Gojira has been disrupting the metal world since its inception way back in 2001. A French quartet pumping out record after record of unique and varied death metal, the band originated when two brothers, Mario and Joe Duplantier, kicked things off in Bayonne. The term “death metal” is likely to frighten some potential concertgoers away, and sure to turn a number of noses toward the sky in disgust.
But the truly great thing about this band is how transcendent its music is. For my money, Gojira’s magnum opus is 2005’s From Mars to Sirius. This is neither the time nor the place for an in depth examination of the inner workings and utter majesty of this album, but trust me when I say you can’t go wrong by starting here. Whether tackling somewhat less expected lyrical content like environmental issues and pollution, to the more standard fare of personal struggles, these guys cover it all. You have only to scan through the band’s cover art to figure out something special is going on inside these record sleeves.
This is a wonderful opportunity for fans of the heavier side of music, who love radio bands like Five Finger Death Punch and Stone Sour, to discover some really amazing bands, and catch their impressive live shows at the same time. Even for music fans who don’t typically go in for this type of sound, I’d recommend a listen. I was lucky enough to catch Gojira a few years ago with Mastodon, and they were KILLER live. Gojira’s most recent record, 2016’s Magma, is an interesting addition to the band’s discography, and manages to be a bit more accessible than a few of their previous efforts.
Gojira The Shooting Star:
Pallbearer have managed to make a name for themselves in the doom metal community since forming in 2008. With three stellar albums, this quartet from Little Rock, Arkansas, have managed to make their mark on the global metal scene. Pallbearer’s most recent album, Heartless, was released earlier this year. Pallbearer manage to sound crisp and exciting in a genre that all too often delivers the same riffs over and over again.
Pallbearer Thorns:
Oni hail from Canada, and are the youngest band on the bill. Forming in 2014, they released their only album, Ironshore, back in 2016. Oni offer something different than both Gojira and Pallbearer: an interesting take on the djent/death metal wave that continues to erupt.
Oni Spawn and Feed:
Come out and enjoy an awesome show. I’ll see you there!
Gojira / Pallbearer / Oni
8/8 @ Knitting Factory – Doors @ 6 p.m.
Knitting Factory Concert House
416 S 9th St.
Boise, ID 83702
