VOIVOD’s Michel “Away” Langevin on New Live Album, Symphonique – There Are No Limits For Us!

More than four decades into their evolution, Voïvod continue to prove why they remain one of metal’s most inventive forces. Their newest release, Symphonique, will be out June 5th and captures a milestone moment: a full live performance with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, recorded at the Grand Théâtre in Quebec City. Robert Cavuoto of Metal Rules chats with drummer Michel “Away” Langevin of Canadian sci-fi metal pioneers VOIVOD to discuss their groundbreaking new live album, Symphonique (out June 5th). In this interview, Away reveals how the band seamlessly fused their intricate, progressive metal with the power of a full symphony orchestra. He talks about drawing inspiration from classical composers like Shostakovich and Stravinsky, capturing a dystopian movie-soundtrack vibe inspired by Blade Runner and Planet of the Apes, and the terrifying pressure of being the drummer in a glass cage responsible for keeping a 70-piece orchestra on beat! Away also shares massive updates on what’s next for Voivod, including a new conceptual studio album in the works, their upcoming retro video game Nuclear Warrior, the We Are Connected documentary, the definitive 500+ page book Always Moving, and plans to take the symphonic show on the road. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction & welcoming Michel "Away" Langevin 00:24 - What Voivod has in common with classical music & picking the setlist 01:15 - Transforming "Nuclear War" into a scary military march 01:54 - Playing with the Montreal & Quebec Symphony Orchestras & standing ovations 02:27 - Who initiated the project? (The solo bassoon connection) 03:26 - Creating a sci-fi soundtrack vibe (Blade Runner, Mad Max, Planet of the Apes) 04:25 - The immense pressure on a drummer when playing with a 70-piece orchestra 04:54 - Mixing metalheads with classical subscription audiences 05:40 - Collaborating with conductor Dina Gilbert & plans for a hometown show next year 06:40 - Why using local orchestras on tour is the smart route (and avoiding EMP's financial fate) 07:35 - Hearing the dystopian demos from orchestrator Hugo Bégin 09:10 - Rehearsal logistics, in-ear monitors, and drumming in a glass cage 10:00 - Fusing two musical worlds and reflections on a career milestone 12:12 - Adopting the "Asia Symphonia" touring blueprint for Europe 13:30 - How Standley Kubrick's soundtracks influenced Voivod’s musical discovery 14:20 - Writing and recording the next conceptual Voivod studio album (3 songs at a time!) 15:10 - Voivod's secret weapon: Guitarist "Chewy" and his formal arrangements 16:25 - Big upcoming projects: Nuclear Warrior 8-bit video game, We Are Connected documentary, and the Always Moving book by Jeff Wagner 17:40 - The financial challenges of filming a full orchestra vs. hopes for a future Blu-ray 18:50 - Voivod’s ultimate dream: Scoring a movie soundtrack 19:15 - The 25-minute French-Canadian studio rehearsal mini-doc 20:45 - Upcoming October tour rumors and wrapping up 📲 FOLLOW METAL RULES: Website: https://www.metal-rules.com 🌌 FOLLOW VOIVOD: Website: https://www.voivod.com