling out all the expected stops and is bent on creating a sort of proggy/metal hybrid that switches gears and tempos in the blink of a bleeding eye and tramples the anticipatory reservations of the fan base. The thickness of that ugly bass sound adds such a perfect element to the album's sound, and the jazzy feel to some of the lines makes the underlying base all the more enjoyable. 

The initial single “Mechanical Mind” left me quite excited for the entire record to hit, especially after hearing how the band seems to, yet again, mix and match sounds and tones to an almost nonsensical brilliance. I actually had one friend comment that the sound is about as close as alternative can come to metal without actually going completely over to the 'dark side'. While I've long considered metal music to be the true alternative music if for nothing else the definition of the word alone, I can see the point and comparison. By no means is this 'alternative' in the media sense of the term, but I can see a broader audience enjoying some of the tracks on Target Earth; now, whether that's good or bad is entirely up to the listener and fan to process, but Voivod is still Voivod and reaching a less-informed audience can't always be a bad thing. This isn't your father's Metallica, after all. 

“Resistance” is one of my favorite tracks from the album, followed closely by “Artefact”, which is unforgivably heavy and possesses that thick bass line I mentioned before that rumbles underneath like a belching fault line. I'm not entirely sure how any fan of Voivod can be disappointed in Target Earth; this is the total package in terms of what you should come to expect from the band. The luminous aspect of this album is what makes it so widely enjoyable; the stripped down approach to the music, all the while making it interesting and fresh, is the truly 'artsy' sum of all parts. 

I still remember hearing War & Pain way back when and wondering why the band refused to learn to play its instruments correctly, but you know...out of the mouth of babes and all? As that album grew on me over the years for all of its primitive charms, the subsequent output from Voivod seemed to get stronger and better, and this latest record is just another flag for the band's poop deck. For the fan that needs familiarity wrapped inside a fuzzy new fiber, Target Earth provides a fascinating jaunt through the progressive-metal landscape that challenges you to dismiss it as something less than excellence.

Rating: 9 out of 10

(Originally written for www.metalpsalter.com)

Review by Felix on November 3, 2019.

Roughly 30 years ago, US American thrash began to lose its dominant position - and a great part of its relevance as well. Yes, there are bands such as Warbringer, but they don't give new impulses. Now comes the second work of War Curse and everyone who is familiar with Forbidden, Sacred Reich or Vio-lence will identify the influences of the five-piece very quickly. Not to mention their guest musicians like Glen Alvelais, but honestly speaking I am no friend of namedropping or an invasion of guest musicians into the sound studio. Details aside, my first thought was that I am listening to just another thrash output, not bad, but also not extraordinary. I just was happy that the artwork counteracts the idiotic trend to disgrace thrash albums with multi-colored, ugly and cheap artworks.

However, I was wrong. Eradication just needs some time to reveal its full flavor. Of course, War Curse also do not present something completely new. Nevertheless, they impress with their raw maturity. The riffs are precise, the galloping guitars create a dynamic flow, the rough voice knows no wear and tear and the rhythm section provides a more than solid fundament while changing velocity masterly. The result is an accumulation of really neck breaking crowbars like "Serpent" with its brutal yet technically flawless appearance. Oh, what a beautiful morning, the album brings back the glorious days of the Bay Area. Of course, it is almost impossible for newcomers to catapult their album in a row with "Independence", "Forbidden Evil" or "Eternal Nightmare". Nevertheless, War Curse work very hard on closing the gap. Wherever possible, they avoid melodic elements successfully and raise a storm that leaves no stone unturned. Song by song is hammered into my rotting brain and I feel the album has the potential to infect the global thrash metal community.

Perhaps the dudes should have arranged the track list differently. Exactly the two songs at the beginning do not fully convince. They are free from major deficiencies, but the real feast starts with the later tunes. War Curse are able to combine technical abilities with song-writing skills and they find the balance between pure fury and a grain of catchiness. The choruses of "Iron Veil" and the title track take the direct way into my long-term memory, to mention but one example. Especially the latter with its Forbidden-like melody line pleases me very well. Moreover, the excellent production sets the right frame for the musical content. It is bone-dry, precise and merciless - the guitar sound lies in close proximity to perfection. It conveys the most essential element of thrash in a very proper way. Of course, I am talking about energy and honestly speaking, I feel ten years younger when listening to outputs such as this one. Okay, my real age minus ten is still much too old. But it's never too late to seek for a minimum of eternal juvenileness or even a tiny touch of immortality. And thrash metal, that's for sure, will never die as long as it is fed by newcomers like War Curse.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10