Gojira

The Way of All Flesh

BY Chris AyersPublished Oct 22, 2008

One of metal’s most anticipated records, The Way of All Flesh by France’s Gojira has all the markings of one of the year’s best: evenly executed death vocals; flawless production by a certified metal head (Machine Head/Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader); a tangible progression from the previous outing (2006’s From Mars to Sirius) without redefining their signature sound; and even a guest appearance from a prominent metal vocalist (Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe). The melodic prog of "Oroborus” and "A Sight to Behold” gives way to the Meshuggah-styled assaults of "Esoteric Surgery,” "Toxic Garbage Island” and "All the Tears.” The ten-minute "The Art of Dying” incorporates all the band’s best elements: Marco Duplantier’s Course of Empire-esque tribal drumming, chordal phasing effects, black metal breaks and a synth-like outro. The slower throb of "Wolf Down the Earth” (and "Yama’s Messengers”) introduces the vicious Morbid Angel-ic title track, which provides five minutes of ambient guitar loops to end the album. With Mexican-styled cover art by front-man Joe Duplantier, The Way of All Flesh proffers well-crafted prog death paeans with enough technical flourishes to keep a government think tank busy for months.
(Prosthetic)

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