On the 2025 version of the Bloodstock Open Air competition in the UK, GOJIRA drummer Mario Duplantier spoke to Bloodstock TV‘s Oran O’Beirne in regards to the progress of the songwriting and recording periods for the follow-up to the French progressive metallers’ 2021 album “Fortitude”. He stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): ”We already did report some drums and guitars and basses.
“It took us a very long time. We would have liked that point, I feel, simply to verify we’re all on the identical web page, make certain what’s GOJIRA is bringing subsequent is robust sufficient,” he defined. “Additionally, we do not have that a lot stress. We’re not a younger band anymore. We’re not like SLEEP TOKEN or LORNA SHORE the place the following album is so essential. We have been a band for 30 years, so GOJIRA is already a longtime band. It doesn’t suggest that we could be lazy — it doesn’t suggest that — but it surely’s very essential to take the time to carry one thing recent and new and highly effective.”
Mario added: “For the brand new songs, we took so a lot time simply to verify all the things is ok and highly effective sufficient and — I do not know — good sufficient as nicely. But it surely’s on the best way, it is on the best way. 2026, for certain.”
A 12 months in the past, Mario‘s brother, GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier, informed Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights that he and his bandmates have been “within the center” of engaged on their subsequent studio album. He stated on the time: “We’re attempting to ship one thing that’s significant and impactful. We’re very formidable when it comes to writing songs and the standard of it. And we wanna take a transparent step ahead and upward with this album. So we’re placing all our love and power on it.”
This previous February, GOJIRA was honored with a Grammy within the “Greatest Metallic Efficiency” class within the pre-telecast ceremony on the 67th annual Grammy Awards, which was held on the Crypto.com Enviornment (previously the Staples Middle) in Los Angeles, California. GOJIRA was nominated for “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira!)” — a model of the French Revolution-era normal “Ah! Ça Ira!” — which the band carried out finally 12 months’s Olympic Video games opening ceremony.
In July 2024, GOJIRA carried out a shock rendition of “Ah! Ça Ira” alongside opera singer Marina Viotti in addition to a lot of beheaded figures representing the slain Queen Marie Antoinette. The efficiency happened outdoors the Conciergerie, a former jail and residence of French kings throughout the French Revolution the place Antoinette was held earlier than she was beheaded in 1793.
GOJIRA made historical past as the primary steel band to ever carry out on the Olympic Video games. The efficiency made worldwide headlines and was broadly thought to be one of the crucial talked about moments from the 2024 summer season Olympics.
Previous to successful this 12 months’s Grammy, GOJIRA had been nominated for a Grammy Award thrice — twice in 2017, for “Greatest Metallic Efficiency” and “Greatest Rock Album” (“Magma”) and as soon as in 2022 for “Greatest Metallic Efficiency”.
GOJIRA is taken into account a standard-bearer for French rock and bringing French rock to a world viewers. Metallic Hammer declared GOJIRA “steel’s most essential band” in 2016.
“Fortitude” entered Billboard‘s High Albums chart at No. 1 in Could 2021, whereas additionally claiming the No. 1 spot on Billboard‘s High Present Albums, Present Rock Albums and Present Onerous Music Albums tallies. The discharge additionally marked a profession excessive debut on the Billboard 200 for GOJIRA, arriving at No. 12, with a number of profession excessive chart positions and High 10 debuts in nations across the globe together with: France (No. 2),United Kingdom (No. 6),Australia (No. 3),Germany (No. 8),Belgium (No. 2),Netherlands (No. 4),Denmark (No. 3),Portugal (No. 4),Finland (No. 2) and Norway (No. 10).
Moreover, GOJIRA concluded a month-long fundraising initiative in assist of the indigenous-owned NGO The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) who advocate for environmental and cultural rights of indigenous tribes within the Amazon. Working with the social good-focused digital platform Propeller, the charitable marketing campaign raised over $300,000 by way of an public sale and raffle of one-of-a-kind objects from the band and their pals in METALLICA, TOOL, SLIPKNOT, SLAYER, Slash and extra. All proceeds have been donated to APIB to assist their work aiding the indigenous tribes of the Amazon who’ve suffered immensely — victims of deforestation, land loss, compelled labor, violence, and harassment.
Recorded and produced by Joseph Duplantier at Silver Wire Studio — GOJIRA‘s Ridgewood, Queens, New York headquarters — and blended by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),“Fortitude” is GOJIRA‘s first album in 5 years and the follow-up to 2016’s Grammy-nominated LP “Magma”. A set of songs urging humanity to think about a brand new world after which make it occur, “Fortitude” has been incomes widespread important reward with Rolling Stone naming it considered one of their finest albums of April 2021 and remarking “It is all the fad of loss of life steel blended with the conscience of punk rock and the musicality of progressive rock.” NPR hailed “One other World” as “an apocalyptic banger,” and Paste known as “Into The Storm” a “much-needed revolutionary anthem.” Stereogum declared, “listening to this band working at their peak is a life-affirming factor,” whereas Revolver attested “Fortitude” “may spark a revolution.”
Picture credit score: Jimmy Fontaine
