Gojira
Encyclopedia
Gojira is a heavy metal
band formed in 1996 in Bayonne
, France
. The band was known as Godzilla until 2001. Gojira is composed of Joe Duplantier
on vocals
and guitar
, his brother Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on guitar
and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass
. Since its first studio album, Gojira has had no changes in lineup, and has released four studio albums, one live album, one single, and one DVD. Their new EP will be released in 2011.
Gojira, known for their environmentally
-themed lyrics, "have risen from utmost obscurity during the first half of their career to widespread global recognition in the second, including regular mention amongst the genre's leading new millennium upstarts", according to Allmusic.
, by brothers Joe Duplantier (guitar, vocals) and drummer
Mario Duplantier, guitarist
Christian Andreu, and bassist
Jean-Michel Labadie. The band started touring and recording under the name Godzilla and released their demos Victim, Possessed, and Saturate in 1996, 1997, and 1999, respectively. Former member Brodie Hovanessian does not enjoy their sound. After touring, supporting Cannibal Corpse
, Edge of Sanity
, Impaled Nazarene
and supporting Immortal
in September 1999, legal problems forced Godzilla to change their name. They changed their name to Gojira, the rōmaji spelling of the fictional monster Godzilla
. Their last demo, Wisdom Comes, and their debut album Terra Incognita were released under the new name in 2000 and 2001, respectively.
(reissued in 2007 with remastered audio and new booklet artwork). After the success of the first two albums and their live performances they made a DVD in Bordeaux
produced by Gabriel Editions. Since May 19, 2004, The Link Alive
has been on sale in France. 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
.
Gojira was featured on Children of Bodom
's US tour in late 2006, joining Amon Amarth
and Sanctity
as the openers. Furthermore, Gojira supported Trivium
on the UK dates of their European tour in 2007 with Sanctity and Annihilator
. Later they supported Lamb of God
on their 2007 American tour along with Trivium
and Machine Head
. 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
. In October 2007, Listenable Records re-released Gojira's 1997 demo Possessed in a limited edition.
, 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.
Gojira's latest album, The Way of All Flesh
, was released on October 13 in Europe
via Listenable Records and October 14 in North America
through Prosthetic Records in 2008. On July 25, 2008, the band announced the track listing and revealed the final cover art for the record. Joe Duplantier told Revolver magazine
, "I would say that it's the logical next album. It's more intense, more brutal, and more melodic at the same time — it's more everything! I'm very happy with the new songs and the recording is very good. I think it was a good thing for us to come to the States to work with Logan
on the drum tracking because it really brought something — it's more tight, it's more powerful. I'm very positive about the new production, and even the writing is more straight to the point, more one tempo. We still have a lot of double bass, very fast, and at the same time there are melodies." Joe Duplantier also stated about the album: "This record is a lot darker — like, a lot darker, I would say. The music is darker and more violent." The album will be "more intense, more brutal, and more melodic" than its predecessor. "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".
Randy Blythe
from the American band Lamb of God
appeared as a guest vocalist on the song "Adoration for None" The album took four months to write and record, and three months to mix. On March 17, 2009, the band's first North American headlining tour was announced. Opening bands were The Chariot
and Car Bomb
. Gojira accompanied Metallica
on their tour September 14 - 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. According to Joe Duplantier
, the EP will feature guest appearances from the international metal scene.
As a preview of the 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
.
Regarding on what the new Gojira material sounds like, Joe Duplantier
said:
On November 8, 2011, Gojira released an update stating they had been acquired by Roadrunner Records
and would be releasing the new studio album under their label for a spring 2012 release.
Regarding the new partnership, Joe Duplantier
said:
, thrash metal
and progressive metal
. Gojira have been influenced by metal artists such as Sepultura
, Death, Morbid Angel
, Meshuggah
, Metallica
, Pantera
, Tool
and Neurosis
.
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. Gojira songs have progressive and uncommon song structures, rarely using the standard verse, chorus, verse
songwriting.
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. Often at times, death metal growls and clean vocals are mixed to create an aggressive but melodic effect.
The members of the band were raised in Bayonne
, a city on the south west coast of France (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.
Live albums
Demos and EPs
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band formed in 1996 in Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The band was known as Godzilla until 2001. Gojira is composed of Joe Duplantier
Joe Duplantier
Joseph Duplantier is a French musician who is the guitarist and vocalist of Gojira and was the bassist for Cavalera Conspiracy.-Music:Joe Duplantier's influences include bands such as Meshuggah, Metallica, Morbid Angel and Sepultura....
on vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, his brother Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. Since its first studio album, Gojira has had no changes in lineup, and has released four studio albums, one live album, one single, and one DVD. Their new EP will be released in 2011.
