Ferocious Frenchmen unleash 2021’s best record so far
while it means a bad album, I had a few issues with go Gojira’s last release ‘MAGMA’ which came out in 2016. it just locked something that made 2012’s major label debut ‘L’enfant Sauvage’ so great. I’ve always gravitated more towards the heaviest side of metal, so maybe that’s why I prefer the latter album because it’s heavier. Given the circumstances around the release of magma it’s no surprise doctor it was a more introspective collection and songs. for Me, many of the songs just did not possess the same power that’s usually a trademark part of Gojira sound.
That brings us nicely onto 2021’s effort fortitude. if there is a theme to this collection all songs then it would be Mans’s destructions all the natural world. This is particularly obvious in the lyrics of ‘Amazonia’.
The greatest miracle is burning to the ground. Killing Amazonia
this has always been a subject which has been present in this Gojira’s music, but I do not think it has been this blatant before. The full song on this album hold on would have found himself a home on Magma, primarily because of the way it swings between the trance inducing intro before diving headlong into crushing death metal hammer blows which could easily find a home on the bands earlier efforts like the way of all flesh.
this is something they experimented with on their previous release. these elements are taken much further on fortitude. While the juxtaposition between lighter and heavier sections is president in other parts of the metal world, I think the niche that Gojira house managed to call for themselves is entirely their own.
‘New Found’ continues this trend alternating between riffs that in all honesty only Gojira could write as more melodic chord progressions. There’s a real heft to the main riff and the interplay between the Duplantier brothers is the bedrock upon which the song is built.
The next two tracks serve as a pallet cleanser. They could have easily fit on ‘Magma,’ with their hypnotic use of a rattle and tribal drums and chanting. It feels like another step down their path towards a more accessible sound. One which will hopefully see them playing much bigger crowds.
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Sphinx find Gojira going back to their death metal roots. The intro is my favourite riff on this album hands down. I like their use old Egyptian sounding instruments in the middle section it connects the song nicely to the subject matter. you know, thank the huge stone Pussy in the middle of Egypt. Too much?
Into the storm features another vintage Gojira riff which kicks in after about 60 seconds which will do its best to keep you a broken neck you have been warned. No seriously, you may want to buy a neck brace after this one! No surprises that it was one of the lead singles off the record.
The trails steers the record back into more melodic territory. providing a welcome relief and a stark contrast with the last song. The French quartet bring their 7th sonic voyage to a close with ‘Grind’ Which, in my opinion, feels a representation of the way Gojira’s sound has evolved 25 years (I’m so old ☹) It is a fitting conclusion to one of this years’ most anticipated releases.
What is amazing in my view though, is the absolute fearlessness with which the band approached their craft. In the most difficult of times, the have reached the summit of Mt Metal and I can’t see anyone removing them in the near future.
thecharrioteer 