FROM MARS TO SIRIUS

From Mars to Sirius is in alot of ways like a rebirth for progressive metal. While their previous albums had some great tracks it never took off like From Mars to Siriys did. While the metal scene grew increasingly stale at the turn of the millennium, the music either turning to the rigid forms of death/black metal grinding, Meshuggah-like polyrythms or the more melodic(and predictable) metalcore, there was one band slowly working their way against the stream.

When I first heard the music of Gojira I was at a friend's. He told me he had found the most ridiculously heavy riff and played the second track 'Backbone' off this album. I was instantly blown away by the ferocity that Gojira delivered their music with. It didn't sound like death metal- it was too melodic, it didn't sound like Meshuggah- it was too straight forward, and most importantly it was too complex to be metalcore. This was something new!

Gojiras sound lands somewhere inbetween prog/tech and death metal. It's a distorted soundscape and the guitars almost sound percussively atonal at times. It's heavily syncopated, jeeringly transforming, inspired music. Traveling seamlessly between primal rage and tranquility.

Over the years this album has been growing on me, but as a previous poster stated, this record is one of those you have to be in a certain mindset to enjoy. For some records I'd argue that you can't put a five star rating on something you won't always love from the second you press play, but for this album I think it's different. The only proper comparison I can make is of fine cheese.

Cheese is great; some would even go so far as to say that they love cheese. But you don't ALWAYS want cheese, no matter how delicious it may be. There will be times when you'll think to yourself "I would not care for cheese right now". But does it make the cheese any less worthy of your time? Does it somehow tarnish your overall view of cheese and all the tasty ventures you've had and will have with it? It most certainly will not!

So you see; From Mars to Sirius is like fine cheese. You'll listen to the album and think to yourself "I'm traveling through the cosmos on the back of these whales. I understand now a deeper sense of harmony. A purer vocalization of all that is good in music! This is awesome!" But after a while you will be thinking in the lines of "These whales take forever and my behind is staring to ache. I want off and find some more comfortable ground. Back to earth!"

My point is: This album is fantastic. You won't find another of its kind. It's soft and it's hard. It's loud and it's quiet. But perhaps most importantly it's earnest music with great depth and musicianship. It's a complex piece of music that you might find yourself growing tired of at times. But trust me; you'll come back for more eventually.

5/5