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Gojira - Magma



7.9 | 681 votes |
Release date: 17 June 2016
Style: Alternative metal, Progressive death metal

Owners:

430 have it
48 want it
1 trades it


01. The Shooting Star
02. Silvera
03. The Cell
04. Stranded
05. Yellow Stone
06. Magma
07. Pray
08. Only Pain
09. Low Lands
10. Liberation

The Best Alternative Metal Album Of 2016

Guest review by
musclassia
Rating:
7.4
Across their career thus far, and most notably on From Mars To Sirius and The Way Of All Flesh, Gojira have developed a reputation for playing an intensely heavy, percussive, and groovy brand of progressive metal, relentless yet hooky with ambitious, often lengthy songwriting. Whilst a sizeable number of bands have at some point in their career softened and/or streamlined their approach to develop a more widely accessible sound, for a band so renowned for their heaviness and, to a lesser degree, complexity, as Gojira, toning down those aspects of their sound could be considered a real risk. However, with 2016's Magma, they deliver an album that is by no means soft or simple, but which is a clear sonic departure from the likes of "Backbone" and "The Art Of Dying" from previous albums. How has this decision paid off for them? Well, in this humble reviewer's opinion, while this album doesn't rival the aforementioned albums as the band's best work, there are more than enough positive and interesting things about the new approach for it to avoid being classified as a failure.

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published 02.01.2017 | Comments (2)

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Comments: 113   Visited by: 1405 users
06.09.2016 - 18:47
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Written by Guest on 06.09.2016 at 18:10

Written by Cynic Metalhead on 06.09.2016 at 10:23



You mean they weren't comfortable with "L'Enfant Sauvage"/"The Way All Flesh"?! I think they were very technical and the complexity has given those records a boost for Gojira. Oversimplifying is what has actually put them behind their previous works. Nothing pretty bad about "Magma", it's a very strong record but disappointed on catalyzing the sound.

L'Enfant Sauvage was probably one of the most boring albums I've ever heard. No sense of songwriting whatsoever, just aimless waffle. I thank Poseidon that they made a catchy and memorable number in Magma after that.


Exactly and tbh The Way Of All Flessh already had almost no sense of songwriting and was just technical show-off thus it becoming a boring album. From mars To Sirius, The Link, and Terra Incognita were also technical but at least those albums possessed some great song writing. With Magma they have toned down on the technical aspect without ditching it all together and focussed on writing compact, even catchy songs, which they pulled off brilliantly.
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06.09.2016 - 18:49
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 06.09.2016 at 18:47



Exactly and tbh The Way Of All Flessh already had almost no sense of songwriting and was just technical show-off thus it becoming a boring album. From mars To Sirius, The Link, and Terra Incognita were also technical but at least those albums possessed some great song writing. With Magma they have toned down on the technical aspect without ditching it all together and focussed on writing compact, even catchy songs, which they pulled off brilliantly.

Exactly.
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06.09.2016 - 18:57
Rating: 7
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
Written by Guest on 06.09.2016 at 18:10

Written by Cynic Metalhead on 06.09.2016 at 10:23



You mean they weren't comfortable with "L'Enfant Sauvage"/"The Way All Flesh"?! I think they were very technical and the complexity has given those records a boost for Gojira. Oversimplifying is what has actually put them behind their previous works. Nothing pretty bad about "Magma", it's a very strong record but disappointed on catalyzing the sound.

L'Enfant Sauvage was probably one of the most boring albums I've ever heard. No sense of songwriting whatsoever, just aimless waffle.


Yeah, totally right. It could be the most boring record for you and many people who was wondering what the fuck they just did in "Sauvage"?!

It's vastly different, produce out of the comfort zone and songs took a shape that many people were baffled( may be like you?) that it really doesn't appeal as much as "From Mars To Sirius"/"The Way Of All Flesh". What "Magma" comes out to be a modernized version of "Sauvage".

Yes, band has really stepped onto new direction and made catchy tunes doesn't mean they scored high on originality. I'm still listening to "Sauvage" in "Magma" which is little bit disappointing considering the fact that they already have two great releases(excluding Sauvage) which shown us typical Gojira sound.

No doubts with Magma as it still kick pretty hard with numbers and it delivered it fantastically but on the "set-staged" platform.
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13.10.2016 - 02:24
Rating: 9
Thanosminion

First listen over the summer I was very disappointed. Came back to it mid-Sept. and started to appreciate it despite being a very different animal from past albums. Songs are more straightforward and to the point with a mix of floating AND driving riffs, a few atmospheric lulls that build the anticipation, some interesting fills, time sig changes, and of course the crushing guitar and drums we've come to expect. Overall feel for the album though is more compact with less exploration then we've seen from them in past... and definitely not as EXPLOSIVE. There's no fat anywhere here and sometimes I like the fat... where the wild excursions and heavy progressive moments hang out. If you listen carefully you'll hear the sonics and tones are varied throughout tracks which is appreciated. It adds some variety while still bearing the Gojira heaviness we all love.

