Welcome to Retro-Reviews, a space where I indulge in my own nostalgic reveries, reminiscing about a time that never truly existed, but one that I’ve crafted through various random albums that hold significance for me. Whether good or bad, one thing is certain: remembering can be a bittersweet journey.
It’s 2005. Hurricane Katrina brings the USA to its knees, YouTube is launched to an unprepared world, London suffers its worst terrorist attack in decades, and some people get a new Pope…right. Now, the Metal: an impressive year with releases from Opeth, Nile, and Katatonia that would change the face of the genre. However, today we’re going to talk about arguably the most influential of all of those (notice I said influential, not best, so don’t kill me yet): Gojira – From Mars to Sirius. Let’s roll!
It’s difficult to approach an album that’s such an intrinsic part of my childhood as this one. I could tell you how iconic some tracks are, like “Flying Whales” or “The Heaviest Matter of the Universe,” or how revolutionary it was to hear riffs so simple yet so physical and mathematically accurate for the first time. Instead, I want to give you a different reflection. I want to tell the story of the little train that could.
Back then, Gojira was basically nobody, and even after this album, it gained our respect but not our wallets. The band struggled financially during and after the production of this masterpiece. It’s understandable—so many things weren’t Metal about Gojira back then. Sure, the Meshuggah and Tool-like riffs were there, but its ecological perspective and disregard for anything shreddy just didn’t fit the underground of those days. It was an era of melodic cheesiness and tough guy riffs. Gojira, being a crushing yet hippie band, didn’t fit in that world that couldn’t yet see how iconic some of its albums would become for being so ahead of their time. I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest Gojira fan, but From Mars to Sirius starts what would be the band’s golden era, which would end with L’Enfant Sauvage.
From Mars to Sirius is one of those rare albums where every track is an emotional roller-coaster that goes from naive beauty to the most intense ugliness in a matter of seconds. I can’t even point to something specific because each band member is at their A-game and ready to tear Metal as a genre apart. Nothing before sounded quite like it. Then there’s the fact that, aside from a controversial Black Metal scene, France wasn’t the quality factory we know it for today. Gojira had little statistical chance to reach the levels of popularity and influence it has today. Who would’ve thought they’d become one of the most important bands of that generation? I wouldn’t have bet a penny on that outcome more than 20 years later.
Now, the band is about to open for the Olympic Games in Paris. There’s no way you could have convinced me 10 years ago that any Metal band that wasn’t Metallica would get that honor. I’m sure they won’t play a single song from Mars, but I want to talk to you, musicians who create music out of your blood and tears. Don’t give up! Because if one of our bands can beat the odds and even play at the Olympic Games, why can’t you dream on? And you fans, your support means something! Metal is always there for you, so let’s enjoy this vain and mainstream achievement for once as a community!
Label: Listenable & Prosthetic Records
Release date: 27 September, 2005
Website: https://listenable-records.bandcamp.com/album/from-mars-to-sirius
Country: France
Score: I can’t score something that means so much to me!
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