Review by Adam M on July 23, 2012.

Gojira’s new album takes the band taking a very welcome new direction. Where the last couple of albums had a weird Avant-Garde feel to them that was at times interesting, but also sometimes unfocused, the new album comes up sounding tight and focused all the way through.

There is a stripped down and more aggressive feel to the album that gives it a fiery flair that would liken it Death Metal bands like Immolation perhaps. The songs have a punishing flair to them that makes this such an exciting listen. The first four or five tracks storm out of the gate and are all strong headed by the storming opener 'Explosia'. The band sounds inspired and consistent all the way through this album, which was necessarily the case on the albums "From Mars To Sirius" and "The Way Of The Flesh". This makes a release that hits you with power and grace. There are still some interesting Progressive passages throughout, but the general feel to the album is more streamlined in nature. However, the band has ultimately put its best foot forward with "L’Enfant Sauvage" and it makes for a consistently entertaining and gripping listen. There are no moments where the songs drag and lose steam like on the previous couple very good, but ultimately somewhat overrated, albums. The passion and intensity of the band is brought out better here than ever before. The band’s trademark jagged riffs are still present, but are better focused and tighter here than in the past.

It all adds up to a triumph for a band and an album that actually lives up to the hype that a lot of people give the band. "L’Enfant Sauvage" is nothing less stellar throughout.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 8
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.8 out of 10