Review: Gojira – The Way of All Flesh (2008)
When one listens to metal, they instantly try to compare and contrast it to other artists in order to come up with a likeness. However, every once and awhile, an artist peaks up from the netherworld to blow established traditions out of the water. In the last few years, our genre has been lucky enough to experience several of these, almost turning it into a trend in itself. One of these bands making waves is the French group known as Gojira, named after the Japanese version of Godzilla. Taking modern progressive death metal to new heights, Gojira is not a stereotypical death metal act, not even in the progressive tense. In fact, Gojira is sometimes so unexplainable, the best way to describe them would be avant garde. This year, the band will be releasing it’s latest foray entitled The Way of All Flesh, giving all another healthy dose of the extremes metal can go to in the name of challenging its own foundations.
I will admit, that when I first listened to their breakout album From Mars to Sirius (though they have two previous to that), I wasn’t overly impressed. They were talented guys with a noticeable sound, but it didn’t jump out at me like it seemingly was doing to many others in the scene. Nonetheless, when I received my promo copy of The Way of All Flesh, I found myself intrigued by the prospect of what this band would bring to the table this time around. Upon my initial listen, I am happy to announce that my curiosity paid off. Gojira has landed an atom bomb on 2008’s music landscape with The Way of the Flesh, one that I am already looking forward to listening to again and again while at work in my little cubicle of death.
So what makes this album so good? Well, while listening I came up with an interesting way to describe what I was listening to–”monotonous melodies.” Instantly I’m sure all those who are reading this and enjoyed the album are saying “huh” collectively as we speak. However, my description is not meant to be negative, but rather a way to express the way Gojira seems to write their music. Much like Meshuggah, Darkane and many doom metal acts, Gojira follows a very linear way of writing music, however, whilst following this progression, they throw vocal intonation and random chords that completely change the feel of the song often with melodic intentions, and again, while still maintaining the same progression.
Unlike their peers, Gojira does no rely on breakdowns, in fact, there is very little hardcore influence to be found on this album, which is like heaven to my ears at this point. It’s clear their main influences involve death metal, but to categorize them as such would be an unfair way of describing their sound, which is full of so much more than death metal, and metal in general. Whatever one wants to call it, make sure to include positive words in the description, because this album is worthy of all forms of praise.
As I have said, I will be listening to this album many times in the coming weeks based on its complexities, and identifiable tracks that make listening to this entire CD from point A to point B, very enjoyable. For those who may have been like me, hesitant to give Gojira a chance, please pick this record up on October 14th. It isn’t like any other band out right now, I can give you a guarantee on that. Everything about The Way of All Flesh represents a clear, unmistakable contrast to all the other 2008 artists, one in which I am very happy to have experienced.
AMAZING
Top Tracks: I honestly can’t pick!
Similar Artists: Darkane, Meshuggah, God Forbid, Between the Buried and Me
1. Oroborus 05:21
2. Toxic Garbage Island 04:06
3. A Sight to Behold 05:09
4. Yama’s Messengers 04:04
5. The Silver Cord 02:32
6. All the Tears 03:41
7. Adoration for None 06:19
8. The Art of Dying 09:53
9. Esoteric Surgery 05:44
10. Vacuity 04:51
11. Wolf Down the Earth 06:25
12. The Way of All Flesh 17:02
Joe Duplantier – Vocals & Guitar
Christian Andreu – Guitar
Jean-Michel Labadie – Bass
Mario Duplantier – Drums
Listenable Records/Prosthetic Records
Review by CODY
I’m from Australia, so It’s awesome to see they have a new album out, and I can’t wait for them to release it down under.
I can kind-of agree with your monotonous description of Gojira, however I haven’t heard the new album. I see them as a progressive take on modern-metal, as their songs tend to swell from place to place in an ever-changing progression. When I first discovered Gojira I too wasn’t overly impressed by From Mars to Sirius, but when it grew on me. When you really listen to it from Start to finish one of the things that really stood out is how different to every other band out there, they are.
When most bands would go into a breakdown or really hit the peak of the song, Gojira would go to an ambient interlude with clean vocals before breaking out into a blistering-ly fast Morbid Angel-style double bass extravaganza, but maintain the clean vocals and ambience. It just blew my mind how almost every time I could not predict where they were going to go with each song. It was so refreshing.
Whilst I haven’t heard the latest album, and at present consider From Mars to Sirius their highlight, I would also recommend the previous album ‘The Link’. It is considerably more raw, and heavy but is still a pinnacle for modern metal, I think.
Also check out their ‘The Link Alive’ DVD, they put on an awesome show too!
Great review, and can’t wait for the album to be released down here.
I have to disagree with the use of the word monotonous. I think it implies too much repetition. I’d say it more closely resembles slow progression, but progression all the way. In fact, progression and monotony are opposites. But I like the review!
I only have their first 2 albums…I never got around to picking up their third but after hearing this one I have to now. Their first two are more disassembled than this one. There’s a slower progression on this than the other albums –disjointed, but certainly not bad. They are groovier on this album, whereas before I’d say they were thrash-ier (not a word, but you know what I mean). Definitely no hardcore involved though.
They have some wickedly weird riffs like Meshuggah and cool tempo changes like Textures. They also shift seamlessly between death metal and melodic interludes like Opeth. I’d say all in all thes album is the best as far as production quality goes, though I’ll give it a few more spins before I decide whether or not it’s their best.
I like the intro to “A Sight to Behold”…very cool.
This will go on the list of music i need to gank from Coles computer…
New Amon, Bloodbath, All that Remains, Gojira…
Carter, I dunno about All That Remains. Get All Shall Perish.
Gah that’s what I meant. That and Psycroptic
Ever since I discovered Gojira, they are like a breath of fresh air. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every single one of their albums and they are a huge influence on my band, All The Above. We are more towards the post-metal genre, but definitely an influence nonetheless.
http://www.alltheabove.info
This is going to sound horribly pretentious, but that’s only because it is horribly pretentious. I honestly feel like this is a prog metal album for people who have no interest in actual prog metal. Gojira is, musically, quite straightforward when compared to a legitimate progressive band like Meshuggah. The thing that truly distinguishes Gojira from other bands is their ‘Captain Planet’ lyrical content, message, and passion.
Michael – How can you say Gojira is straight forward and then go on to call Meshuggah prog metal? Meshuggah is not prog metal, they are post-thrash with a polyrhythmic riff structure that has been the same for their entire career. If you took away their complex time signatures, Meshuggah would be a very very bland band bordering on nu-metal. Gojira is way more progressive than Meshuggah is. If you want prog metal on the extreme side, check out Necrophagist and Sikth for some real prog moments.
Or 36 crazyfists
36 Crazyfists=Modern day RUSH
I love Gojira, and you ?