Gojira

Gojira is a French heavy metal band formed in 1996 in Ondres, France. The line-up consists of Christian Andreu, Joe Duplantier, Mario Duplantier and Jean-Michel Labadie. Joe Duplantier handles vocals and lead guitar, Mario Duplantier plays drums, Christian Andreu plays guitar, and Jean-Michel Labadie plays bass.

The band’s lyrics deal with life, ecology and spiritual themes, and some of their work focuses on the ecological effects of human activity on the Earth. Their sound is associated with death metal, progressive metal, thrash metal, groove metal, alternative metal, avant-garde metal and melodic death metal.

Gojira first uses the name after originally calling the group Godzilla, changing it because of legal constraints. The new name refers to the Japanese form of the word, which is explained in relation to the Japanese term for a gorilla-whale.

Before Labadie joins, Alexandre Cornillon plays bass and leaves in 2001. Joe and Mario Duplantier also perform together in the experimental metal band Empalot. Joe Duplantier later plays bass for Cavalera Conspiracy, the project formed by former Sepultura members Max and Igor Cavalera.

In 2024, Gojira becomes the first metal band to perform at the Olympics, playing a metal version of a traditional French song alongside an opera singer and symphony.