Gojira, known for their environmentally
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
-themed lyrics, "have risen from utmost obscurity during the first half of their career to widespread global recognition in the second, including regular mention amongst the genre's leading new millennium upstarts", according to Allmusic.
Early years and Terra Incognita (1996−2002)
Gojira was formed in 1996 in Ondres, France, a village close to BayonneBayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
, by brothers Joe Duplantier (guitar, vocals) and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Mario Duplantier, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Christian Andreu, and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Jean-Michel Labadie. The band started touring and recording under the name Godzilla and released their demos Victim, Possessed, and Saturate in 1996, 1997, and 1999, respectively. Former member Brodie Hovanessian does not enjoy their sound. After touring, supporting Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...
, Edge of Sanity
Edge of Sanity
Edge of Sanity was a Swedish death metal band. Edge of Sanity are regarded alongside Opeth as being the first to fuse extreme metal styles like death and black metal with progressive rock.- History :...
, Impaled Nazarene
Impaled Nazarene
Impaled Nazarene is a Finnish black metal band that incorporates elements of grindcore in their sound and punk rock in their aesthetics. The band is currently signed to Osmose Productions of France....
and supporting Immortal
Immortal (band)
Immortal is a black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1990 by current frontman/guitarist Abbath Doom Occulta and former guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta...
in September 1999, legal problems forced Godzilla to change their name. They changed their name to Gojira, the rōmaji spelling of the fictional monster Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
. Their last demo, Wisdom Comes, and their debut album Terra Incognita were released under the new name in 2000 and 2001, respectively.
The Link and From Mars to Sirius (2003−2007)
The band released their second studio album in 2003, The LinkThe Link (album)
The Link is the second album released by the French death metal band, Gojira. A re-mastered edition of the album was released in 2005 by the band's current label, Listenable Records...
(reissued in 2007 with remastered audio and new booklet artwork). After the success of the first two albums and their live performances they made a DVD in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
produced by Gabriel Editions. Since May 19, 2004, The Link Alive
The Link Alive
The Link Alive is the first live concert DVD released by the French death metal band, Gojira. The show was filmed in Bordeaux, France in 2003. The material is mostly older songs from The Link and Terra Incognita, as well as earlier demos...
has been on sale in France. 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
From Mars to Sirius
-Personnel:* Joe Duplantier – vocals, guitar* Christian Andreu – guitar* Jean-Michel Labadie – bass* Mario Duplantier – drums...
.
Gojira was featured on Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
's US tour in late 2006, joining Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth is a Swedish viking metal band from Tumba, Sweden founded in 1992, and takes its name from the Sindarin translation of Mount Doom, a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The band comprises vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström...
and Sanctity
Sanctity (band)
Sanctity was a heavy metal band from Asheville, North Carolina, USA. They formed in 1998 and have released one album, Road to Bloodshed, on April 24, 2007. They are currently writing for a new album, with their new TBA vocalist...
as the openers. Furthermore, Gojira supported Trivium
Trivium (band)
Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has released five studio albums, eleven singles, and twelve music videos...
on the UK dates of their European tour in 2007 with Sanctity and Annihilator
Annihilator (band)
Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, also from Vancouver, British Columbia between 1987-2002 by founding member, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters. The band has been around since 1984 and is the biggest selling heavy metal artist from Canada in history,...
. Later they supported Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
on their 2007 American tour along with Trivium
Trivium (band)
Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has released five studio albums, eleven singles, and twelve music videos...
and Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
. In late 2007 they took part in the Radio Rebellion Tour, featuring co-headliners Behemoth
Behemoth (band)
Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate....
and Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy is a American death metal band from Glendale, Arizona. Formed in 2003, the band's debut album Genesis was released in 2007, peaking at #54 on the US Billboard 200 and selling 13,000 copies in its first week of release. The second album, 2009's Ruination, sold 10,600 copies in...
, as well as Beneath the Massacre
Beneath the Massacre
Beneath the Massacre is a Canadian death metal band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Their debut album, Evidence of Inequity, was released in 2005, under Galy Records. In early 2006, the band signed with Prosthetic Records and has since released their first full-length album, Mechanics of...
. In October 2007, Listenable Records re-released Gojira's 1997 demo Possessed in a limited edition.
Cavalera Conspiracy and The Way of All Flesh (2008−2010)
Joe Duplantier was invited by the founders of influential Brazilian band SepulturaSepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
, brothers Max
Max Cavalera
Massimiliano Antonio "Max" Cavalera is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the heavy metal band Sepultura, before forming Soulfly in the late 1990s...
and Igor Cavalera
Igor Cavalera
Igor Graziano Cavalera is a Brazilian musician. He is best known as the former drummer for Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura.-Biography:...
