French metal outfit Gojira has just been given an impressive title for the resume, with Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge labelling them “the most important metal band out there right now.”
If you consider yourself a metal fan, then there is a pretty strong chance you’ve listened to some Gojira along the way. A French heavy metal outfit, the group have released six albums across their 23-year career, and have toured the world numerous times.
Having last visited Australia for the Download Festival last year, Gojira made headlines earlier this year when their guitarist was burned by their onstage pyrotechnics during a show.
Soon after, they also found themselves heaped with praise after sending Scottish outfit CHVRCHES a gift following a highly-publicised incident with Hatebreed.
Needless to say, they’re one of those bands who deserves not only the critical acclaim that they receive, but their reputation as an all-round bunch of nice people.
Now it seems as though their influence is spreading over to other icons of the genre as well, with Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge explaining to Sweden’s RockSverige that he took a leaf out of the band’s book while writing the song ‘Native Son’.
Check out ‘Native Son’ by Alter Bridge:
“When I wrote that riff, I had certainly been listening to a lot of Gojira, so it was something that I could see was totally rubbing off on what I was feeling at the moment,” Kennedy explained. “I think that they’re, in my opinion, the most important metal band out there right now.
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“They’re moving the needle as far as newer bands go… bands within the last two decades. They blow my mind and the cool thing about Gojira is that they’re also incredibly cool guys, for as talented as they are. They’re really just stand up, great individuals, so I’m definitely rooting for them. They’re special.”
When asked about what it is that sets Gojira apart from other bands on the scene, Myles Kennedy explained that they’re a band who doesn’t approach their music in a formulaic manner, choosing instead to think outside of the box to create a unique style.
“I think it’s just that it’s smart. It’s not just pure cookie cutter metal riffs,” Kennedy explained. “To me, it’s not status quo.
“They’re trying to do something unique between the way Joe (Duplantier, guitar, vocals) approaches things with his guitar parts and his brother (Mario Duplantier), who’s a genius drummer… I think a lot of the rhythms that take place under a lot of the riffs really help establish their sound and that’s part of what makes them so unique.
“I mean, I could just go on and on. There are just so many elements and the visual elements are great too. Their production is amazing and they’ve just got all the boxes checked. They’re really a ground-breaking band and they’re going to be around for a long time.”
While Gojira were last in the country in early 2018, there’s no word yet as to when we might see them return, or when they might have some new material for us. Whatever the case, it seems as though they’ve managed to curate themselves a rather sizeable and respectable fanbase.
Check out ‘Stranded’ by Gojira:
