Roadrunner

The idea of groove metal started back in the 1990s when the second generation of thrash metal started to emerge. Bands such as Pantera, Soulfly, and Sepultura would base the heavy and fast riffs and drumwork on a more groove-oriented and, at times, tribal-feeling genre. However, once those bands started to meld into obscurity, the application of groove metal never defined a band. That was until Gojira, the French metalgurists, applied the methodical with a technically cerebral of progressive metal to create an otherworldly sound. Personally, one of my favorite albums was 2018’s Magma, a fresh approach to their fatiguing style, beginning with a tribute and response to the recent passing of lead singer and guitarist Joe and drummer Mario Duplantier’s mother. So I wanted to break down the genius of each song and review the album as a whole—and let me tell you, this is worth a listen.

“Shooting Star” 4/5

The opening track immediately establishes the more ethereal work of Christian Andreu’s leading guitar work, while keeping a precision within the rhythm work. The more grunge-based mixing makes the song feel muddy while also negating it through the beauty of said instrumentation. The lyrical concept of this track symbolizes the effect their mother had on the Duplantier’s lives—a shooting star being a beacon of hope and new beginnings.

“Silvera” 5/5

The following piece begins the divide in the approach to styles within this album. “Silvera” takes a more direct approach, including punchy and dissonant writing. The song is more lead-heavy, with Andreu filling the groove-oriented pockets with bright leads while being a genesis to the more “radio-friendly” side of the album. We also get Joe’s very beautiful cleans throughout the choruses, establishing the dissonance of his fulfilling highs with intricate time signatures in the leads following the more doom-esque rhythm guitars and drumming. The song is about social conformity in an emblematic viscerality.

“The Cell” 5/5

The second single from the album established the more ethereal-esque sound, with a combination of classic rock. I know it sounds odd, but the song takes a more traditional tone within the song’s structure, making it feel really natural while showing off that newly found immersion in the album. The track covers depression within the idea of thoughts themselves and the psychological effects.

“Stranded” 5/5

The second single of the album, “Stranded,” really lays that groove metal thick, to the point of having this accuracy to hit the pocket in a satisfying way without sacrificing their heaviness or going too far in a direction. This does continue for the more aggressive feeling of writing, with the drumwork from Mario being absolutely perfect. It’s a progressive metal song that flows into an ebb and flow that only Gojira could capture with their dissonance and aggression. This is a huge contender for the best song on the album. Probably the first piece lyrically to hit me in the feels, “Stranded” deals with the hardships and the slight anger one can have when dealing with loss and the challenge to step away from those who care. As someone who has dealt with family being in hospice and Alzheimer’s, it puts you and that person’s relationship in a juxtaposition—something that Taylor Swift or whatever Tate McRae will never be able to touch upon in their music.

“Yellowstone” 4/5

The interlude shows a more classic rock-esque sound with more slimy tones, almost to the older psychedelic that Jimi Hendrix and others would be known for. It serves as a transition from the traditional Gojira sound to the galactic approach as shown throughout “Shooting Star.” I would love to see a more fleshed-out or even full-length track based upon these blueprints—it would be really odd, and I would love it.

“Magma” 5/5

So this piece follows through the diaphoretic mysticism that “Shooting Star” somewhat edged on, with more of a focus on floor tom-heavy and drawn-out melodies creating the more atmospheric cynosure to most of the other writing, within parts like the chorus, which works more as an in-concert opener for crowd interaction. It’s a type of beauty I haven’t seen since a similar tonal band like Mastodon used outside instruments or a fuzz/static-heavy bass to convey any type of motion they want. The song itself really encompasses the complexities of both fans’ and the brothers’ feelings—almost what Falling In Reverse does, just more talented, complex, and less whining and acting like a teenager when you’re over the age of 30.

“Pray” 3/5

This is the weaker part of the album due to its repetitive nature and the fact that they executed the idea of building up to something greater after this track. This is not a bad song and does a great job at delivering the masterful aspect of Elysianary’s songwriting. I think the repetitive nature of this song is somewhat important—to analyze within a first-person narrative the idea of religion and the chase of an unobtainable object, to the point of praying for an armageddon. This could perhaps be the loss of a loved one.

“Only Pain” 5/5

A second-to-last full song, “Only Pain,” combines the otherworldly beauty with an anguished Joe Duplantier to create almost a ’90s grunge bitterness. It is just a chef’s kiss for the overall combinations of themes and styles established in this album. This is topped by Joe Duplantier’s bitter feeling of resilience and human suffering.

“Low Lands” 4/5

The last full-length track finishes the album with a tribal buildup throughout the first few seconds. Mario’s usage and mixing of his toms, while his drill-esque precision (eat your heart out, Chief Keef), shows the great lead work of Andreu’s atmospheric and face-melting speeds progressing through the song. The sub-point of the song is kind of the finale of their grief, and it is super satisfying, especially shown through the lyrics talking about the latter.

Now, there is one more, but it is an instrumental that is purely acoustic guitar and percussion. But the entire album is nearly perfect. The bittersweet heaviness, while giving that ouchy aggressiveness with their groove metal style, they have been known for. Overall, this may or may not be the best work in 2018.