Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted has officially joined veteran metal act Voivod, and will be producing the band’s upcoming album, which will be recorded and mixed at the Plant in Sausalito, Calif., between Oct. 13 – Nov. 13. According to Voivod’s official Web site, the set is tentatively titled “The Multiverse” and will be released March 4, 2003, through Newsted’s Surfdog-associated imprint Chophouse Records.
“Long-time friends and pioneers of metal music, the four musicians first began working together at Newsted’s Chophouse studio in 1995, intent on keeping the music alive between busy touring schedules,” reads a post to the Voivod site. “However, with his recent departure from Metallica in January 2001, Newsted was free to work on a myriad of projects, which could now be more than just hobbies.”
Newsted joins original Voivod singer Snake (a.k.a. Denis Belanger), guitarist Piggy (a.k.a Denis D’Amour) and drummer Away (a.k.a. Michel Langevin). In keeping with the band’s alias motif, the bassist has assumed the moniker “Jasonic.”
Speaking of his new band affiliation, Newsted says, “Those who know Voivod respect Voivod around the globe! This is the new beginning for all of us. We’re the same age, raised on the same music. We’ve all been through a lot of similar situations. All four of us are having such a good time writing our metal music together, in one room — bashing it out, it’s real again!!”
Following the album’s release, Voivod plans to tour extensively in North America and Europe.
