VOIVOD’s influence on metal, through the band’s pioneering form of conceptual progressive thrash is legion. And seemingly, just as many bands and fans (and fans in bands, such as Dave Grohl, Phil Anselmo, Danko Jones and Jello Biafra) have drawn inspiration from drummer Michel “Away” Langevin’s sci-fi artwork and unique typography.

Worlds Away: Voivod & The Art Of Michel Langevin, written by BW&BK; Editor In Chief Martin Popoff, celebrates 30 years of Michel’s legacy, offering hundreds of images, many previously unseen, and the extensive story of those images, along with biographical material on Voivod, from Michel’s perspective, as well as that of his bandmates, Martin, and others.

The book is in the final proofing stages in Chicago and will be sent to print (in China) in early September. At press time, the plan for it is to be issued in one format only: a full colour throughout, large format hard cover, numbered, signed by Michel, limited to 2000 copies.

Says Popoff, “The model for this, and the team working on it, is the same as the one we assembled for my book on Derek Riggs. I must say though, that work on this one has been much more intellectually satisfying – Michel’s art is a blast and definitely a level above standard metal artwork. And the philosophy and stories and the influences… man, hearing all of that just brings new cool perspective to his creepy little guys. I think that once people see all these new drawings, Michel is going to find himself much more in demand as both a commercial artist and maybe even a gallery artist. He’s told me he wants to move in that direction, even though the offers he’s getting to book Voivod gigs are now more financially lucrative than they ever were, even at their major label peak. Whatever he does, he’s definitely going to be a busy man (laughs).”