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I Voivod scoprirono a loro spese nel 1991, che gli anni del thrash e del metal stradaiolo si erano conclusi. Tuttavia, dimostrando di essere ormai una band matura, seppellirono velocemente e con classe il disco flop “Angel Rat”; classe che pervade per intero la successiva pubblicazione del ’93: “The Outer Limits”.
“The Outer Limits” è il disco in cui prende definitivamente piede la virata progressive della band canadese. In ambito pratico, parliamo di una maggiore importanza data alla melodia nelle composizioni, di un impiego maggiore di sonorità psichedeliche e, sul piano ritmico, ovviamente meno regolarità. Le tematiche restano invece pressappoco le stesse, fortemente legate alla cultura cyberpunk.
L’ascolto esordisce però, tanto per contraddirmi, con un brano che richiama i vecchi tempi: trascinante heavy metal molto bikerstyle e Judas Priest. "Moonbeam Rider”, già il titolo evoca delle immagini pinkfloydiane, tuttavia la sperimentazione si ferma a riff e arpeggi ultra riverberati e ad un ritornello più orecchiabile dei canoni thrash.
Il passaggio è graduale, ma ormai ci siamo: “Le Pont Noir” è psichedelia metal allo stato puro, bellissima e mutante, tanto che in seguito esplode in una furia progressiva e sincopata, per richiudersi infine com’era iniziata. I Voivod a questo punto non sorprendono, l’immersione nella psichedelia arriva al culmine con “The Nile Song”, e per la seconda volta nella loro storia, dopo “Astronomy Domine”, i Canadesi si cimentano nella reinterpretazione di brani dei Pink Floyd. Anche stavolta il risultato è più che buono.
Traccia numero cinque, “The Lost Machine”, progressive vero e proprio ormai scaturisce dagli strumenti, sotto forma di riff aggressivi, ma pervasi di follia e linee di basso molto tecniche e potenti.
Un titolo che col metal a poco a che fare introduce una delle tracce più eccentriche dell’album.
“Time Warp” è un brano che ricorda contemporaneamente: l’hard rock macchiato di glam dei Judas di "Living After Midnight", la tecnica estrema dei Megadeth di "Rust In Peace" e le melodie progressive che ritroveremo un anno dopo in alcuni passaggi di "Awake" dei Dream Theater.
Come definire la settima traccia? Completamente insensata? Genialoide? Semplicemente TROPPO lunga? Sicuramente dopo pochi ascolti “Jack Luminous” apparirà soltanto parecchio snervante, proseguendo con costanza sono giunto alla conclusione di definirla innanzitutto illogica, ma comunque troppo complicata per essere godibile appieno.
La traccia nove e dieci sono rispettivamente avvicinabili ai Queensryche al thrash punk rock dei Motorhead.
Un disco particolare, che non attira l’attenzione, ma che, decodificato, non si può non apprezzare se si ama la cultura metal americana.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
02 Moonbeam Rider (04:10)
Ride
Ride on
Ride the sunrise
To higher ground
Ride
Ride on
Ride the hog high
You're glory bound
Ride
Ride on
There is no time
You're moving on
Ride
Ride on
There is a sign
Another town
Bad muckin' luck and misery
All is forgotten memories
Trouble and time left way behind
Trouble and time, a thousand crimes
And all the things you will regret
And all the things you can't forget
There's no reason to be ashamed
For your many ill-gotten gains
And the moonbeam shines on the chrome
Ride
Ride on
Don't you realize
What's going on
Ride
Ride on
The road to the stars
You're riding on
Did you ever live in this world?
Were you ever within your world?
Ride on and on until you're gone
Do you believe you now are free?
Do you believe you're born to be
The Moonbeam Rider in the sky
The Moonbeam Rider in the sky
06 Time Warp (03:54)
What will happen if I can't come back?
What if I should fall between the cracks?
Will I go back and forth down on-line?
Wherever! It's a question of time
Watching my sand glass
I count to a thousand
I flip it over
A lifetime in my hand
I set the counter
And switch on the power
Transform my matter
Am I gone forever?
Am I tomorrow or yesterday?
Another second's just passed away
Upcoming present and future past
Am I the first? Could be the last
Over and under
I spiral down the line
I'm getting closer
I must be right on time
Closer, closer
07 Jack Luminous (17:28)
Listen! Listen to me! Can't you hear me?!!
Listen! I beg of you!!
I have escaped the one who rules deep in space
He knows my name, I know his game
Now that I'm here, he will know where I am...
And he will get you too!!
And he will make you believe whatever he wants
Inside your brain, he'll play his game
Listen now!
Please! Don't you believe/whatever he says... whatever he says...
I'm no preacher, I'm no space cowboy
I'm no flash in the pan!!
Don't you know that you have another thing coming?
You are not safe, here in this place
Are you aware you face your lat dead line?
I am here to warn you... President X-D will be on your TV
Electron waves, a pixel face
Listen now!
Please! Don't you believe/whatever he says... whatever he says...
You will never switch him off, when you're hypnotized
Don't you dare to call his bluff, he's well organized
He gets around...
Listen to me, it's not easy... to let you be
Happy in your world, and you can't imagine
What will come from the Milky Way, far away
My words are clear, we can't stay here... what do you fear?
Happy in your world, and you can't imagine
What will come from the Milky Way, far away
You, people of this world, be prepared to greet Me
You, people of this world, you will submit to Me!
Deep into my third eye, you are getting sleepy
Deep into my third eye, now you belong to Me!
Now! Is the time, together we can change this place.. for the.. better
Now, focus on my voice, will you do it for me?
Now, focus on my voice, yes you will do it for me!
I'll give you everything, but you must come to me
I'll give you everything, but you'll have to join me!
Now! Is the time, together we can change this place.. for the.. better
You will never switch him off, when you're hypnotized
Don't you dare to call his bluff, he's well organized
X-D is coming... the sky is changing
X-D is coming... my head is spinning
And what about Hydra, Sirrah, Pollux and Gemma...
Diadem, Bellatrix, Mirach, Izar...
Lies are what we once knew, time to live something new, hey hey
We can no longer take things for granted
We can no remember what we wanted, hey hey
We're not slaves anymore, now we know what life is for
We don't fight anymore, he is what we're living for
We're not slaves anymore, now we know what life is for
We don't fight anymore... not anymore...
More than tears fill my eyes, as bright ships dot the sky
More than fear is in sight, as moon and sun stand by... and cry
So? This is the end, I'm leaving now, farewell my friends
X-D is now in control, making plans for His new home
Fate lights me from within, to the stars I'm fleeing
Earth heeds not my warning, forever sleepwalking... dreaming
So? This is the end, I'm leaving now, farewell my friends
Maybe one day, time will tell, I'll be back and break the spell...
I'll break the spell... break the spell...
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