gojiras dark eco metal finds unlikely grammy glory
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Gojira's dark eco metal finds unlikely Grammy glory

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab 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."

arabstoday
arabstoday

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

 



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 13:42 2015 Saturday ,04 April

Libyan warplane targets camp in Gharyan town

GMT 15:14 2017 Wednesday ,01 March

UN documents nearly 1,500 child soldiers in Yemen

GMT 07:24 2017 Sunday ,01 October

Mexico unlikely to find more quake survivors

GMT 16:15 2015 Wednesday ,11 November

German intelligence 'spied' on Fabius, FBI, UN bodies

GMT 01:32 2017 Saturday ,15 April

Russia's Putin earns about 157,000 USD in 2016

GMT 16:30 2017 Saturday ,15 July

Minister of planning gives priority

GMT 19:45 2017 Wednesday ,05 April

President of Senegal Meets Attorney General

GMT 05:18 2017 Thursday ,21 September

Over 80 missing after migrant boat sinks off Libya

GMT 19:22 2017 Saturday ,01 April

UN: Number of Syrian Refugees Tops 5 million

GMT 15:16 2016 Thursday ,29 September

FBI to put up database on police use of deadly force

GMT 05:06 2016 Friday ,30 September

Indian markets open flat

GMT 01:57 2017 Tuesday ,10 October

Twin suicide bombs kill 13 near Mogadishu airport

GMT 02:25 2017 Friday ,08 September

UAE celebrates National Day at Expo 2017 Astana

GMT 06:19 2017 Sunday ,08 January

Bleaching poses the gravest threat to coral reefs

GMT 12:35 2017 Monday ,18 September

Elham Shahin happy for “Day for Women”

GMT 09:46 2017 Thursday ,22 June

US existing home sales unexpectedly rise in May

GMT 02:36 2017 Tuesday ,10 January

US embassy condemns Al-Arish suicide attack

GMT 10:34 2017 Sunday ,26 November

czar faces graft probe
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab 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 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday