Gojira Goes Ballistic With Astounding Results

Those sneaky Frenchmen. Not just a croissant and Jerry Lewis worshiping bunch, huh. From that land comes Gojira, a technical death metal outfit that can thrash as hard as any American outfit if "Silvera" presents both proof and pudding in equal measure. Guitarist Christian Andru came to incite revolution believe you me. Not a noted sans saliva spitting out from between the teeth. What we have here is a classic case of rapid fire metal that refuses to play nice with anybody. As luck would have it, the bridge shows Gojira has its combined buzz saw sting turned up to maximum thrust. This band gets how to stand a historically non user-friendly sub-genre on its head and let it out to play among the throngs who, up until now, only associate French with baguettes. If "Silvera" had a speed limit I'm guessing we're talking somewhere in the vicinity of 95 MPH, maybe slightly more. "Magma" sends this lead cut spiraling towards the jugular, no apologies, no looking back. Joe Duplantier serves his countrymen well through no bones vocals that stop short of preaching. Not that the French were ever brusque at any time during their history, right. Turn to the lyrics, folks. There's where you'll observe Gojira insisting you sprout some balls, quit whining about change, and be part of the fomenting revolution. The line first gets drawn at, "Quit moaning about fate and change. Stand on your feet and rise. With every fall you get the pain, you learn the lesson. Start now, open your eyes. Dead bodies falling from the sky. We are the ape with the vision of the killing, a rain of shame that fills the mines. No other blood in me but mine." Nice train of thought, not one soon to be derailed in the near future. Mario Duplantier brings his skins to the skirmish. He hammers away doggedly, as if each beat held life hanging in the balance. Proper intensity to match the words. I get off on the nice sequence where the electricity gets granted a dimmer switch while the group's combined tonsil flashing advances to center stage. In the video you'll surely get nightmare fodder of the highest order. Only French art can deliver such shivers on a colossal scale. Jean-Michael Labadie tromps through on bass like he owns this turf. He's the pair of devil may care feet kicking sand in your face at the beach while all you can do is protest the cruelty in vain. What it boils down to is this band has relentless writ large all over their foreheads. I'm not sure if references to genocide are going to win over many converts stateside but they have guts right down to the soles of their shoes. The video's through line speaks of violence of the most gut-wrenching variety, individuals in terror's path struggling to know how to escape harm's way, dignity intact. You get this impression you're headed towards an unforgiving cliff really fast and the outcome doesn't bode well...for anyone. One piece of advice that you may take in the spirit of the francs you had to part with in order to receive it. Focus on the technical superiority. If you get caught up in the stomach turning content you won't have the best possible listening experience. That would be one strike against you because Gojira should have your respect, at least in the short term. "Silvera" leaves a commendable scar you won't mind showing off to others.