CoC : Various - Voyager: 10 Years Nuclear Blast : Review

Various - _Voyager: 10 Years Nuclear Blast_
(Nuclear Blast, 1998)
by: Adam Wasylyk (7 out of 10)

First off, I'd like to send out a big 'thanks' to PHD Canada for sending this puppy to us, since Nuke Blast decided not to send this comp to zines for review purposes. I was considering doing a track-by-track analysis, but then I realized I had better things to do, so I decided a synopsis would suffice. The brass tacks? Basically Voyager consists of 3 CD's, with each disk representing an era in Nuclear Blast's existence. Disk #1 is composed of the bands that were on NB during the formative years. I wasn't aware that this label started out as a hardcore/punk label, as indicated not only by the liner notes detailing everything that has happened with this label but also by the first 6 tracks. The first track worth talking about would have to be "Resist the Urge for Power" by No Fraud, having cool vocal hooks and proficient music that sustains/supports them. Righteous Pigs are represented with "Boundaries Unknown", a good track to show the madness behind their hardcore/death sound. The rest of the disk is rounded out by the label's more prominent bands such as Pungent Stench, Macabre, Kataklysm, Dismember, Monstrosity and Disharmonic Orchestra. Disk #2 represents the modern era of the label, with bands such as Sinister, Therion, Meshuggah, Pain, Dissection and Hypocrisy. It also shows the new directions that the label are going into, namely gothic metal (Evereve) and industrial drivel (Girls under Glass). Bad metal is also represented; be sure to use your skip button when the tracks by Benediction, The Abyss, Pyogenesis, Slapdash and Night In Gales begin. Disk #3 represents the future of the label, the bands that will bring the label into the 21st century. Both good and bad metal are present and in abundance, like most compilations in existence. Dimmu Borgir start it off with some easy listening black metal via "Mourning Palace", with bands like In Flames, Dismal Euphony and Covenant following up with well-played tracks. Stuff like Hammerfall, Hollow, Left Hand Solution, Primal Fear and Am I Blood are a yawn-fest. I'm gonna give the thumbs up on this comp, for the sheer amount of music here (a good portion of it being quite good) but be forewarned: you gotta take the bad with the good.

(article published 7/6/1998)

