Stuart Ayers
Contributing Writer
Last week saw the release of two new singles from the experimental rock band the Voidz. These singles tease towards the release of the group’s second full-length album, “Virtue,” which is due to release on March 30 by Cult Records.
The new songs, titled “Leave It In My Dreams” and “QYURRYUS” mark the first music we’ve heard from the Voidz since their previous LP “Tyranny,” which they released in 2014. At that time the band stylized their name as Julian Casablancas+the Voidz, but Julian has since dropped his name from the title while retaining his roles as lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the band. To me, this change signified that the Voidz is no longer a side project for Julian.
The musical project that Julian is more well-known for is the celebrated New York City rock band the Strokes. With the Strokes, Julian released genre-altering records like 2001’s “Is This It” and 2003’s “Room on Fire.” The impact that those albums had on pop and rock music was enormous, and their influence can still be felt today. However, while the legacy of those early Strokes records lives on, the Strokes themselves are not as hot as they used to be.
Their last full-length album, 2013’s “Comedown Machine,” was a respectable release, but it did lack some of the energy, punch and new ideas that previous Strokes records exemplified. This lack of new ideas was exactly why the Voidz record that dropped in 2014 was so exciting and refreshing. The lead single for that album was an 11-minute monolith of a song titled “Human Sadness”, which was unlike anything Julian had ever written before. The song features densely layered guitars and synths, chaotic and noisy guitar solos and melodies that are dizzying and beautiful.
All this is anchored by a rumbling bass line and topped by Julian’s manic falsetto. “Human Sadness” was not only a huge statement for Julian as a songwriter, but I personally think it is perhaps the best song yet written in the 21st century. The rest of the album was full of songs that were equally as experimental, noisy and challenging. “Tyranny” was a boundary-pushing record that was just as exciting and cutting-edge as “Is This It” had been back in 2001.
Now in 2018, the Voidz are back with two brand new songs that once again are experimental, vibrant and strange. Final judgement will be saved until the full record comes out, but at the very least I am glad that Julian is keeping the Voidz going and that he is continuing to experiment with new sounds. Meanwhile, what will happen to the Strokes?
Other members Albert Hammond Jr., Nick Valensi (with CRX) and Nikolai Fraiture (with Summer Moon) have all put out solo albums in recent years that were frankly just as good as the last Strokes record. While the Strokes are one of my all-time favorite bands, I wouldn’t be too crushed if they broke up at this point. The Strokes had their era, but it’s time for something new. It’s time for the Voidz.