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