Kronik

Recording information: Chicago Trax; Huxley's, Berlin; Hypnotic Sound.
A year after the release of 1997's Phobos (Voivod's second -- and ultimately, final -- release with bassist/singer Eric Forrest at the helm), an 11-track compilation of odds and ends saw the light of day, Kronik. Focusing entirely on the group's mid- to late-'90s era (one that saw Voivod return to their metallic roots and eradicate their prog metal excursions), you get a smattering of outtakes from both the Negatron and Phobos recording sessions, a trio of remixes by the likes of Foetus, Haig Vartzbedian, and DJ? Acucrack, as well as four tracks recorded live in Germany from 1995. The track that will be most welcomed by Voivod fans will be "Ion," which was heard in the movie Heavy Metal 2000 but mysteriously was not included on its subsequent soundtrack. Also included are fine readings of such Voivod classics as their cover of Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine" and "Nuclear War," the latter a track that stretches all the way back to their 1984 debut, War and Pain. The remixes are your usual "not as good as the original" fare, but the outtakes and live tracks will be worthy of any Voivod fan's time. ~ Greg Prato