Gojira

Gojira is a French extreme metal band from Ondres. It was originally formed in 1996 under the name of Godzilla, then adopted the name of Gojira in 2001, which is none other than his transcription in rōmaji. The band is currently composed of four members: Joseph Duplantier (vocals and rhythm guitar), the leader; Mario Duplantier (drums), brother of the first; Christian Andreu (solo guitar) and Jean-Michel Labadie (bass). Since his formation, Gojira has a total of six studio albums, from Terra Incognita (2001) to Magma (2016), and two live DVDs.

Associated with death metal, progressive metal, Gojira is distinguished in the metal scene by the ecologist and spiritual sensitivity of their songs. In addition, all their texts are written in English. Having enjoyed success among fans in France since the release of their first album in 2001, the group very quickly knows the celebrity in the United States, then in the whole world, which leads them to the biggest festivals, such as the Wacken Open Air and Hellfest and playing with big bands like, Iron Maiden (Legacy of the Beast Tour 2018) Metallica, Slayer, Children of Bodom, or Lamb of God. Gojira received a double Grammy nomination in 2017 for the best rock album and best metal album of the year with Magma.

The first four members of the group come from Ondres in the Landes department. Joe, the singer and leader of the band, wants to create a band with Christian Andreu and Alexandre Cornillon, and is looking for a drummer. Judging his brother too young, he finally changed his mind and decided to join the group, which was formed in Bayonne in 1996 under the name Godzilla >>>. This name is inspired by the Japanese fantasy film of the same name and the giant radioactive creature that appears. The four musicians start giving concerts at local festivals and produce several demos: "Victim" (1996), Possessed (1997), Saturate (1999) and Wisdom Comes (2000). In these first records, their music combines elements from thrash metal and death metal. Godzilla will star in bands such as Cannibal Corpse, Edge of Sanity, Impaled Nazarene, and Immortal in September 1999.

In 1998, the filmmaker Roland Emmerich made a controversial remake of Godzilla, which imposes on the general public a different perception of the famous monster, and makes it a registered trademark at the world level. To distinguish themselves from it>, the group adopts from the year 2000 the name of Gojira, which is none other than the correct Japanese pronunciation of the title of the original film>. Jean-Michel Labadie replaces Alex Cornillon as bassist of the group in January 1998. In 2001, they produce their first studio album, Terra Incognita>.