Review Summary: The Way of All Flesh is a technical metal masterpiece that I would recommend to any metal fan.
Goira has a decently long history behind them. They formed in 1996 as Godzilla. In 2001 they began creating albums and changed their name to Gojira. They are a difficult to classify act. Over the course of four studio albums the band has evolved their sound form an almost straight-up death metal band to a group that combines technicality, uneasy atmosphere, and enough time signature changes and odd rhythms to be compared to Meshuggah.
Gojira is:
Joe Duplantier − guitar, vocals
Mario Duplantier − drums
Christian Andreu − guitar
Jean-Michel Labadie - bass guitar
An interesting aspect of Gojira is their unique style. Their songs typically revolve around one riff yet never getting boring: the phrase will gradually change over the course of the track. Minor changes will be applied such as a pick slide, gliss, an out-of-key chord to make each riff sound unique while giving the song a defining groove and melody.
The amount of technical precision in their music is rare. Gojira plays a technical and rhythmic style of heavy metal with precision drumming, unusual rhythm patterns, and start-and-stop riffs. They also incorporate atmospheric elements. They follow unconventional song structures and rhythms while keeping a defining groove, making their complex music sound effortless.
The Way of All Flesh is a faster and heavier record then it’s predecessors while becoming even more intricate and oddly melodic. Unlike previous works, each song sounds very different than others on the album. Within relatively few listens, every song becomes rather easily identifiable.
There is also not a weak link to be found in any member. Joe Duplantier has unique scream in which he screams virtually every line yet changes pitches as if he was singing with fantastic results. His brother, Mario, is one of the most skilled drummers in all of Metal. When I saw the band live in 2008 he never missed a beat in the whole set through his endlessly complex drum parts and fills that would make any other drummer pass out. Christian Andreu drives the band with the same amount of force as the percussion, not an easy feat for a guitarist mind you. The bass lines are very groove-based and counter the guitar parts well.
The only fault to be found with the record is an issue Gojira has always faced: The made too much material. This, however, is a minor complaint since you are getting more quality music then you’re average record. It’s just simply too long for casual listening. While nearly every track is amazing and unpredictable, it’s a challenge to listen to as a whole.
Whether you love your collection of Tool albums and dislike screamed vocals or love heavier acts such as Behemoth, this is a record you need to listen to at some point. Every track is amazing in it’s own right. You won’t be disappointed.
