Gojira (band)

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Gojira

Background information
Also known as Godzilla
Origin Bayonne, France
Genre(s) Death metal
Thrash metal
Progressive metal
Groove metal
(see below)
Years active 1996–present
Label(s) Listenable (France)
Prosthetic (International)
Associated acts Cavalera Conspiracy, Empalot[1]
Website www.gojira-music.com
Members
Joe Duplantier
Mario Duplantier
Christian Andreu
Jean-Michel Labadie

Gojira is a death metal band formed in 1996 in Bayonne, France. The band was known as Godzilla until 2001. The band comprises Joe Duplantier on vocals and guitar, his brother Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on guitar and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass. Since its formation, Gojira had no changes in lineup and has released three studio albums and one DVD. The band is known for their environment-related lyrics.

Contents

[edit] History

Gojira was formed in 1996 in Bayonne, France, 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 first demo Possessed in 1998.[2] After touring, supporting bands such as Cannibal Corpse, Edge of Sanity, Impaled Nazarene and supporting Immortal in September 1999,[3] legal problems forced Godzilla to change their name. They changed their name to Gojira, the original Japanese name of the fictional monster Godzilla.[4] Their debut album Terra Incognita was released under the new name in 2001.

The band released their second studio album in 2003, The Link (reissued in 2007 with remastered audio and new booklet artwork).[5] 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 is on sale in France.[3] 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.[2]

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]

Joe Duplantier was invited by 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 follows in mid-2008.[10]

Gojira is working on their new album The Way of All Flesh (album) to be released October 13 in Europe via Listenable Records and October 14 in North America through Prosthetic Records in 2008.[11] 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."[11]

[edit] Musical style and lyrical themes

Gojira's sound is not easily classifiable[3][12][13] as they blend several styles.[14] Genres that have been associated with Gojira are death metal, thrash metal,[12] progressive metal[13] and groove metal.[1][15] They are often compared to bands like Meshuggah, Mastodon, Sepultura, Neurosis and Morbid Angel.[12][13][15][16] Gojira have been influenced by heavy metal artists such as Death, Morbid Angel, Meshuggah, Metallica, Tool, and Neurosis.[16][17]

Gojira plays a technical and rhythmic style of heavy metal with precision drumming, unusual rhythm patterns, start-and-stop riffs, and breakdowns. Gojira has also been known to incorporate textured atmospheric elements and instrumental songs into their music.[5][12][13] Gojira songs have progressive and uncommon song structures and are devoid of standard verse, chorus, verse song writing.[5] The vocal style is somewhere between a hardcore punk shout and a death growl.[13] Often at times, death metal growls and clean vocals are mixed to aggressive and melodic effect.[14][16]

The members of the band were raised in Bayonne, a small village on the south west coast of France. 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.[2]

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Demos

  • 1998: Possessed
  • 1999: Saturate
  • 2000: Wisdom Comes

[edit] Live albums

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Gojira. Metal Archives. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
  2. ^ a b c Lucy Williams. Gojira Biography. Official Gojira Website. Retrieved on 2008-05-04.
  3. ^ a b c Gojira Biography. Metal Storm. Retrieved on 2008-05-04.
  4. ^ Gojira Biography. The Gauntlet. Retrieved on 2008-05-04.
  5. ^ CHILDREN OF BODOM, AMON AMARTH: More North American Tour Dates Announced. Blabbermouth. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
  6. ^ GOJIRA And SANCTITY Added To TRIVIUM's European Tour. Blabbermouth. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
  7. ^ LAMB OF GOD, MACHINE HEAD, TRIVIUM, GOJIRA: North American Tour Dates Announced. Blabbermouth. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
  8. ^ GOJIRA: New Performance Footage Posted Online. Blabbermouth. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
  9. ^ Cavalera Conspiracy Biography. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved on 2008-05-04.
  10. ^ a b GOJIRA: New Album Title, Release Date Announced. Blabbremouth. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
  11. ^ a b c d e Wesley. The Link review. Metal Observer. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
  12. ^ a b Simon Milburn. From Mars to Sirius review. The Metal Forge. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
  13. ^ a b Pyromusic.net From Mars to Sirius review
  14. ^ a b c Chad Bowar. From Mars to Sirius review. About.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  15. ^ Gojira entry. MySpace. Retrieved on 2008-03-14. “Morbid Angel, Metallica, Tool, Meshuggah, Neurosis, Death”

[edit] External links