Released: 2014

Genres: Neo-Psychedelia, Experimental Rock, Post-Punk, Synth Punk, Art Rock, Post-Rock

The Musiquarium’s Tyranny Review Score: 9 out of 10

Julian Casablancas had already been on top of the world with The Strokes, who were credited with making rock music not only relevant again in the early aughts, but making it look really cool too. With their leather jackets and timeless songs, albums like Is This It and Room on Fire dominated the early 2000s indie rock scene and made The Strokes the band to beat. But, by the release of First Impressions of Earth, Julian Casablancas was getting burnt out as the band’s sole-songwriter and the band ended up being inactive for the rest of the decade.

After five years of inactivity, Angles was released to a polarized reception, as was its follow-up Comedown Machine. It could have been safe to assume that one of the greatest songwriters of his generation had hit a plateau and lost his magic with the indie crowd, but then Casablancas joined The Voidz, and any doubts about his abilities were thrown out the window.

Where The Strokes were either about stripped back, seventies style, meat and potatoes rock n roll or eighties new wave, The Voidz are a far more experimental band, having more in common with say, Captain Beefheart than with Ramones. Take Me In Your Army introduces the new, futuristic sound of Casablancas, which is much darker than anything The Strokes had ever done. Casablancas sounds somewhat synthetic here, like he was an android that has learnt to feel.

Crunch Punch has a Raw Power era Stooges groove to it. M.utually A.ssured D.estruction and Where No Eagles Fly border on heavy metal, with some of Casablancas most intense vocals. Human Sadness is a cathartic, 11 minute epic and one of the greatest things Julian Casablancas has ever written. Business Dog sounds a bit like an altered rendition of The Police’s Message in a Bottle, but goes to different places in its verses to avoid feeling like plagiarism.

The Voidz’ Tyranny is full of inspired songs and is a must listen for any fans of The Strokes.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view The Voidz on Discogs.

Back to the 2014 Album Guide or the The Voidz Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard