Voivod "Nothingface (Japan, MCA Records, WMC5-15)"

Nothingface is the fifth album by Canadian metal band Voivod. It was released by Mechanic/MCA Records on October 13, 1989. The album marked a change for the band, expanding their sound and exploring more progressive sounds. Several riffs are heavily influenced by Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring", specifically the center section of "Pre-Ignition".

Nothingface was Voivod's most successful album to date, and their only album to enter the Billboard 200 charts, where it peaked at number 114. The album's third track, "Astronomy Domine", which is a cover of Pink Floyd, was made as a music video and received airplay on MTV's Headbangers Ball.

In 2005, Nothingface was ranked number 350 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.

Track listing

All music written by Denis D'Amour, Jean-Yves Thériault and Michel Langevin, all lyrics by Denis Bélanger, except "Astronomy Domine" written by Syd Barrett.

1. "The Unknown Knows" 5:55
2. "Nothingface" 4:14
3. "Astronomy Domine" (Pink Floyd cover) 5:30
4. "Missing Sequences" 5:49
5. "X-Ray Mirror" 4:28
6. "Inner Combustion" 3:48
7. "Pre-Ignition" 5:11
8. "Into My Hypercube" 5:03
9. "Sub-Effect" 4:29

Two versions of this album exist. One version combines an intro track and "The Unknown Knows" into one track. On the other version, both tracks are separated, with "Intro" being the first track and "The Unknown Knows" being the second.

The initial MCA/Mechanic pressings in the US had a fold-out poster booklet, while the Noise Records version in Europe and subsequent re-pressings had a standard stapled booklet.

Recording information:

Recorded digitally at Victor Studio, Montreal. 

Mixed digitally at Powerplay Studio, Long Island.