Initially expressed fears by singer/guitarist Joe Duplantier that fans might not follow the musical direction on the band’s new album The Way Of All Flesh should have ended in smoke now.
After three years of ongoing touring French exceptional metallers GOJIRA are finally ready to come up with a new record and even managed to top the previous one.
Although GOJIRA on The Way Of All Flesh pick up right where From Mars To Sirius was left off, the new album turns out to be much heavier, more brutal, raw and dark, but also a bit straighter and easier to access. Electronic elements were cut out, except for marginal sample snippets as in the end of the opener Oroborus. Instead there are more percussive elements to find and still lots of melodies. They did not set aside the wonderfully twisted but unbelievably dynamic and neck-breaking or likewise hypnotizing and intriguing monster riffwork. Just listen to the first single Vacuity for example, the title-track, the already mentioned opener or songs such as A Slight To Behold and Yama’s Messengers… Amazing work!
Joe’s vocal art got further improvement, has developed in variety and sometimes reminds me of Opeth’s Ackerfeld regarding expressiveness and variety.
Tracks range between 2 minutes (a dreamy guitar-dominated instrumental entitled The Silver Chord) up to over 17 minutes (The Way Of All Flesh) with smooth transitions throughout the album. Attempts to label and categorize GOJIRAs music still remain hopeless ;) Don’t try it, no need for really, check them out, there is much to discover and enjoy what you are listening to! Great record!