Review
Gojira
Magma

Gojira are an anomaly. Not because they're form France, though French metal is somewhat of a rarity - but Gojira are one of the few bands that have long held the respect of fans, peers and critics alike. This will not change with Magma, the band's sixth album. If anything, their ascension in this regard is most likely assured with tracks like "Pray"' "Only Pain" and "The Cell".

Much will undoubtedly be said of the shift in tone on Magma. The vocals are cleaner, as are the arrangements, creating an overall more accessible sound. It's tempting to call them avant-garde, but progression is really the word that applies here, though not in the traditional power-metal sense. Whether it was their backgrounds or the dynamic of the Duplantier brothers, it's clear that they started from a more advanced state of being and now six albums in, are on the verge of moving to a further plane beyond what most bands of their ilk are able to accomplish.