Hard rock is a music movement defined as a genre that employs aggressive vocals and distorted musical accompaniments. A French hard rock band Gojira is famous for those exact features. The band differs from the genre’s originators in their more melodic sound; however, it shows a resemblance to the hard rock establishers such as Led Zeppelin in the complex musical patterns. Like their predecessors, Gojira employs political and social commentary; for example, their songs from the album L’Enfant Sauvage comment on a person’s relationship with themselves and nature.
The band has been critically acclaimed for its lyrical intricacy and masterful use of instruments. The key aspect of their performance has been described as “feverish wizardry” (Currin, 2012). The point of the hard rock movement is to express strong emotions through strong means. L’Enfant Sauvage uses heavy guitar riffs in contrast with soft and melodic vocals to properly articulate a person’s struggle to transcend their environment or avoid self-destruction while attempting to do so. As the band themselves state, the album presents an idea of someone who is “somehow out of control” (“GOJIRA Frontman Talks About the Making Of ‘L’Enfant Sauvage,” 2012). The notion of losing themselves is the reason the album is called L’Enfant Sauvage and not “Wild Child” translated into English, considering that the album is written in the English language. The specific attention to detail, such as the inclusion of their own native language, is what makes Gojira a prime example of hard rock.
In conclusion, hard rock is exemplified perfectly by Gojira’s album L’Enfant Sauvage. This work includes heavy guitar riffs and both melodic and rough vocals. In addition, it employs hard rock staple themes or relationships between people and complex concepts. In this particular case, it is a human’s relation to nature and their own psyche within the confines of society. The band and the presented album are highly acclaimed for these specific reasons.
References
Grayson Haver Currin (2012). Gojira: ‘L’Enfant Sauvage Album Review.Pitchfork. Web.
GOJIRA Frontman Talks About the Making Of ‘L’Enfant Sauvage (2012). Blabbermouth. Web.
Gojira (2012). L’enfant Sauvage (Full Album) [Video] YouTube. Web.