ALBUM REVIEW: Fortitude – Gojira

As humanity’s doomsday starts to circle – at least we’ve got GOJIRA in the fight with us. No band in modern metal has been able to bind the impending collapse of civilisation in as much cinematic brutality as the Frenchmen. Two decades in: they’re yet to pull a punch. Through sweat, rage, and riffs, the four piece are a jagged thorn in the side of capitalist ideologies and environmental misuse. That’s not even the full extent of their genius though.

In practice, GOJIRA‘s target market should be niche. They’re a difficult band to digest – purposefully so. Fluctuating time signatures, angular riffs, thumping drum beats: there’s no such thing as a passive GOJIRA track. And it’s the bands ability, in spite of this, to draw an obsessive fandom that makes them one of the greats of our time. The narrative behind their classics; Silvera, Stranded, Flying Whales, L’Enfant Sauvage, and The Gift Of Guilt were a bonus. They’ve made a career out of placing chest beating anthem in the middle of musical, and lyrical wizardry.

2016’s Magma saw them understandably divert their aim to more personal matters. The loss of the Duplantier duo (Mario & Joe)’s mother dominated the record’s discussion. But the albums accessibility drove the band to new heights. So much so that now: Seventh effort Fortitude feels like a paramount event in modern metal – regardless of its subject matter.

Demanding civilisation confronts its foes and finds courage to overcome them – Fortitude stays on the offensive for 50 minutes. Our obsession with consumerism is pulled apart on the rampant Born For One Thing. Amazonia lambasts us for the idle nature we show in watching our planet burn. Another World mocks our search for life on another globe when we could just save our own. The opening trio are delivered with the typical sledge of rhythmic force GOJIRA are known for, too.

Where Fortitude truly flexes its muscles though is in its title track and The Chant‘s one-two punch. Essentially they’re a seven minute masquerade of spirit inducing unity – all centred around one melodic hook. Even with Magma‘s The Shooting Star being so well received, this is a bold step. But it’s one that GOJIRA make comfortably. Minimalistic as the two might be, their choir like mantra is captivating, foreboding, and fit to soundtrack any extinction.

It’s high quality, business as usual GOJIRA everywhere else, though. The stomach churning tempo of Grind is only furthered by Joe‘s seething chorus growls. And Hold On features one of his all-time great lead riffs, bringing it out the gates before the quartet slam into one of their archetypal pace shifts. The record finds drummer Mario at his multi-pronged best as well. Now comfortably one of the best metal men to ever pick up the sticks: his kit traversing performance on the spiralling Sphinx is mind bending.

GOJIRA are the only band that could have made Fortitude. Who else could execute such technical, contemporary metal to this degree? The list is short. But more than musically, this is a record that returns the quartet to the battleground of a fight they’ve been in for 20 years. They’re the credible, ethical, inspirational outfit we’ve been crying for. Lots of bands exist, but GOJIRA? They make a difference.

Rating: 9/10

Fortitude is set for release on April 30th via Roadrunner Records. 

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