Released on April 30, 2021, Fortitude marked Gojira’s seventh studio album—and perhaps their most focused, purpose-driven, and emotionally compelling statement to date. It’s an album that bridges the gap between primal urgency and spiritual resolve, blending the band’s signature progressive death metal style with moments of groove, melody, and deeply human introspection.
Following the bleak intensity of 2016’s Magma, which dealt heavily with themes of loss and grief, Fortitude finds the band looking outward, rallying behind messages of environmental awareness, personal resilience, and global unity. It’s a record that doesn’t just rage against the machine—it invites you to rise above it.
The Pulse of the Planet: Anger with Purpose, Power with Grace
From the thunderous opening moments of “Born for One Thing,” Gojira wastes no time setting the tone: urgent, grounded, and fiercely alive. Built on pummeling rhythm guitars and staccato drum blasts, the track opens the record with an existential wake-up call. Vocalist/guitarist Joe Duplantier growls with conviction as he wrestles with materialism, mortality, and detachment from nature—but never without offering hope on the other side of awareness.
Tracks like “Amazonia” and “Another World” highlight the album’s strongest thematic thread: the interconnectedness between humanity and the Earth. “Amazonia,” with its didgeridoo-infused intro and tribal groove, serves as both a protest and a prayer for the planet. Duplantier’s lyrics bite with frustration, but the song’s infectious rhythms and soaring leads give it an anthem-like quality. It’s a call to arms—but also a call to care.
“Another World,” by contrast, leans into space and atmosphere. It’s a more melodic cut, almost dreamy in tone, but its message remains sharp: this planet is not replaceable, and escapism is no solution. The song’s soaring chorus and layered harmonies show Gojira’s increasing confidence in integrating clean vocals and expansive songwriting into their traditionally heavy framework.
Internal Fortitude: Strength in Reflection
As Fortitude unfolds, the album becomes more introspective—less about external crises and more about personal growth and survival. The short but pivotal title track, “Fortitude,” acts as a meditative interlude. A gentle, chant-like instrumental with layered humming and clean guitar melodies, it serves as a breath before the storm of “The Chant,” a track that’s unlike anything Gojira has attempted before.
“The Chant” is arguably the album’s centerpiece—an empowering, mantra-like song that merges haunting vocal harmonies with a slow-burning riff and a rallying cry for resilience. It’s the spiritual spine of the album, encouraging not destruction, but discipline. “Stand up to oppression,” the lyrics beckon—not with fists, but with unshakable spirit.
Elsewhere, tracks like “Hold On” and “Into the Storm” find Duplantier turning his gaze inward. “Hold On” moves between soaring melodies and relentless chugs, chronicling the struggle of holding onto purpose in the face of darkness. “Into the Storm” kicks harder, full of rhythmic complexity and an explosive chorus, but it’s not about succumbing—it’s about breaking through.
Precision Meets Passion: Gojira's Evolving Sound
Guitar-wise, Fortitude is a masterclass in controlled fury and atmospheric layering. Joe Duplantier and Christian Andreu weave heavy, percussive riffs with subtle textures and soaring leads, crafting songs that are both earthbound and transcendent. The band’s use of harmonic overtones and pick scrapes—long a signature of their sound—is as sharp as ever, but they’re now deployed with more finesse than sheer aggression.
Mario Duplantier, often cited as one of the best drummers in modern metal, puts in a performance that is both technically stunning and emotionally grounded. His drumming on “Sphinx” and “Grind” is particularly ferocious—grooves that twist and tumble, yet always serve the song’s emotional core rather than overwhelm it.
The bass work by Jean-Michel Labadie deserves equal praise, locking in with Mario’s drumming while also adding melodic depth to tracks like “New Found,” which builds from hypnotic verses into one of the album’s most explosive finales.
Fortitude in Action: A Call for More Than Survival
What makes Fortitude stand out among Gojira’s discography is its unwavering sense of purpose. It’s a protest record, yes—but one with deep spiritual undercurrents. Rather than wallow in anger, Fortitude seeks transformation. There’s fury here, but it’s aimed at healing, not destruction.
“Grind,” the closing track, brings the journey to a fitting end. With its warped time signatures and brooding intensity, it channels the frustration of a world out of balance—but it ends not in chaos, but in release. The final moments are almost ambient, leaving listeners not in devastation but contemplation.
Sound, Spirit, and Subtext
From a production standpoint, Fortitude is pristine. Self-produced by the band and mixed by Andy Wallace, the album strikes a perfect balance between clarity and weight. Every snare crack, bass rumble, and harmonic ring-out is perfectly positioned in the mix—allowing the band’s message to hit as hard as their music.
Visually, the artwork—featuring a mythic warrior monk painted by Joe Duplantier—echoes the record’s spiritual tone. It’s not warlike, but noble. A figure of strength not through domination, but balance.
Final Verdict: 9/10
With Fortitude, Gojira doesn’t just maintain their status as one of metal’s most important modern bands—they elevate it. This isn’t just an album that hits hard; it thinks hard. It’s an emotionally mature, sonically adventurous, and thematically vital piece of work that proves heaviness isn’t just about volume—it’s about conviction.
In an age where metal often oscillates between nihilism and nostalgia, Fortitude offers something rare: sincerity. These songs are meant not just to be heard but felt. It’s not just an album about surviving the world—it’s a roadmap to rise above it.
Standout Tracks:
- Born for One Thing
- Amazonia
- The Chant
- Into the Storm
- Hold On
- Grind
Fortitude doesn’t just challenge the world—it challenges you to be stronger, quieter, louder, and more alive.
Until next time, play it loud, friends!
