Gojira - Fortitude
Fortitude (noun): Mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously.
The dictionary definition of “fortitude” got me thinking, did I display fortitude during my darkest and most difficult times in my life? Sure, I suppose there were many times that I did. But I recall many times where I felt like I just barely made it through.
I definitely felt like I showed fortitude by going back to college and earning my degree after dropping out 8 years prior.
Being forced to move on after a bad break-up? Not much fortitude shown then.
Sometimes I conquer. Sometimes I survive.
It doesn’t matter if I overcome an obstacle triumphantly or on my hands and knees, the point is that I got through it. Whether I scored a 100 or 70 on my exam is not important; the point is that I passed. That 100 sure feels great, but to me there are times when I felt more accomplished getting that 70. Countless amounts of difficult situations I never thought I’d make it through. But I did. And I’m a better man for it.
Barely surviving still counts as surviving.
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In a recent interview with Kerrang magazine, Gojira singer/guitarist/song writer Joe Duplantier explained that the point of Fortitude was to inspire people to be the best version of themselves and to be strong no matter what. Quite frankly, more people need their own version of Fortitude in their lives because there are way too many human beings showing only the worst version of themselves.
(But that’s neither here nor there😒)
The idea of being the best version of yourself is a novel idea. And it’s fitting that a band like Gojira inspire this type of philosophy, since they’ve been the best version of themselves for a long time. Together for over 20 years, Gojira continues to evolve and progress like every band (and human) should.
I got into Gojira right after L’Enfant Sauvage (2012) was released. I heard “Explosia” and the title track and I proceeded to lose my mind at how intense their sound was. Imagine a mix of thrash, progressive, and technical death metal. If I had a dating profile, those styles would be listed under “turn-ons.” So after wondering where has Gojira been all my life, I naturally went back and listened to some of their older songs and was even more impressed. It wasn’t until I decided to review this album that I went back and listened to every album in order from beginning to end, and as I’m working my way through their catalog I can hear the progression of their sound and songwriting. Terra Incognita (2001) and The Link (2003) were raw but promising. They started to hit their stride with From Mars to Sirius (2005) and The Way of All Flesh (2008), and really started to peak with L’Enfant Sauvage and Magma (2016). Fortitude is the result of the natural progression of Gojira’s creative direction, taking different aspects of their sound and enhancing it. There’s that fine line between having your sound/style, and expanding that for the sake of growth. Not many bands can straddle that line like Gojira.
For fans that like to be involved in the live show, Fortitude has an audience-participation AND a hands-in-the-air song. You’ll like “The Chant” if you’re into, well, chanting. If you’re into rad guitar riffs and stretching your arms, you’ll love “Into The Storm” as much as I do. My goodness that riff is so gosh darn delicious. If I look heavier than normal, it’s because I’ve been listening to that song on a loop. “Sphinx” is my air drum song. “Another World” was the first single released, and I’ll admit I wasn’t that into it at first. Then I heard “Born for One Thing” and that got me more excited. Then “Amazonia” kept the vibe going, and then I realized that with a band like Gojira, I can just trust them to release music that I love and keeps me engaged. I’m going to like certain songs more than others, but for the most part, I can trust Gojira.
In addition to tapping into your mental and emotional strength, Fortitude also touches on matters of the environment. Songs like “Amazonia” and “Hold On” addresses our problems with the environment, literally and metaphorically. Between Fortitude and the last Architects album speaking out about our problems with nature, I’m turning into a huge metal hippie. But that’s a good thing. Music is the best vehicle to relay a message to me, so if I learn about climate issues via music, so be it.
I’m looking forward to hearing these songs performed live when they come around with the Deftones. And I know the new tunes will sound great, because Gojira are one of the best live bands touring today. The first time I saw Gojira live was when they opened for Mastodon in 2014. They definitely commanded the crowd with their intensity and endless barrage of riffage. I ended up spending most of their set watching drummer Mario Duplantier destroy his drum kit. I have never seen a drummer be so technically and fundamentally sound, while at the same time looking like Animal from the Muppets. I was mesmerized the whole time.
Fortitude is good, right now I have it between The Way of All Flesh and Magma. It’s good but not as good as I hoped it would be. But that’s okay. Fortitude may not be the album I wanted to hear, but with all the messages of positivity and awareness, it was the album I need to hear.
“Now that you’ve dove down
Found the bottom begging for air
How sad, how long it takes us to rise and fight
Yeah you come out
You’re awake now
Put your fist in the air
You were hiding
Now you throw yourself
Into the storm”
Gojira - “Into The Storm”
