These french guys been knocking around the metal scene for a while, originally called Godzilla back in ’96 but switched to Gojira around 2001 for obvious reasons. Brothers Joe and Mario Duplantier along with Christian Andreu and Jean-Michel Labadie been grinding it out from their hometown of Ondres, building their reputation on crushing live shows and a real DIY approach to making music. By 2012 when L’Enfant Sauvage dropped, they’d already proved themselves with albums like From Mars to Sirius and The Way of All Flesh, but this one was their shot at really breaking through to bigger audiences after signing with Roadrunner Records.
L’Enfant Sauvage (which means “The Wild Child” in french, because they just wanted something french didn’t they?) is basically Gojira doing what they do best but with a bit more focus and punch. The album kicks off with “Explosia” which is just a proper bombastic opener that lets you know these guys ain’t messing around. The title track is where they really hit their stride though, it’s got that perfect mix of their crushing heaviness with some actual melody thrown in that doesn’t feel forced. “The Axe” follows up nicely with this melancholic double-bass work that shows they can do the atmospheric stuff without losing the edge. What’s cool is how they balance the brutal moments with tracks like “The Gift of Guilt” which is probably the album’s peak, just pure driven intensity that builds and builds.
The whole thing feels like Gojira playing it a bit safer than usual, going back to what made them famous instead of pushing boundaries. And honestly, that works pretty well here. Sure, some tracks in the middle drag a bit and don’t leave much impression, but when they’re on, they’re really on. The production is thick and clear, giving all that technical precision room to breathe while keeping the sheer heaviness that makes them who they are. It’s not their most groundbreaking work, but it’s solid throughout with enough killer moments to make it worth your time. If you’re looking for an entry point into Gojira’s world of progressive death metal mixed with groove and environmental themes, this is a pretty good place to start.