The whole concept for the next LP has already been created. The concept involves a journey that the Voivod will take into another dimension. This new dimension is called Hatross and it will be created in the Voivod lab. The whole thing is very difficult to explain. The LP will be called Dimension Hatross and it will be a concept album with eight songs. Some early songs titles are 'Chaos Mongers,' 'Experiments,' and 'Cosmic Drama.' This album will be a new wave in metal, both lyrically and musically.
Away / Voivod interview, Metal Mania, 1987
VOIVOD released their fourth album, Dimension Hatröss, on this day in 1988 through Noise.
Hatross' is a word I created from an English word, 'hate', and the French word 'atroce' from which 'atrocity' is derived. The music had to be a bit weird for this album, although we kept the heavyness of it.
The first track, 'Experiment', is about the creation of 'Dimension Hatross'.
Away / Voivod interview, Sounds, 1988
With 'Tribal Convictions', the Voivod enters the world in a flash of energy. The primitive people there see him ma a god. He can take whatever he wants from them and then destroy them. Its images are about religion, especially the line 'Who's the god and who's the dog?
On 'Chaosmongers', the Voivod meets people with weapons - aggressive people, not brainy. This is to do with terrorists. 'Technocratic Manipulators' is about a totalitarian government like Nineteen Eighty Four or something. There is a war between the Chaosmongers and the government. After this war the Voivod has a battle for mind control with these psychic entities on Brain Scan, and in 'Psychic Vacuum' the Voivod finds the power to psyche out these entities.
Away / Voivod interview, Sounds, 1988
You know when one galaxy collides with another and eats it? Like Pacman? Well. 'Dimension Hatross' is eaten by another galaxy in the final track. 'Cosmic Drama'. And the Voivod watches this as he goes back into his laboratory... for the fifth album.
Away / Voivod interview, Sounds, 1988