I'd say go back and listen to it again if you were like me and disappointed at first. You'll come around. I actually crave these songs filling my airspace so I can bang my fucking head against the wall and growl like a hungry beast.
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09.12.2016 - 04:47
Maco
Pvt Funderground
Yeah this album is incredible.
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Crackhead Megadeth reigns supreme.
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09.12.2016 - 07:09
3rdWorld
China was a neat
But way too simplified that it almost is nothing but groove metal most of the time.
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06.01.2017 - 03:47
Jaeryd
Nihil's Maw
Written by flightoficarus on 23.06.2016 at 18:25

If we're rating this in terms of being a progressive metal album, it's not very good. If we're rating it in terms of being a hard rock record, it's one of the best this year.

Good point.
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06.01.2017 - 21:15
Rating: 7
flightoficarus
Stamp Tramp
Written by Jaeryd on 06.01.2017 at 03:47

Written by flightoficarus on 23.06.2016 at 18:25

If we're rating this in terms of being a progressive metal album, it's not very good. If we're rating it in terms of being a hard rock record, it's one of the best this year.

Good point.


Word.
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Listen to the Trench Talk podcast.
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06.01.2017 - 21:56
Jaeryd
Nihil's Maw
Written by flightoficarus on 06.01.2017 at 21:15

Written by Jaeryd on 06.01.2017 at 03:47

Written by flightoficarus on 23.06.2016 at 18:25

If we're rating this in terms of being a progressive metal album, it's not very good. If we're rating it in terms of being a hard rock record, it's one of the best this year.

Good point.

Word.

I mean, I still find it to be dull, and not because I want Gojira to put out more of the same. While I like the previous two albums, my rating goes back and forth between a 7 and a low-8, because while I can sometimes really enjoy them, other times I only like half of the tracks and get irritated by all the filler. I would've been disappointed if they kept doing the same old shit, really.

But yeah, I just listened to it recently and it's slightly better when viewed as a hard rock record. I really enjoyed a few parts of it, even.

Still, I only really liked the two singles, Stranded and Silvera, plus Lowlands and maybe one or two others. The rest was really dull, or even annoying (Magma's meandering high-pitched pentatonic-scale guitar thing got on my nerves). I tried to keep an open mind, but it simply doesn't do much for me. Chalk it up to my shitty taste, I guess.
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07.01.2017 - 01:24
Rating: 7
flightoficarus
Stamp Tramp
Written by Jaeryd on 06.01.2017 at 21:56

I mean, I still find it to be dull, and not because I want Gojira to put out more of the same. While I like the previous two albums, my rating goes back and forth between a 7 and a low-8, because while I can sometimes really enjoy them, other times I only like half of the tracks and get irritated by all the filler. I would've been disappointed if they kept doing the same old shit, really.

But yeah, I just listened to it recently and it's slightly better when viewed as a hard rock record. I really enjoyed a few parts of it, even.

Still, I only really liked the two singles, Stranded and Silvera, plus Lowlands and maybe one or two others. The rest was really dull, or even annoying (Magma's meandering high-pitched pentatonic-scale guitar thing got on my nerves). I tried to keep an open mind, but it simply doesn't do much for me. Chalk it up to my shitty taste, I guess.


Love that Stranded guitar riff. Like the definition of a hook. But yeah I agree with you 100%
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Daily underground metal recommendations at Metal Trenches.
Listen to the Trench Talk podcast.
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07.08.2017 - 17:36
Rating: 7
Reaper_Redeemer

Listened to this after a local live. Not a big fan of the band though I admit their work. For sure they are going to be considered one of the most successful bands. In this album I liked the four first tracks.
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27.11.2017 - 00:20
Rating: 9
InnerSelf
proofread free
I keep coming back to this album, such a beautifully written album. Second favorite after From Mars to Sirus, and it has the same quality that FMtS had with the songs and tunes being instantly memorable while maintaining a level of complexity and originality.
This, for me, was an unexpected comeback into form after a rather lacking couple of albums.
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He who is not bold enough
to be stared at from across the abyss
is not bold enough
to stare into it himself.
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20.01.2018 - 21:10
Rating: 9
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by InnerSelf on 27.11.2017 at 00:20

I keep coming back to this album, such a beautifully written album. Second favorite after From Mars to Sirus, and it has the same quality that FMtS had with the songs and tunes being instantly memorable while maintaining a level of complexity and originality.
This, for me, was an unexpected comeback into form after a rather lacking couple of albums.

Agreed! Listening to this a lot lately. The title track is soooo good. Love the production here. The vocals are mixed perfectly.
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rekt
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01.06.2018 - 19:47
Immortal

I'm wearing 'Yellow Stone' really thin, I can't stop listening to it. I don't want to listen to it so many times in one day that I end up hating it, but on the other hand, I do!
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"Hope is the greatest of all evils, for it prolongs the torment of man." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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29.08.2018 - 08:43
Rating: 9
gopherhawk2@gmail.co

Super underrated album.
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Follow your heart, not trends.
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10.09.2019 - 10:41
Maco
Pvt Funderground
Yeah this album deserves more love.
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Crackhead Megadeth reigns supreme.
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06.03.2020 - 02:03
Desha
delicious dish
I hate it so much. They tried having an emotional record but don't have any pay offs and ended up with either prog drivel or stale radio rock. If L'Enfant Sauvage was their "oh my mom died" record, I would understand. But this is just kind of nothing. Nothing of the impact they're known for and the new stuff is really meh.
Hoping they take this as a stepping stone (as they did The Way Of All Flesh) and make a more consistent record afterwards. The pessimist in me doubts it.
----
You are the hammer, I am the nail
building a house in the fire on the hill
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21.06.2020 - 07:14
Rating: 4
sgtrobo

Damn.
what an absolute disappointment.
Waste of $$$.
Lacks energy.
Lacks intensity.
It's just...boring.
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10.08.2020 - 02:38
jawharessence

Gojira, in my opinion, have gained their fame based on From Mars to Sirius, which is a colossal, leviathan album. L'Enfant Sauvage is second to From Mars to Sirius. Those are the only albums that have any real worth in their discography. Before FMTS they're almost unlistenable, and frankly annoying. They tried to build on the success of FMTS in The Way of All Flesh, but that went down the drain. That album had a couple of solid tracks. But it can't hold a candle to its predecessor.

Then enters Magma, a boring, half-assed attempt at changing their sound. Not too many bands were able to pull this off. Gojira are no exception.
I hope after Magma the heaviness returns.
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01.03.2021 - 09:45
Rating: 8
Mehrad

Pretty Decent record ... I think it's very underrated .... I'm surprised that no one mentioned PRAY and ONLY PAIN, those are killer tracks
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31.03.2021 - 15:47
Rating: 8
Mehrad

Written by Guest on 06.09.2016 at 18:10

Written by Cynic Metalhead on 06.09.2016 at 10:23



You mean they weren't comfortable with "L'Enfant Sauvage"/"The Way All Flesh"?! I think they were very technical and the complexity has given those records a boost for Gojira. Oversimplifying is what has actually put them behind their previous works. Nothing pretty bad about "Magma", it's a very strong record but disappointed on catalyzing the sound.

L'Enfant Sauvage was probably one of the most boring albums I've ever heard. No sense of songwriting whatsoever, just aimless waffle.

I mean different tastes and all that is true .... but GODDAMN you are wrong
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Ride a horse that's cleaving through the air and space of dreams.
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04.05.2021 - 00:18
Desha
delicious dish
Written by Desha on 06.03.2020 at 02:03

I hate it so much. They tried having an emotional record but don't have any pay offs and ended up with either prog drivel or stale radio rock. If L'Enfant Sauvage was their "oh my mom died" record, I would understand. But this is just kind of nothing. Nothing of the impact they're known for and the new stuff is really meh.
Hoping they take this as a stepping stone (as they did The Way Of All Flesh) and make a more consistent record afterwards. The pessimist in me doubts it.

A year after this comment (and almost 4 years after listening to the record) and this record looks way better already hahahaha. I still don't really like it, but the second half has some great emotional stuff in it. Something like the title track would've been cool to hear expanded upon. Oh well. "Yellowstone" - "Only Pain" is a decent stretch, with some pretty good stuff in it. Well produced which helps.
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You are the hammer, I am the nail
building a house in the fire on the hill
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12.08.2023 - 07:15
Rating: 9
Guib
Thrash Talker
...Crazy to me reading back through all the crap on here.

Lol this album is probably one of the best releases in the 2010s and by far my favourite Gojira album. But hey metalheads will be metalheads. "Dont make stuff too catchy or don't ever simplify a thing, oh yeah and don't change your sound and shit too much or we gonna get pissed off and drag you in the mud."

Anyways, brilliant album.
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- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
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