(September 2025) Episode 676 is GOJIRA. A big part of the enjoyment of this metal act from France is that they don’t confine themselves to one style; it’s a mix of thrash, death, nu, groove, prog and math metal, both within and across songs (not unlike Sepultura). This French stew has made them a national icon – they were the first metal band to play at an Olympic opening ceremony (Paris 2024) – and international status. Environmentalism is a recurring lyrical theme. Joe Duplantier’s pick scrape technique is a nice distinctive touch.
Favorite album: From Mars to Sirius
Favorite song: Flying Whales
Compared to expectations: ↑
Recommendation: I think From Mars to Sirius, The Way of All Flesh and L’Enfant Sauvage are their best albums; Magma is their most acclaimed but my least favorite.
Opus Project 