In a shocking turn of events that has left the metal world reeling (or not), former Voivod vocalist/bassist Eric Forrest has rejoined the band for a European tour, filling in for frontman Denis “Snake” Bélanger who had to attend to a family matter. Because, you know, family matters are a thing and even metalheads have to deal with them 🙄. Forrest, who appeared on two Voivod albums, 1995’s “Negatron” and 1997’s “Phobos”, spoke about the experience in a recent interview with Sylvain Latour of The Subversive Podcast.
So, how did this miracle reunion come to be? According to Forrest, Voivod’s management, James MacLean, reached out to him about a week and a half before the tour and asked if he’d be interested in joining the band for a few shows. And by “a few shows”, we mean the entire tour, because why not? 🤷♂️ Forrest, being the trooper that he is, agreed to join the band, and the rest, as they say, is history. Or, at the very least, a decent footnote in the annals of metal history.
The Tour: A Resounding Success (Apparently)
Forrest has been gushing about the tour, calling it “one of the best tours I’ve ever done in my life, by far” and saying that it was “an honor and a privilege” to play with Voivod again. Because, you know, playing with a legendary band like Voivod is just a normal Tuesday for some people 🙃. The tour, which featured a mix of old classics and songs from “Negatron” and “Phobos”, was apparently a huge success, with fans loving the “Negatron” and “Phobos” material (who wouldn’t, right? 🤔). Forrest even got to play some of the biggest stages and festivals in Europe, which is just a real privilege for anyone, let alone a metalhead from Canada 🇨🇦.
But, let’s get real for a second. Forrest’s health has been a concern lately, as he’s been battling prostate cancer since 2024. In a recent social media post, he revealed that he’s taking a “metabolic route” to treat his cancer, which is just a fancy way of saying he’s trying not to die 🤞. Despite his health issues, Forrest was determined to rock out with Voivod, and we’re all better off for it (or not, depending on how you feel about Voivod) 🤷♂️.
E-Force: The Next Chapter
So, what’s next for Forrest? Well, he’s got a new album coming out with his band E-Force, titled “Voivod Revisited”, which will feature re-recordings of songs from “Negatron” and “Phobos”, as well as some new original material and a cover song or two. Because, you know, the world was just missing a re-recording of “Nanoman” 🙄. The album will even feature a guitar solo from Voivod’s Daniel Mongrain, because why not? 🤷♂️ Forrest is also set to play a string of shows with E-Force in the Czech Republic, because someone has to keep the metal scene alive in Eastern Europe 🇨🇿.
In conclusion, Eric Forrest’s reunion with Voivod was a thing that happened, and we’re all still alive to talk about it 🙌. The tour was a success, Forrest’s health is still a concern, and E-Force is still a thing. So, if you’re a fan of Voivod, E-Force, or just metal in general, you owe it to yourself to check out their music and pretend like you’re still 15 years old and angry at the world 🤘.
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
