Gojira (band)

Gojira

Gojira performs at Tuska Open Air Metal Festival in 2006
Background information
Also known as Godzilla
Origin Bayonne, France
Genres
Years active 1996–present
Labels
Website www.gojira-music.com
Members
Past members Alexandre Cornillon

Gojira is a French heavy metal band from Ondres, close to Bayonne in the South West of France. Formed in 1996, the band was known as Godzilla until 2001. Gojira is composed of Joe Duplantier on vocals and rhythm guitar, his brother Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on lead guitar, and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass. Gojira has written five studio albums and produced three live DVDs. They are known for their environmentally-themed lyrics and have gone from "utmost obscurity" to being mentioned regularly "amongst the genre's leading new millennium upstarts", according to AllMusic.[1]

History

Early years and Terra Incognita (1996−2002)

Gojira are from Ondres, France, a village close to Bayonne. Gojira's music combines elements of death metal, groove metal, thrash metal and progressive metal. The band started touring and recording under the name Godzilla and released their demos Victim, Possessed, Saturate and Wisdom Comes in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000, respectively. After touring, supporting Cannibal Corpse, Edge of Sanity, Impaled Nazarene and supporting Immortal in September 1999,[2] legal problems forced Godzilla to change their name. They changed their name to Gojira, the rōmaji spelling of the fictional monster Godzilla.[3] Their debut album Terra Incognita was released under the new name in 2001.

The Link and From Mars to Sirius (2003−2007)

The band released their second studio album in 2003, The Link (reissued in 2007 with remastered audio and new booklet artwork).[4] After the success of the first two albums and their live performances they made a DVD in Bordeaux produced by Gabriel Editions. Since 19 May 2004, The Link Alive has been on sale in France.[2] In 2005, Gojira decided to sign with French-based Listenable Records to help give them exposure outside of France with the album From Mars to Sirius.[5]

Gojira was featured on Children of Bodom's US tour in late 2006, joining Amon Amarth and Sanctity as the openers.[6] Furthermore, Gojira supported Trivium on the UK dates of their European tour in 2007 with Sanctity and Annihilator.[7] Later they supported Lamb of God on their 2007 American tour along with Trivium and Machine Head.[8] In late 2007 they took part in the Radio Rebellion Tour, featuring co-headliners Behemoth and Job for a Cowboy, as well as Beneath the Massacre.[9] In October 2007, Listenable Records re-released Gojira's 1997 demo Possessed as a limited edition.[10]

The Way of All Flesh and Sea Shepherd EP (2008−2011)

The Way of All Flesh was released on 13 October in Europe via Listenable Records and 14 October in North America through Prosthetic Records in 2008.[11] On 25 July 2008, the band announced the track listing and revealed the final cover art for the record.[12] Joe Duplantier stated about the album: "This record is a lot darker — like, a lot darker, I would say. The music is darker and more violent."[13] The album will be "more intense, more brutal, and more melodic" than its predecessor.[14] "That's the theme — it's about death itself," he explained. "It's also about the immortality of the soul. That's the main subject for us".[13] Randy Blythe from the American band Lamb of God appeared as a guest vocalist on the song "Adoration for None"[15] The album took four months to write and record, and three months to mix.[16] On 17 March 2009, the band's first North American headlining tour was announced. Opening bands were The Chariot and Car Bomb.[17] Gojira accompanied Metallica on their tour 14 September – 18 October,[18] performing before Lamb of God. Gojira entered a Los Angeles, California-area studio in early November 2010, with producer Logan Mader to begin recording a new non-profit four-song EP, the proceeds from which will benefit Sea Shepherd, an anti-whaling organization.[19] According to Joe Duplantier, the EP will feature guest appearances from the international metal scene.[20] "Of Blood And Salt" will feature Devin Townsend and Fredrik Thordendal. The other tracks will feature Randy Blythe, Anders Fridén, Jonas Renkse and Max Cavalera. As a preview of their Sea Shepherd EP, Gojira released the song "Of Blood And Salt" in May 2011, featuring Devin Townsend as a guest vocalist and a guest guitar solo performed by Fredrik Thordendal.

L'Enfant Sauvage and sixth studio album (2012−present)

They were acquired by Roadrunner Records[21] and released L'Enfant Sauvage on 4 April 2012 on that label. The title translates to "The Wild Child." The album features 11 tracks, and was released on 26 June 2012. The title song "L'Enfant Sauvage" was released as a single along with a video to support it followed by a release of the song "Liquid Fire" as a free download on Gojira's official website. The album was released 26 June 2012 through Roadrunner Records. On March 11th 2014, Gojira released a Live CD/DVD/Picture book Les Enfants Sauvages, which was recorded at Brixton Academy London in March 2013.[22]

In a recent interview conducted with AMH TV, Mario Duplantier stated that the band is working on a new album. Further speaking with AMH TV, he went on to say that "We spent two months... composing new stuff, composing new songs. And we feel very optimistic about the future. We're already enjoying a lot of the new stuff. We want to make the strongest album we can do. I mean, all the bands say they try to make the strongest album, but this time, I think we will really do it."[23]

