Recorded live in December, 2009 at VOIVOD's first headlining show in Montreal in over ten years, Warriors of Ice captures the band in a time and space unlike any other: in its hometown, with Blackie, without Piggy (replaced by the very capable Daniel Mongrain of MARTYR), but regaining the crown that very rightfully belongs to no one other than Voivod. Voivod didn't simply pioneer the Canadian extreme metal scene during the early '80s: the band innovated, defied and then dared its listeners to defy with it, all the while influencing everyone from OPETH to DAVE GROHL in the process. Warriors of Ice is appropriately named, as Voivod's classic material ('Ravenous Medicine', 'The Unknown Knows', 'Tribal Convictions'... it's all here) is encased in ice-solid lunar tones and production, these renditions at once glacially detached but formidably explosive, creating yet another paradox only Voivod could possibly resolve (and create, incidentally). The sole disappointment is that no material from the three terrific Jason Newsted-era albums nor anything from Phobos/Negatron are included: though it's understandable that Voivod wants to present its most storied material now that Blackie is back building weapons with his compatriots, including latter-day standouts such as 'The Multiverse', 'Mr. Clean', 'From The Cave' or 'Nanoman' would have made this already incendiary album even more formidable. In totality, it's hard to fault Voivod for much, if anything: the collective blazed a path and remains vastly under-rated, though respect from the right people does bring its own personal dividends. As always, R.I.P. Denis “Piggy” D’Amour, Voivod’s chief architect.