ALBUMS
12/29/2010	C Drishner	8	Various - Tribute to H.P. Lovecraft - Gate 1: Yogsothery - Chaosmogonic Rituals of Fear
12/14/2010	N Shahpazov	8.5	Various - Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings
4/2/2010	Q Kalis		Various - Rising of Yog-Sothoth: Tribute to Thergothon
1/8/2009	C Drishner		Various - Anthrosphere Volume 1
9/17/2008	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - My Own Wolf: A New Approach to Ulver
8/9/2008	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Metal Message IV
6/22/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - ...Where Tattered Clouds Are Stranding
6/17/2008	Q Kalis	5.5	Various - Extreme Metal Inside
6/13/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right: Nordic Warchants II
6/11/2008	Q Kalis	4.5	Various - Bajo el Signo de la Violencia: Tribute to Masacre
10/7/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Rise of the Eastern Blood
7/24/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right - Nordic Warchants Pt. I
7/4/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Aural Holograms Vol. I
4/20/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - Noise.IL
4/15/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Fine-Tuned Disasters
4/5/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Defaced and Split
3/25/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Fuck the Modern World
3/8/2007	J Ulrey	7.5	Various - Intoxicated Vol. 4
2/24/2007	K Sarampalis	7	Various - Metal Message Vol III
1/28/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - A Reassuring Voice on the Television
1/9/2007	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Hauautagused Karjed Vol. II: Estonian Extreme Metal Compilation
12/26/2006	Q Kalis	8	Various - All My Dead Friends
11/7/2005	N Shahpazov	7	Various - The Wood Brothers
1/10/2005	T DePalma	7.5	Various - Listen Without Distraction - A Tribute to Kyuss
10/19/2004	P Azevedo	7	Various - Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal
1/17/2004	A McKay	3.5	Various - Defenders of Metal Volume 1 - The Seduction
11/16/2003	X Hoose	7	Various - Japanese Assault
8/31/2003	J Montague	8	Various - Barbaric Onslaught (Australian Metal Attack)
5/29/2003	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Victory Through Total Domination: Compilation No. III
5/27/2003	A Wee	7	Various - The Obsolete View
4/5/2003	P Azevedo	8	Various - Better Undead Than Alive
3/31/2003	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - Svartmetall Compilation 2001
3/26/2003	X Hoose	4	Various - Covered in Blood: A Tribute to Slayer
4/12/2002	B Meloon	6	Various - Czech Assault
4/12/2002	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - The Bells of the Mystical Empire
1/14/2002	A Wee	6	Various - Hellion Promo Vol II
1/14/2002	A McKay	7	Various - Colorado Colossus
10/19/2001	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness 5
8/12/2001	A McKay	2	Various - Brazilian Assault
8/12/2001	V Eldefors	7	Various - Triarchy of Vasconia
8/12/2001	A Wee	9	Various - Black Metal Blitzkrieg
5/13/2001	A Wee	8	Various - The Return of Darkness and Hate
5/13/2001	A McKay	8	Various - Requiems of Revulsion: A Tribute to Carcass
3/13/2001	A McKay	4	Various - Chamber Metal: Neo-Classical Metal Guitar
3/13/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Overload 2: Tribute to Metallica
1/10/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Scream Forth Blasphemy: A Tribute to Morbid Angel
11/20/2000	A McKay	2	Various - Dead Zeppelin - A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin
11/20/2000	A McKay	6.5	Various - In the Sign of the Horns - A Tribute to Venom
11/20/2000	G Sanchez	7	Various - Economi$ed
11/20/2000	G Sanchez	8	Various - Coalescence
10/25/2000	A McKay	6	Various - Gateway to Hell 2: Tribute to Slayer
10/25/2000	A McKay	7	Various - King Diamond Tribute
10/25/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - World of Pain -- A Tribute to Sepultura
10/25/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - Jump in the Pit -- A Tribute to Testament
10/25/2000	A McKay	9.5	Various - Root of All Evil 2000 2nd Anniversary Sampler
8/12/2000	A McKay	5	Various - Raise the Flag of Hate: A Tribute to Kreator
8/12/2000	A McKay	8	Various - Curse of the Demon: A Tribute to Mercyful Fate
5/25/2000	A Bromley	3	Various - Power From the North
5/25/2000	A Bromley	7.5	Various - Panther: A Tribute to Pantera
3/5/2000	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Holy Dio: Tribute to Ronnie James Dio
1/15/2000	M Noll	2	Various - A Tribute to Accept
1/15/2000	P Azevedo	8	Various - To Magic...
12/9/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - 21st Century Media Blitz Vol. 2
12/9/1999	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Never Give In: A Tribute to Bad Brains
8/12/1999	A McKay	3	Various - A Tribute to Hell: Satanic Rites
8/12/1999	P Schwarz	3	Various - ECW Extreme Music
8/12/1999	G Sanchez	6	Various - Lobot Manual
8/12/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Needlepoint
8/12/1999	A McKay	9	Various - White: Nightmares in the End
7/7/1999	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Death... Is Just the Beginning 5
6/15/1999	P Azevedo	5	Various - Psyclone Sinphonies
6/15/1999	A Wasylyk	6.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness Vol. 3
6/15/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - Smells Like Team Spirit III
5/19/1999	G Sanchez	6.5	Various - Extreme America 3
5/19/1999	A McKay	7	Various - Straight to Hell -- A Tribute to Slayer
5/19/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Freak Animal Zine #11 CD
5/19/1999	P Azevedo	8	Various - Where We Go, Others Can Only Follow...
5/19/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Chords of the Grave
5/19/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - To Live Is Ever to Be in Danger
3/14/1999	A Bromley	7	Various - Black Mark Tribute II
3/14/1999	A McKay	7	Various - In Conspiracy With Satan
3/14/1999	G Sanchez	8	Various - WWF - The Music Vol. 3
2/13/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Full Moon Productions Sampler CD
1/16/1999	P Schwarz	5	Various - Roadkill
1/16/1999	P Schwarz	7	Various - Feuersturm Vol. II: The Ultimate Storm
1/16/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - Wardance
1/16/1999	A Cantwell	8	Various - From Kaamos to Midnight Sun -- Finnish Metal Compilation
11/19/1998	A Bromley	8	Various - GRRRR!!: Extreme Music From Vancouver
10/1/1998	P Schwarz	7	Various - Cry Now, Cry Later -- Vols. 3 & 4
10/1/1998	A Cantwell	7	Various - Songs From the Penalty Box: Volume 2
10/1/1998	P Schwarz	8	Various - Amduscias
9/1/1998	P Azevedo	6	Various - High Radiation 4
9/1/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call on the Dark II
9/1/1998	B Meloon	7	Various - Bestial Sampler: 1997-1998
9/1/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Fiesta Comes Alive!
9/1/1998	P Schwarz	9	Various - Statements of Intent
7/8/1998	A Wasylyk	6	Various - Blackened III
7/8/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Statements of Intent
7/8/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Sepultural Feast: A Tribute to Sepultura
6/7/1998	P Azevedo		Various - Peaceville X
6/7/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call To Irons: A Tribute to Iron Maiden
6/7/1998	B Meloon	8	Various - Until the End of Time
1/1/1998	A Wasylyk	5	Various - A Declaration of Independence
1/1/1998	A Gaudrault	7	Various - Masters of Misery - Black Sabbath: The Earache Tribute
1/1/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Untitled (ten)
11/17/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - Earache Unplugged 2
7/14/1997	A Wasylyk	3	Various - The Kanada Compilation
7/14/1997	Z Tsarfin	7	Various - Awakenings: Females in Extreme Music
7/14/1997	A Bromley	9	Various - A Black Mark Tribute
6/7/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Ozz-Fest: Live
5/13/1997	P Azevedo	8	Various - Out of the Dark Live Compilation
5/13/1997	S Hoeltzel	9	Various - World Domination II
2/5/1997	A Bromley	5	Various - Frozen Dawn III
2/5/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Absolute Supper
1/2/1997	A Wasylyk	9	Various - Beneath the Icy Floe: A Projekt Sampler V.4
8/12/1996	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Black Mark Attack
8/12/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - ...And Even Wolves Hid Their Teeth
7/17/1996	A Bromley	9	Various - Beauty In Darkness
6/9/1996	S Hoeltzel	7	Various - Nordic Metal: A Tribute to Euronymous
4/18/1996	N Bassett	7	Various - In Memory of Celtic Frost
3/14/1996	A Bromley	7	Various - Identity II
3/14/1996	N Bassett	8	Various - With Us Or Against Us
1/17/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - Four Ways To Misery