Side projects

Joe Duplantier was invited by the founders of influential Brazilian band Sepultura brothers, Max and Igor Cavalera, to join their new band Cavalera Conspiracy as a bassist. The album Inflikted was released in March 2008 and a tour followed in mid-2008.[24] Also, the Duplantier brothers formed an avant-garde metal band called Empalot in 1998, starring Stéphane Chateauneuf, who appears in The Link Alive DVD's short show called "Thang & Tanguy". Their first release was a demo album called Brout, in 1998. Two albums followed: Tous aux Cèpes in 2001 and a live CD called Empalot en Concert.[25]

Musical style and lyrical themes

Gojira's sound is not easily classifiable[2] as they blend several styles.[26] Genres that have been associated with Gojira are technical death metal,[27] thrash metal, groove metal and progressive metal. Gojira has been influenced by metal artists such as Slayer,[28] Sepultura, Death, Morbid Angel, Meshuggah, Tool, Metallica, Pantera, and Neurosis.[29][30]

Gojira plays a technical and rhythmic style of heavy metal with precision drumming, unusual rhythm patterns, and start-and-stop riffs. Gojira has also been known to incorporate textured atmospheric elements and instrumental songs into their music.[4] Gojira songs have progressive and uncommon song structures, rarely using the standard verse, chorus, verse songwriting.[4] The vocal style is varied, ranging from the screamed style often employed in extreme metal, with the death growl style predominantly used in death metal, in addition to clean vocals and higher screams. At times, death metal growls and clean vocals are mixed to create an aggressive but melodic effect.[26][29]

The members of the band were raised in Bayonne, a city on the south west coast of France (Pyrénées-Atlantiques/French Basque Country). The surrounding scenic countryside and rugged coastline inspired Gojira's interest in nature and the earth. Gojira uses its lyrics to spread its spiritual beliefs and concerns for the environment.[5] They also cooperate with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to protect marine animals, especially dolphins, whales and sharks. Members from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society are allowed to run a merchandise booth at Gojira gigs. In addition, Gojira is working on the Sea Shepherd EP with well-known musicians from the metal scene, including Devin Townsend. All proceeds from that project will go to the organisation.[31]

Band members

Members
Past members

Discography

Main article: Gojira discography
Studio albums

References

  1. ↑ Gojira at AllMusic
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Gojira Biography". Metal Storm. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  3. ↑ "Gojira Biography". The Gauntlet. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  4. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lucy Williams. "Gojira Biography". Official Gojira Website. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  5. ↑ "CHILDREN OF BODOM, AMON AMARTH: More North American Tour Dates Announced". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  6. ↑ "GOJIRA And SANCTITY Added To TRIVIUM's European Tour". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  7. ↑ "LAMB OF GOD, MACHINE HEAD, TRIVIUM, GOJIRA: North American Tour Dates Announced". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  8. ↑ "GOJIRA: New Performance Footage Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  9. ↑ Gojira: 'Xfm Sessions' Recording Posted Online - Oct. 15, 2007, Blabbermouth.net
  10. ↑ "GOJIRA: New Album Title, Release Date Announced". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  11. ↑ "GOJIRA: 'The Way Of All Flesh' Artwork, Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  12. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "GOJIRA Frontman: 'I'm So Pissed Off With The Situation On Earth Right Now'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  13. ↑ "GOJIRA Frontman Explains New Album Title". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  14. ↑ "LAMB OF GOD Frontman To Guest On New GOJIRA Album - July 10, 2008". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  15. ↑ Minton, James (2008) "Studio Report - Flesh and Blood", Terrorizer, issue No. 176, November 2008.
  16. ↑ "GOJIRA: North American Tour Dates Announced". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  17. ↑ http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4689215&blogID=499190534[]
  18. ↑ "GOJIRA Working On Material For New Album". Blabbermouth.net. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  19. ↑ "GOJIRA Recording New EP: Photos From The Studio Available". Blabbermouth.net. 8 November 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  20. ↑ "Joe Duplantier: 'Working with Roadrunner Records'". gojira-music.com. 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  21. ↑ "Gojira - Official Website - Gojira's DVD "Les Enfants Sauvages" Out Today!". gojira-music.com. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  22. ↑ "GOJIRA's MARIO DUPLANTIER: 'We Want To Make The Strongest Album We Can Do'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  23. ↑ "Cavalera Conspiracy Biography". Roadrunner Records. Archived from the original on 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  24. ↑ "Empalot (groupe)". Wikipedia.
  25. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Simon Milburn. "From Mars to Sirius review". The Metal Forge. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  26. ↑ Lissa Brennan, With French death-metal pioneers Gojira, the lyrics matter as much as the blastbeats, pittsburghcitypaper.ws, 15 October 2009.
  27. ↑ "Slayer Stories from Pantera, Slash, Slipknot, Korn, Rob Zombie, Johnny Knoxville, Deftones, Gojira, and more". artistdirect.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  28. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Chad Bowar. "From Mars to Sirius review". About.com. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  29. ↑ "Gojira entry". MySpace. Retrieved 2008-03-14. Morbid Angel, Metallica, Tool, Meshuggah, Neurosis, Death
  30. ↑ Dennis Rowehl(entertaim.net). "Gojira Interview Joe". entertaim.net. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  31. ↑ "Godzilla - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  32. ↑ "Gojira - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2013-06-14.

External links

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