Gojira - Fortitude 6.3
Progressive/Alternative Metal
Gojira’s place in music history is well-cemented, but it’s hard to say whether Fortitude hurts or helps their legacy.
Gojira spawned out of the commercial wreckage of the legendary metal bands that made waves in the 80s and 90s. With their inception in 1996, they joined a handful of bands pushing unique sounds and exploring the limits of time signatures and melody in the early 2000s. Gojira was and is an integral part of this movement that includes other versatile groups like Meshuggah and Opeth out of Sweden, and Tool from the US. What makes these bands special is their ability to impress with inventive sounds and feel, and their ability to create music that no one has heard before. When I listen to a Gojira record, the expectation is that I will be impressed and form an emotional connection with the powerful music they make. Fortitude really doesn’t accomplish that in any large way, certainly when you compare this record to much of their old music that punches you in the gut with riffs and untouchable drumming.
Fortitude isn’t ground-breaking, but it does serve a purpose and the lyricism and imagery associated with the record is profoundly meaningful. Fortitude continues along the past themes of Gojira’s work; albums that promote ecology and the importance of protecting our earth. This record narrows the ecological lens to modern day Brazil, both with it’s widespread forest fires and the displacement of thousands of indigenous Brazilians. The thought behind the music is about as good as it gets, and Joe Duplantier writes into these songs his literal, and very dire concerns for the future of the region and the planet as a whole.
For all its flaws, Fortitude has a powerful beginning. “Born for One Thing”, an early release that featured a high production value music video, is a hard-hitting track with an inventive drum roll opening that immediately tests your brain. It’s such a Gojira move, and the transition from the unique opening into the booming first verse is seamless. This song sets a high bar for the rest of the album, a bar that is ultimately far above the head of most of the other tracks off Fortitude.
The second track on Fortitude is “Amazonia” which knocks your socks off with its in-your-face ride pattern and explosive bass drum. Coupled with Joe’s unique intro riff in which he bends the open D-string above the nut of his fretboard, “Amazonia” opens with an incredible groove. Following this intro groove is a staple Gojira triplet riff that chuggs as hard as some of their hits. This track moves your body, and its composition is genius. “Amazonia” is the takeaway star from this album, undoubtedly.
It wouldn’t be a Gojira album without incredible drumming and Mario Duplantier pulls no punches on this album. From the unique snare pattern in track one to the death metal-esque blast beats in the closer “Grind”, Mario includes a little something for everyone in Fortitude. As is typical for any work graced by Mario, he manages to create interesting parts without over drumming, and even in a more accessible album like Fortitude, he flexes his unmatched skill on the drumkit.
The main issue with this record is that several of its full-length tracks are utterly dispensable. “Hold On” features an incredibly cringe-worthy intro and feels like a collection of jam sessions shoved together. “New Found”, “Sphinx”, and “Into The Storm” are just forgettable tracks. None of these four tracks are up-to-par for Gojira’s discography and might be reflection of their turn towards more radio-friendly songwriting. This record ends with “Grind”, a track reminiscent of the way they end their 2012 album The Way of All Flesh. “Grind” is just okay. The intro slaps you in the face with pure death metal instrumentals that don’t fit the rest of the album at all. The outro of the song is a solid, bass-heavy wall of guitars but it continues for three minutes, more than half of the song’s duration.
“The Trails” is a track I was looking for going into my first listen of the album and I was pleasantly surprised. Gojira loves their softer songs, and you can be sure to hear one on each of their albums, Fortitude being no different. “The Trails” is a super atmospheric and melancholic track that just works. The main riff is reminiscent of “Born in Winter” and Joe Duplantier expertly mixes hushed verses with anthem-like breaks that emanate power and sorrow. “The Trails” is a track that really captures the emotion and message of the album which is ultimately the loss of something grand and sacred.
Fortitude doesn’t lack any uniqueness or musical creativity, but it’s not Gojira’s best work, and doesn’t compare well with their other albums.
Great work. Gojira has the coolest track names!