Influenced by the likes of Pantera, Slayer, Neurosis, Sepultra and Meshuggah, Gojira create a technical but highly rhythmic style of heavy metal, with complex rhythm patterns and unusual structures that are held together through a groove that permeates through their tracks. Whilst aggressive, their sound still has a melodic effect through the varying vocal style, with their lyrics often focussing on their environmental activism, with the band themselves cooperating with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to raise awareness for the protection of marine life.
Forming in 1996 and consisting of the members Joe Duplantier (lead vocals, guitar), Mario Duplantier (drums, percussion), Christian Andreu (guitar) and Jean-Michel Labadie (bass), it took the band several years to gradually build their success. They released several demos and EPs in their early years which failed to catch any significant attention. Although with extensive touring and support slots for Cannibal Corpse, Edge of Sanity and Immortal, the band slowly grew in momentum.
It was not until their third full length release, "From Mars to Sirius" (2005) that the band were to make any significant headway, with the record reaching number 44 in the French charts and receiving widespread critical acclaim. Gojira had now caught the attention of the music world, gaining several key appearances at European festivals as well as embarking on European and American tours with the likes of Trivium, Children of Bodom and Machine Head.
Their fourth album, "The Way of All Flesh" came out in 2008, finding significant success in the American charts, reaching number 138. The band then embarked on an extensive touring campaign, taking four years to record their next studio album. Having signed to major label Roadrunner Records, Gojira released their fifth record, "L'Enfant Sauvage" in 2012, which was critically praised and established Gojira as a powerful force in the metal scene.
Do you like your rock shows huge, loud & engaging? Do you like stage sets that fill entire arena floors, filled with gigantic set pieces & enough pyro to blow up a small country? Do you like singing along to tightly played, iconic songs for 2-3 hours with thousands of friends? If yes, Metallica are your guys.
Each show starts when The Ecstasy of Gold (theme song from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly) plays over the PA, and crowd anticipation hits a fever pitch with thousands shouting along with the melody. Just thinking about the opening gives me goosebumps. Once Ecstasy hits its crescendo, they hit the stage like a thunderbolt, hammering through their lineup of classic tunes to a screaming, fist pumping, metal-sign-throwing crowd. Grizzled metal fans join together with legions of kids (oftentimes their own kids), shouting out every word of every song, and even singing along with guitar solos & melodies. Their set list varies each night. There are standards that they have to play, and you'll of course hear plenty of their big songs such as Enter Sandman and Master of Puppets. But they mix things up extremely well and no two nights are ever quite the same. It's amazing to me that after 30+ years and thousands of shows, the guys in the band still love mixing things up, still love goofing around on stage, still love engaging with the crowd, and obviously just love playing live & generating crazy crowd energy.
Quite simply, they are the kings of arena metal. Bow to the kings!
Gojira plays a unique brand of heavy metal in that they are absolutely relentless in their crushing thrash influenced guitar riffs, yet so rhythmic, almost robotic, in their melodies that their style seems to lend itself to the progressive side.
If there’s one thing to be said about Gojira, it is that they bring it live no questions asked. Whether they’re playing in a small club of a few hundred or a European metal festival in front of hundreds of thousands, Gojira’s intensity live is unmatched and the crowd response shows that, again, no matter the size. Gojira’s relentless music is perfect for the live environment.
Fast, heavy and downright brutal at times for the fan that wants to let out their aggression in the pit, yet technically proficient enough for the type of fan that prefers to stand back, take in a couple of drinks and enjoy the music on stage and the absorb the energy that surrounds them. Although, I can not imagine anyone seeing Gojira live and not feeling a sudden urge to get into the pit, especially not after a few whiskeys. They’re simply that good live, that brutal, one has really no other choice but to get involved in the Gojira experience.