, to join their new band Cavalera Conspiracy
Cavalera Conspiracy
Cavalera Conspiracy is a Brazilian heavy metal band founded by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera , along with American guitarist and bassist Marc Rizzo and Johny Chow. The band originally formed in 2007 as Inflikted but changed its name for legal reasons...
as a bassist. The album Inflikted
Inflikted
Inflikted is the debut album from Cavalera Conspiracy, the Cavalera brothers' first record together in 12 years - since the release of Roots by Sepultura in 1996.-Album information:...
was released in March 2008 and a tour followed in mid-2008.
Gojira's latest album, The Way of All Flesh
The Way of All Flesh (album)
Hidden TrackThe final song and title track of the album, "The Way of All Flesh," contains a hidden instrumental song. The main piece of the track ends at 6:51 and the hidden songs starts in at 12:33 giving the song a period of silence lasting 5:42. The song contains complex layers of ambient guitar...
, was released on October 13 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
via Listenable Records and October 14 in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
through Prosthetic Records in 2008. On July 25, 2008, the band announced the track listing and revealed the final cover art for the record. Joe Duplantier told Revolver magazine
Revolver (magazine)
Revolver is a bi-monthly rock and heavy metal magazine published by Future US. Before covering heavy metal, rock & hard rock solely, it was a more mainstream oriented magazine. The magazine is structured in a manner similar to publications such as Spin while covering many avenues within the heavy...
, "I would say that it's the logical next album. It's more intense, more brutal, and more melodic at the same time — it's more everything! I'm very happy with the new songs and the recording is very good. I think it was a good thing for us to come to the States to work with Logan
Logan Mader
Logan Mader was born on November 16, 1970 in Montreal, Canada. Logan is best known for his work as a guitarist in the heavy metal band Machine Head, who formed in Oakland, California in 1992. Their 1994 debut, Burn My Eyes, was released by Roadrunner Records and quickly became the top-selling...
on the drum tracking because it really brought something — it's more tight, it's more powerful. I'm very positive about the new production, and even the writing is more straight to the point, more one tempo. We still have a lot of double bass, very fast, and at the same time there are melodies." Joe Duplantier also stated about the album: "This record is a lot darker — like, a lot darker, I would say. The music is darker and more violent." The album will be "more intense, more brutal, and more melodic" than its predecessor. "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".
Randy Blythe
Randy Blythe
David Randall "Randy" Blythe is the vocalist of American groove metal band Lamb Of God and side-project band Halo of Locusts. He is known as D. Randall Blythe on Lamb of God's albums....
from the American band Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
appeared as a guest vocalist on the song "Adoration for None" The album took four months to write and record, and three months to mix. On March 17, 2009, the band's first North American headlining tour was announced. Opening bands were The Chariot
The Chariot (band)
The Chariot is an American mathcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, formed in 2003. The current lineup consists of drummer David Kennedy, bassist Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band has experienced frequent...
and Car Bomb
Car Bomb (band)
Car Bomb is a mathcore band from Long Island, NY that was initially formed in 2000. Their debut album, Centralia, was released through Relapse Records on February 6, 2007.-Biography:...
. Gojira accompanied Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
on their tour September 14 - October 18, performing before Lamb of God. Gojira entered a Los Angeles, California-area studio in early November, 2010, with producer Logan Mader
Logan Mader
Logan Mader was born on November 16, 1970 in Montreal, Canada. Logan is best known for his work as a guitarist in the heavy metal band Machine Head, who formed in Oakland, California in 1992. Their 1994 debut, Burn My Eyes, was released by Roadrunner Records and quickly became the top-selling...
to begin recording a new non-profit four-song EP, the proceeds from which will benefit Sea Shepherd, an anti-whaling organization. According to Joe Duplantier
Joe Duplantier
Joseph Duplantier is a French musician who is the guitarist and vocalist of Gojira and was the bassist for Cavalera Conspiracy.-Music:Joe Duplantier's influences include bands such as Meshuggah, Metallica, Morbid Angel and Sepultura....
, the EP will feature guest appearances from the international metal scene.
DVD, new material (2011-)
Gojira issued an update on the progress on their next studio album, which as of March 15, 2011, they were half way through writing and were excited about their new material. In the same update, Gojira also stated that they were currently working on a live DVD with a bonus section called 'The Way of All Flesh From the Inside'.As a preview of the Sea Shepherd EP, Gojira released the song "Of Blood And Salt" in May 2011, featuring Devin Townsend
Devin Townsend
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist....
as a guest vocalist and a guest guitar solo performed by Fredrik Thordendal
Fredrik Thordendal
Fredrik Thordendal is the lead guitarist and a founding member of the Swedish experimental metal band Meshuggah.He, along with Meshuggah's rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström were rated #35 by Guitar World in the top 100 greatest heavy metal guitarists of all-time.-Musical career:Under the name...
