Gojira: The Cell

A new single released by the mighty Gojira, a French act who have in recent years become one of the world's most respected metal acts.

The Cell comes from Magma, their sixth album, a release that dominated their genre last year.

Gojira were nominated for two Grammy awards, and while they may have lost out to other acts, a double nomination for a French act in two of the most high profile - and most competitive - categories is quite an achievement.

The four piece were up for Best Metal Performance for their track Silvera - which went to Megadeth's Dystopia - and best rock album, which went to Cage the Elephant.

The album reached the top 30 in the UK following its release last year and was one of 2016's most significant metal releases, getting that increasingly rare combination of artistic respect from critics as well as commercial success.

The band are set to tour the UK next month, having performed in arenas around the country in November and December last year supporting Alter Bridge.

Gojira at Bloodstock 2013

A major gig in the UK for French metal act Gojira at the weekend, with their set at the Bloodstock Open Air
festival.

Other bands on the bill at the weekend included Slayer, King Diamond, Anthrax  and Lamb of God.

During their set Gojira were joined by Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe

Gojira played at Bloodstock in 2010, but since the 2012 release of their l'enfant sauvage album the band's been picking up critical acclaim and considerable attention.

The album was the band's fifth, and they're matured into one of the most respected bands in the international metal scene.

The album reached the top ten in France.

In June Gojira were awarded the Metal Hammer Golden Gods award for the best live act of 2013.

They've been touring extensively this year, with more dates to come.

Gojira UK tour dates

A full set of tour dates for the mighty Gojira, the band behind probably the finest rock albums (extreme division) of the year.

While Gojira are an uncompromising bunch, their music is far from as inhospitable as it might seem on first listen to those uninitiated in the ways of the extreme end of the rock spectrum.

L’Enfant Sauvage, the album they released on Roadrunner records earlier this year, is an intelligent and articulate work, the music displaying a sophistication that borders on progressive rock while not losing its power or impact.

They're at the top of their game at the moment and the chance to see them live is not to be passed lightly.

Support on the tour comes from fellow French rock acts Klone and Trepalium, about whom I'll no doubt have more later.

The tour dates are:

Nov 05 NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY Newcastle
Nov 06 GARAGE Glasgow
Nov 07 ACADEMY 2 Manchester
Nov 08 GREAT HALL 2 Cardiff
Nov 10 RESCUE ROOMS Nottingham
Nov 11 KOKO London
Nov 12 SLADE ROOMS Wolverhampton
Nov 14 LEMON GROVE Exeter
Nov 15 MO CLUB Southampton
Nov 16 ACADEMY Oxford

The UK dates are followed by shows in France, and a December gig at the Indian Metal Festival in Bangalore, India

Gojira: L'Enfant Sauvage

This week ween the long-awaited release of L'Enfant Sauvage, the new album by world-class French rock act Gojira.

The band's career so far has earned them the respect of an international audience, I'm certain this will put them in the first division of the rock scene.

While a rock act through and through, they've remained true to the scene but continued to push its boundaries, incorporating elements from across sub gentres at the extreme end of the spectrum.

While they appeal to fans of thrash or death metal, their music is shot through with a progressive and experimental attitude.

The band are originally from Bayonne, and have been active since '96, changing their name from Godzilla in 2001. L'Enfant Sauvage is their fifth album.

This live track is from the deluxe edition of l'Enfant Sauvage, and was recorded in 2009 at the Les Eurockéennes festival. The track originally came from their 2008 album The Way of All Flesh.

Gojira: L'Enfant Sauvage

Gojira are unquestionably one of the greatest rock bands to have emerged in the last couple of years, and their new album is certainly much-anticipated.

The album, their fifth and their debut oninternational rock label Roadrunner, is entitled L'Enfant Sauvage and comes out on June 25.

Ahead of the album the title track is being made available as a digital single and on the strength of this track the album looks set to be one of the key rock releases of the year.

Gojira's first album was released in 2001, having formed in 1996, and in the last decade they have gone from the metal underground to one of the most respected rock acts around.

With regard the new album, singer/guitraist Joe Duplantier said: "When you become a musician, you don't have a boss telling you what to do so you have to be very responsible,"

"With freedom comes responsibility so I'm asking myself, 'What is freedom? What does it mean to me?'

"L'Enfant Sauvage reflects on that. There's no answer though. There's just life and questions."