GOJIRA Frontman Talks Next Studio Album

Joseph Duplantier of French progressive metallers GOJIRA recently spoke to U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's
next studio album, which is not expected to arrive until early 2012. Duplantier revealed that, rather than the heavily researched themes of the last CD, lyrics for the upcoming, yet-to-be-titled effort — which may end up getting produced by Greg Fidelman (METALLICA, SLAYER, HIGH ON FIRE, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) — are a lot more spontaneous, with "stream of consciousness"-style "spiritual" compositions.

"I've been about spirituality since the first album," he said. "It's hard to define what spirituality is, but it's more like getting closer to [oneself]. It's where each thing we do is sacred; not like going to a
church or when you are with a dying person, but waking up in the morning… I've tried to take this dimension when I've written the music, like sometimes I don't even know what I'm going to sing and the words come out fluently. It's not a concept album like in the past, it's more about being spontaneous with feeling, and it's more true and honest."

The quartet is currently without a label home, having parted ways with Listenable Records after the release of 2008's "The Way Of All Flesh".
"Listenable did an amazing job with us, we're very good friends with the owner and we are still working with them on stuff, but now it's time for us to move on to something a bit bigger; we need to bring some fresh energy and new blood into GOJIRA," said Duplantier.

"A few record companies have now put a bit more money on the table, so it feels like something really important is happening. We don't know where we're going to go for the next album, but everything is moving and we'll be recording by the end of the summer."

GOJIRA last year entered the studio to record a new four-song EP, the proceeds from which will benefit Sea Shepherd, an anti-whaling organization. The CD will feature guest appearances by Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD), Fredrik Thordendal (MESHUGGAH), Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD), Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA).

"It's almost finished — it's been almost finished for months now and I still have gaps to fill with voices," Duplantier told Terrorizer. "Some of the singers are on tour, so I had to change my plans a bit and contact different singers. This is something so important to us, it's completely non-profit and we've spent a lot of time and energy on it already, but we don't want to release it until we're 100 percent happy with it. Our goal is mid-September."

Also in the works is a GOJIRA live DVD with a bonus section entitled "The Way Of All Flesh From The Inside", with footage from rehearsals demoing the album, studio and the tour that was filmed by the bandmembers themselves.

"It's very lo-fi, but it's real!" enthused Duplantier. "It's an hour-long movie and I'm even more excited by this than the live stuff. It will be in our deal with the next record company and will probably come out January 2012."