.
Regarding on what the new Gojira material sounds like, Joe Duplantier
Joe Duplantier
Joseph Duplantier is a French musician who is the guitarist and vocalist of Gojira and was the bassist for Cavalera Conspiracy.-Music:Joe Duplantier's influences include bands such as Meshuggah, Metallica, Morbid Angel and Sepultura....
said:
On November 8, 2011, Gojira released an update stating they had been acquired by Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
and would be releasing the new studio album under their label for a spring 2012 release.
Regarding the new partnership, Joe Duplantier
Joe Duplantier
Joseph Duplantier is a French musician who is the guitarist and vocalist of Gojira and was the bassist for Cavalera Conspiracy.-Music:Joe Duplantier's influences include bands such as Meshuggah, Metallica, Morbid Angel and Sepultura....
said:
Musical style and lyrical themes
Gojira's sound is not easily classifiable as they blend several styles. Genres that have been associated with Gojira are technical death metalTechnical death metal
Technical death metal is a musical subgenre of death metal that focuses on complex rhythms, riffs and song structures. Technical experimentation in death metal began in the late '80s and early '90s by bands such as Death, Atheist and Cynic...
, thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
and progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
. Gojira have been influenced by metal artists such as Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
, Death, Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...
, Meshuggah
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
and Neurosis
Neurosis (band)
Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...
.
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. Gojira songs have progressive and uncommon song structures, rarely using the standard verse, chorus, verse
Verse-chorus form
Verse-chorus form is a musical form common in popular music and predominant in rock since the 1960s. In contrast to AABA form, which is focused on the verse , in verse-chorus form the chorus is highlighted...
songwriting.
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. Often at times, death metal growls and clean vocals are mixed to create an aggressive but melodic effect.
The members of the band were raised in Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
, a city on the south west coast of France (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.
Band members
- Joe DuplantierJoe DuplantierJoseph Duplantier is a French musician who is the guitarist and vocalist of Gojira and was the bassist for Cavalera Conspiracy.-Music:Joe Duplantier's influences include bands such as Meshuggah, Metallica, Morbid Angel and Sepultura....
− vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(since 1996) - Mario DuplantierMario DuplantierMario Duplantier is a French musician who is the drummer of Gojira.-Early life:Mario Duplantier grew up in a family where arts played a significant role. He developed his drawing, painting, and music skills in an environment of freedom and creativity...
− drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(since 1996) - Christian Andreu − guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(since 1996) - Jean-Michel Labadie - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(since 1996)
Discography
Studio albums- Terra Incognita (2001)
- The LinkThe Link (album)The Link is the second album released by the French death metal band, Gojira. A re-mastered edition of the album was released in 2005 by the band's current label, Listenable Records...
(2003) - From Mars to SiriusFrom Mars to Sirius-Personnel:* Joe Duplantier – vocals, guitar* Christian Andreu – guitar* Jean-Michel Labadie – bass* Mario Duplantier – drums...
(2005) - The Way of All FleshThe Way of All Flesh (album)Hidden TrackThe final song and title track of the album, "The Way of All Flesh," contains a hidden instrumental song. The main piece of the track ends at 6:51 and the hidden songs starts in at 12:33 giving the song a period of silence lasting 5:42. The song contains complex layers of ambient guitar...
(2008) - Untitled 5th studio album (2012)
Live albums
- The Link AliveThe Link AliveThe Link Alive is the first live concert DVD released by the French death metal band, Gojira. The show was filmed in Bordeaux, France in 2003. The material is mostly older songs from The Link and Terra Incognita, as well as earlier demos...
(2004) - Untitled DVD (2012)
Demos and EPs
- Victim (1996) (Under Godzilla)
- PossessedPossessed (Gojira album)Possessed is the second demo release by Gojira . It contains some of the band's earliest demos.-Track listing:# "Possessed" − 5:46# "Bleeding" − 3:17# "Brutal Abortion" − 3:40# "End of Time" − 4:28# "Mandragore" − 1:25...
(1997) (Under Godzilla) - SaturateSaturate (Gojira album)Saturate is the third demo release by Gojira . It contains some of the band's earliest demos. All tracks except "Saturate" were re-released on their debut studio album Terra Incognita.-Track listing:# "On The B.O.T.A." − 3:07...
(1999) (Under Godzilla) - Wisdom ComesWisdom ComesWisdome Comes is the fourth demo release by Gojira and final release before changing their name officially. It contains some of the band's earliest demos. All tracks except "Locked in a Syndrom", "Wisdom Comes" and "Terra Incognita" were re-released on their debut studio album Terra Incognita...
(2000) - Maciste All'Inferno (2003)
- Sea Shepherd EP (TBA)