gojiras dark eco metal finds unlikely grammy glory
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

Gojira's dark eco metal finds unlikely Grammy glory

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today Gojira's dark eco metal finds unlikely Grammy glory

French heavy metal band Gojira
Los Angeles - AFP

After two decades growling about the planet's impending environmental collapse, the French death metal band Gojira has some surprise good news -- the music industry thinks they're great.

Gojira has been an unexpected success story ahead of the Grammy Awards on Sunday. The band has been nominated in two categories including the coveted Best Rock Album for "Magma."

"We started playing pretty intense thrash and death metal and I've been mostly growling for the last 20 years, so I wasn't expecting any kind of award," Gojira's 40-year-old frontman and rhythm guitarist Joe Duplantier told AFP with a small laugh.

"I never even thought of the concept of being nominated for the Grammys," he said.

Gojira -- whose name is the Japanese for Godzilla -- edged a small step into the mainstream with "Magma."

Previously known for raw, complex songs that built into dark climax, "Magma" is more accessible with chorus structures and Duplantier at times swapping growls for clean vocals.

The Grammys are not the only recognition for Gojira. Metal legends Metallica, whom Duplantier counts as a key influence, earlier tapped Gojira as an opening act.

Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett in a recent interview with AFP said "Magma" was "incredible" and "the best thing I've heard in a long time."

- Humans as 'parasites' -

While some metal bands sing of fantasy lands, Gojira's lyricism lies firmly in the real world.

On the song "Silvera," nominated for the Grammy for Best Metal Performance, Duplantier unleashes on animal agriculture, singing: "Time to open your eyes to this genocide / When you clear your mind, you see it all."

Duplantier is vegan. But adding to his bleak outlook, he doubts how much he can do as he believes the planet has far too many people.

"I'm a part of it -- I'm also a parasite to the planet. I try to reduce my impact and it seems a drop in the ocean," he said.

Duplantier is content if Gojira fans simply bang their heads. But he is even happier if the music is "shaking people up in a good way."

"I love creating songs, I love performing, but I don't want to just sing something meaningless," he said.

"People live without thinking or feeling too much. They go and buy meat in the store without thinking how it was produced, how it was killed, how much water was needed for that and what it's doing to you," he said.

For Duplantier, too many people are caught up thinking about politicians and asking "what can this guy do for me."

"I don't believe in politics anymore," he said. "I believe in the revolution, but the revolution needs to come from each individual, from the inside."

- Love of oceans -

Duplantier's environmental consciousness came at an early age as he grew up on the Atlantic Ocean near the southern city of Bayonne.

He recalled how his brother Mario -- who is Gojira's drummer -- suffered an ear infection from swimming in polluted water.

In a youthful bit of activism, Joe Duplantier gathered litter from the beach and scattered it on a parking lot, making local news.

"I thought it was weird. People don't mind what's on the beach but when it's on the parking lot it's a problem," he said.

The Duplantiers' mother was American and the brothers have set up a studio in New York. Duplantier sings in English, which he speaks at native level, but said his language choice was more practical than artistic.

"If Spanish were the most common language in the world, I would probably sing in Spanish," he said.

"Magma" is Gojira's sixth album and came more than four years after its previous work, the ambitious existentialist opus "L'Enfant Sauvage."

Between the albums, the Duplantiers' mother died. Joe Duplantier hesitated to speak of the episode, saying he did not want to appear to be using her death as marketing, but said it brought new darkness to "Magma."

Duplantier said the Grammy glory would not affect Gojira, even if the band risked losing fans if it again went in a more arcane direction.

"We're super excited and surprised, but it's not like God telling you you're good and the others are not good," he said. "It's the Grammys."

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

gojiras dark eco metal finds unlikely grammy glory gojiras dark eco metal finds unlikely grammy glory



GMT 16:25 2018 Monday ,10 September

Philippines on alert for incoming typhoon

GMT 13:15 2017 Friday ,18 August

UN Secretary General appoints Horst Köhler

GMT 13:10 2017 Wednesday ,22 March

Kuwait's Arab reconciliatory role highlighted

GMT 10:09 2011 Friday ,10 June

Pakistan bus crash kills 12 children

GMT 07:13 2017 Monday ,23 October

Maryam reveals development of tourism

GMT 09:53 2012 Monday ,25 June

Morsi victory celebrated from Yemen to Gaza

GMT 16:31 2018 Friday ,19 October

UNHCR delegation discuss Syrian refugees return

GMT 10:08 2015 Tuesday ,03 March

Delhi rapist blames victim for being out at night

GMT 12:54 2017 Saturday ,26 August

Trump declares disaster for Texas

GMT 21:27 2016 Monday ,19 September

Modernity Meets Traditional Architecture

GMT 19:10 2011 Tuesday ,10 May

EasyJet losses widen on soaring fuel costs

GMT 05:30 2017 Monday ,17 April

Aramco’s refinery plans set to sweeten IPO

GMT 11:50 2011 Saturday ,20 August

Arsene Wenger in UEFA rage

GMT 11:55 2017 Thursday ,02 February

Egypt’s minister: They focus on financial steadiness

GMT 09:26 2013 Thursday ,23 May

Blast in south Pakistan kills 12, wounds 21
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday