What Makes Gojira HEAVY?!

[@BenEller]

Thanks for learning What Makes Gojira HEAVY!!!! Those French Bois sure know how to make NOIZ!!! My Patreon supporters are enjoying TABs for all these riffs and an extended AD-FREE cut of the video right here right now: www.patreon.com/posts/extended-and-ad-109300694?Link&

[@ivorlongshot]

Stuff Gojina does always gives me a giggle.

[@BenEller]

They always be doin stuff!

[@rafx2014]

i come back to that video every now and then, and I think it's one of your best videos ever.

[@ThugLifeMarcus]

Florida Gojira Line is on my mind constantly

[@adamyo9003]

I just watched it again the other day and it is an masterpiece

[@Sir_Riffsalot]

I always come back to that vid too! It's a masterpiece

[@Eric_01]

"Infant Sausage" had me going for a while. I needed that.

[@JosephYaden]

Same lol I screamed.

[@rocketPower047]

it does really sound like a terrible French accent when you say it

[@Music-tx5jl]

Infinite Sausage pairs well with Spaghetti Forever

[@Davidlistertonsmythe]

Infant sausage is one of their best. Another example too of the opening riff becoming the closing riff, when they play it half time. One of my favourite Gojira moments.

[@miguelsanchez3232]

I thought it was pronounced elephant sausage

[@noahfaber8265]

I want to add 2 ideas here: 1.) The drums add complexity to these simple riffs that make them sound super heavy, and at times complex. Mario Duplantier gets all the credit he deserves when mentioning best drummers for metal these days. 2.) Lyrics from Gojira have a similar amount of despair and thought that other metal bands have, but in a way that isn't campy or cheesy. The perspective is empathetic and makes you think. Just my thoughts on the matter!

[@TheShreddDude]

I think a lot has to do with Mario’s drumming acting almost like its own riff itself.

[@murphyia1980]

I play guitar, I love guitars. It's almost always the drumming (and maybe the rest of the rhythm section) that gives a song it's soul.

[@holyhalloweenbatman]

Totally agree about Mario and it was cool that Ben pointed it out. For every simple thing that Joe or Christian is doing Mario is doing some of the most technically insane drumming I've ever heard. Pray is a really good example of them all doing cool complicated stuff together though. That triplet pattern is really hard to wrap your head around but once I figured it out it instantly became my favorite song to play.

[@tood6459]

I saw Gojira open for Opeth. They were so punishing, yet the music was accessible, and the guys were engaging and receptive. I've loved them ever since.

[@dirttales]

Saw Gojira and Opeth ant Red Rocks here in Colorado, so damn good.

[@jessemartin5604]

Ayooo I saw them with Devin Townsend opening for Opeth in 2017 in KC, super sick show!

[@thomaskooiman9812]

​@@dirttales damn youre a lucky man!

[@alanomie]

I wish that would have came around here...with Devin opening. I followed all that from their home videos.

[@owenkitzmiller533]

The thing I love so much about Gojira is how unconventionally they use their instruments. A lot of songs on the link and the song Toxic Garbage island come to mind, with weird palm slides, harmonic choices and pinches that set them apart from everyone else in my mind

[@Patrick-mg3jp]

Check out pink floyd if you want more of that style of guitar playing. Most likely an inspiration to the playing

[@SomeRandomPangolin]

"What makes Gojira heavy?" They're fuckin Gojira, that's what makes em heavy

[@Tarnished2023]

I can't really say enough about how much I love Gojira. Learning their songs has really transformed my rhythm ability as a guitarist. Used to be all about the shreddy stuff but they really opened my eyes to the importance of groove and simple = more better.

[@tomarstad2790]

Same here man. My right hand has become so much better playing their stuff

[@gingerbreadsam5243]

Some of my favorite bits of gojira is how they use simple riff formulas but they do it in such a unique way it still feels fresh, favorite band I’ve ever seen live

[@DCJayhawk57]

They're brutal live, saw them a couple years back at an indoor theater-setup venue. Loudest show I've ever been to, I wore good concert earplugs and it was still loud, it was more the deep, visceral bone shaking loudness that reverberated through the building. I'm seeing them again this October with Korn.

[@matthewbehrle4428]

Recently I’ve found myself listening to a low of Gojira and this video answered EVRY question I had about what made me love Gojira. It was like you took this indescribable feeling I had towards our favorite French boys and put it into words. I know I’ve got a lot of practicing to go do now, thank you Uncle Ben!

[@BenEller]

Hell yeah, thanks Matthew!

[@StrokedTac]

Lets be real here....its because of Mario. Mario is the heavy

[@aserbovets]

Yup, drumming for Gojira is the heaviest matter in the universe 🤘

[@blackmetalbreadstick]

YES YES YES! In The Wilderness is SO underrated. One of the heaviest tracks to roam the Earth. Every time I hear that chorus I feel like I could topple a skyscraper.

[@JP_Hatecrew]

The intro is foggin heavy and the outro is so foggin beautiful.

[@andrewpappas9311]

Gojira always brings it when it comes to killer riffs, also I love that Jackson Pollock analogy; “You could’ve done that exact same thing, but you didn’t” and I’m now going to use it myself, great vid as always Ben, stay awesome and much love from Canada \m/

[@tangodelta7809]

Jackson Pollock was an alcoholic funded by the CIA. Kinda weird

[@blaeser13]

My favorite Gojira riff is the final breakdown in Backbone. And the final breakdown in Rememberance. And the main riff in Toxic Garbage Island. And the main riff in Space Time. And the entirety of The Art of Dying. And....

[@BenEller]

It was so hard to choose the riffs for this video!!!

[@blaeser13]

​@@BenEller The only bad Gojira riff is none of them. Ya done good Uncle Ben!

[@BenedictPlays2020gameplays]

The final breakdown/outro of Backbone is so hard because the whole song itself is palm muted-galloping so fast

[@chairmankaga101]

There’s alchemy between brothers. The Duplantiers, the Abbotts, the Van Halens.

[@omgvague]

Wayne Static mentioned that he didn't understand his own band's popularity due to the simplicity of the riffs. But it worked excellently in that context and does as well with Gojira.

[@PhobosDDeimos]

Right, listen to their song Dirthouse. It's one of the simplest, most repeatetive songs ever, but it's awesome. Works for Rammstein, too. Their riffs are brutally simple.

[@alanomie]

Good call. No matter how intricate we love metal, a great kick ass riff can bring down the walls.

[@alanomie]

​@@PhobosDDeimosI think it's the little dogs that hooked me. Love that song, but the visuals from lyrics help build the tension.

[@joshuafrederick_]

12:50 I came here for a Gojira lesson and left with a new songwriting philosophical insight. Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@BenEller]

Hell yeah Joshua! Get into it!

[@TurtleFaceMaGee]

I love that they've evolved their sound through every album, making each one unique. The huge sound on an album like Magma is amazing to hear, but Terra Incognita, or even The Link Alive (their live album of the same name) have such heavy death metal riffage and inspiration and it brings a raw feeling that other albums don't quite strive for, yet they are just as heavy doing their modern riffs all the same

[@farn451]

those inverted powerchords are a staple of the doom metal masters too

[@Ryan_Sens]

Also a staple in hardcore

[@BobbyWasabi1010]

So true about the drumming, I’ve always thought their riffs hit so much harder because of the drum patterns.

[@blaeser13]

100%. A band (especially a metal band) is only as good as their drummer, and I cannot be convinced otherwise!

[@Lloocii]

There's a perfect synergy in their rhythm. Also their vocals have a somewhat unique pitch center not too common in metal. It's half singing half screaming instead of fully one or the other.

[@thathandleistakentrythisone]

Fortitude is my favorite album, mainly because every song feels so emotinal. Ah ca ira is just another example of how Gojira makes listeners experience emotion, rather than just listen to a song.

[@tangodelta7809]

Man I can’t get into that one at all. Glad you enjoy it

[@KtheSouthernWolf]

​@@tangodelta7809 I like Magma and Fortitude but god man, id kill for another The Link or Terra Incognita

[@tangodelta7809]

@@KtheSouthernWolf Terra was great, wild child was basically their pinnacle for me. Hard to get better after that. Magma is really good just not great for me. They went through a hard time and some changes were going to happen. Fortitude just lacks balls for me and is more about the message they want to send. That’s fine, good on them. Just not for me

[@gabrielnilsson5398]

Gojira's bassist is maybe the most energetic and seems to be SO happy when i have going through a lot of live Concerts. Great video as always Ben! ❤

[@BenEller]

It makes me so happy to watch that dude. He’s having a good time all the time!

[@akunz24]

I really like it when they use the whammy pedal. Also their way of using tapping and pull offs is very unique

[@RandalphTheBlack]

Uncle Ben and Gorgina are easily some of the best of boys🤘❤.

[@ziggy8757]

that Olympics opening performance will make them a legend....so freaking awesome.

[@ashamael]

I think my favorite little thing Gojira does is swapping up into a triplet feel to tag a riff section (Backbone is a classic example). It's probably the main thing I took from them over the years. Also saw them with Opeth almost 20 years ago in Atlanta. Had no idea who they were at the time... crazy they're so huge now! I also saw Opeth again up in Knoxville around that time at the Bijou. Fun times. Great vid, uncle Ben!

[@CCH7540]

Ben, you never disappoint. I absolutely love your instructional and presentation style. I'm far from a professional level guitarist these days (though I've been playing for 41 years) but I do professionally make a living managing training for a large company and am responsible for around 10,000 students, our training curriculums throughout North, Central and South America, and the development of over 100 instructors. I know a great instructor when I see one, and what it takes to effectively educate. Not only are you the real deal as far as musical talent, but in my opinion, your instructional skills are equal to your exceptional playing.

[@BenEller]

Thanks a ton, dude!!!

[@chocomalk]

They understand the Sabbath vibe without being too Sabbathy....

[@ianspeckmaier9565]

Well said

[@TylerUSA]

OH MY GOODNESS I literally heard you play Silvera in my head during the opening lines, BEFORE you played it 🤣🤣🤣

[@excaliburhunts]

I've seen them twice a few years back. Amazing live! One of my faves.

[@dariendingus7038]

Love the musical trope analogy. If it works use it. It's better ingredients, better music, Uncle Ben Eller.

[@BenEller]

You dang skippy it is!!!

[@RaspySquares]

Last time I saw Gojira, on tour with Mastodon in Nashville, they played first and my heart almost stopped a few times. Felt like I was getting blasted in the chest with an auto shotgun throughout the set. Mastodon didn't really hit the same way. The physiological effect of being in that venue was dramatically different between the two bands. Gojira was just a fkin unit.

[@BenEller]

Gojira’s live sound seems to defy physics. Like, when they do stops, there seems to be no echo in the room it’s so tight. Insane.

[@MatthewLancaster01]

Elephant Sausage is one of my fave Gojira songs ever

[@rockinatmidnight]

Only time I've ever seen Gojira was my first introduction to them. Walked in to the o2 Academy in Glasgow to see Trivium and turns out Gojira were supporting. Walked in to the venue as they were playing Ocean Planet. To this day, hundreds of gigs later I still remember that moment of hearing that simple yet in your face riff. It was also the clearest tone out of any live band I've ever seen. Became an instant fan there and then. Annoying I've never seen them live again but one day...

[@kingsilas1285]

Thank god for uncle Ben

[@syntezjaofficial4240]

Joe/Christian: guys I have this simple riff Mario: makes some complex patterns that suprisingly always work. Love how these guys have groove and cool melodies but still can be heavy and progressive as fuck

[@oldmanriff7633]

You hit the nail on the head with this one. Simple riffs are the heaviest, the catchiest, and the most difficult to write well. Specifically in Gojira (and you pointed this out too), Joe's riffs give Mario, the virtuoso in the band (IMO), the room to go off. Same reason why Michael Anthony's simple, solid bass playing was perfect for backing up Eddie.

[@tamastoth3579]

This video is as cool as Gojira is. The most important lesson from both is to focus more on the rythm. If you are listening to a music with smart scales but flat rythm, you will forget it in a minute or so. If you listen to a chunky riff using 2 notes but a characteristic rythm, it will pop up in your ears even tomorrow. I love how tight they play, and how ruthless they are when it's time to get rid of waste notes. Only the neccesarry notes are played, nothing else. That must be a true Gojiraism.

[@notsteelopus]

Uncle Ben consistently has the best tone from any guitarists I watch on KZbin. The amp demo midway through this one is just astounding. Sounds amazing.

[@BenEller]

Maaaan thank you!

[@bowietwombly5951]

Ben, I'm a drummer with no interest in learning how to play guitar, and honestly very little interest in guitar in general. But I love your videos because I love watching talented teachers share things they're passionate about. Your enthusiasm is infectious and you make me remember why I love this music so much. Thanks for doing what you do and encouraging so many others to make art of their own.

[@jamlsn]

Best line, “yes, you could’ve written that, but you didn’t”. Love it! So many people are all talk…

[@AlexQuaglieri]

Love that take on the tropes! Brilliantly said

[@terraincognitaband7273]

Uncle Ben delivers as always

[@stevemuzak8526]

They have that incredible groove that no other band have. Damn unique band with awesome positive message.

[@jaybesuscrust]

Great vid Ben. Such thick riffs. Saw them last year and I concur - they’re killer live. 🤘🔥

[@JayRappa]

I really enjoyed this Ben. I wasn’t aware you previously made any vids on their material. Such an amazing band. I also think what makes them so awesome is no gimmicky imaging. Just ordinary looking guys not trying to chase their tail

[@BenEller]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brenomordida]

I was struggling to write riffs, after that view of GOJIRA riffs being simple and memorable made my riffs 100 times better, thx Uncle Ben 😊

[@Billy-sm3uu]

This video is so inspirational uncle Ben

[@BenEller]

That’s exactly what I want to hear! Thanks!

[@Kajaah117]

Mario is the answer 😉🤘 Seriously though, the simplicity of Gojira's riffs actually got me out of a sort of "guitar depression" where I just couldn't play any of the songs I loved. I'm a pretentious prog snob who chose hard mode emulating Petrucci and Akerfeldt, but I caught Gojira opening for Mastodon on one fateful night and was both blown away and inspired. I had never heard anything as heavy yet melodic as "Heaviest Matter," and looking at Joe's hands... THAT LOOKS PLAYABLE!!! After learning that song and Gift of Guilt, I fell back in love with my guitar and I haven't put it down for a single day since. Gojira will always have a special place in my heart for that.

[@BenEller]

Man, that rules! That’s the definition of inspiring someone with your music.

[@CipryNANO]

First and (sadly) only time I saw them was in a castle here near my home town. It's like I saw the beta testing for the Olympics. My favourite band ever, and kickass lesson Uncle Ben.

[@darrenbooker8144]

Mario's sycapated snare/ bass change ups during a familiar section, always gets me excited 😅

[@InfinityPotato97]

That riff at Dawn is one of the best moments on The Link, its so fucking great and awesome.

[@samuelj.rivard]

your video was so encouraging about embracing our own voice with simple stuff thank you!!!!

[@BenEller]

I'm so glad!

[@everchanger23]

Saw them live for the first time last year. Unbelievably good. I have to see them again.

[@8stringedBeast]

Enjoyed the hell out of this. Definitely reminds me of when I use to improv in my room.

[@rumproast8643]

Touching the neck of the guitar is always rebellious, gives them that bad boy vibe 👹

[@twinkletoesdonkey]

100% agree with you re their live sound! I've seen them live in tiny clubs, festivals, arenas etc. and their sound has always been ace! Definitely some of the best sound crew on the planet.

[@deancunningham4539]

Awesome vid Ben, been lovin gojira for the last 12mths 🙂👍👍👍

[@TheHeadown]

When I first heard Gojira I was hooked immediately. Heard them about 2008 and have never looked back. They drop banger albums after banger albums. I love the early stuff as much as the new. God tier band! 🤘

[@Gabriel-bt7ix]

And that type of simplicity for great crunchy riffs got me into High on Fire too Mario and Brann made me having a urge to learn drums, but Matt Pike did that for guitar ~ Stuff High on Fire does video idea!!!

[@TimHareMusic]

amazing video as always Uncle Daddy Ben! It’s pretty rad to see Gojira and Metal having another moment in the sun

[@Uzumaki697Returnss]

Thanks for the video, Ben. It has been very enjoyful and seems that you are a very kind person.

[@sjones3891]

I love their use of random open string stabs like on Heaviest Matter of the Universe or Born for One Thing. I love the stark contrast

[@parptarf]

I can't recall at the top of my head any music that's as heavy but pleasant and relaxing to listen to. Heard a few songs from them over the years but after the Olympics performance I gave them a proper listen. Gojira fucking rocks.

[@ryanhass8716]

Love this. Hearing what other people like about different artists gives me new ears with which to hear them. I'd definitely be up for more stuff like this, not even necessarily restricted to how heavy a band is, but just stuff you like about them with examples like you have here. Idk if other people would dig it, or if it'd be worth the effort what with the heavy use of other people's music, but just throwing my two cents out there.

[@BenEller]

Rad! Thanks Ryan!

[@Eric_01]

Just picked up a ticket for their Tulsa show in October. I'm very stoked about this one!

[@leftyguitarfreek]

I wasn’t ready for “I don’t like sand” 🤣 Thank you for that.

[@PhilMeadJams]

Awesome as always, Uncle Ben. Gojira are the gods of our time.

[@endlessgrind6951]

Thanks, Uncle Ben! You rock!

[@DielectricFailure]

It isn’t the guitars. It’s his vocals. They match the music but it has soul to it.

[@jaapat3141]

Backbone favorite song and riff. Heard it when that album came out and saw them live in late 00s. Good times.

[@CC-qb9sm]

Stuff uncle Ben does…. …. always good stuff! Love me some Gojira 🤘🤘🤘

[@ThibautKurt23]

Gojira was my.first gig when I was a teenager in France when their first album came out, I lived in the main city if the area they are from. What I liked at the time were those powerfull drums even back them. The heavyness with big riffs (and the pick scrape thing) followed by haunting arpeggios (one of their trademark from the very begining). When there first and second album came out it was quite a revolution on the local death metal and even some old bands that inspired Gojira first reformed and were inspired by them. The most famous exemple is Loudblast with the album Planet Pandemonium in 2004. If you don't know Loudblast Ben check them. You will see their evolution from old school thrash death ala Sepultura from the very begining, evolving to a more classical death sound and evolve in the 90s etc...

[@ZJtraylor]

Love the video Uncle Ben. One band I always hope you will one day explore/breakdown is Every Time I Die. I think their guitar riffs are fascinating with how they balance groove and absolute chaos.

[@landmine55]

Seeing Gojira live and hearing the opening riff of Backbone gave me the feeling that I could run through a brick wall. Just immense, crushing energy. They rule.

[@spikyone79]

Gojira are such a killer band and as you say, songs that are great on the records take on a whole new dimension in a live setting. Right up there with my favourite live acts. Incredible that they got to perform at the Olympic opening ceremony; I didn't see it live but what a phenomenal performance. There can't be many better bands to showcase metal to a mainstream audience.

[@anvil777]

A lot of great advice there Ben!❤

[@mike4shred]

The burger/ pizza joint reference holds so much simple but profound relevance. Well said, Uncle Ben 💚

[@Gbhbbgvsbnjhhdchhb]

Great podcaster! Interesting introduction to this genre and motivating.. keep up your great work and full salute 🖖🏻

[@rupe82]

I've been a fan of them for nearly 20 years too. I remember being blown away by the sheer heaviness of Vacuity. I never thought they would become as big as what they are today.

[@bennyharderguitar]

They’re just incredible live. It’s crazy.

[@horrorshowbass]

Love it. Still remember hearing Esoteric surgery for the first time

[@josass2887]

maybe the best video about guitar sound, tuning and riffs i have ever watched. thanks and subscribed

[@DanWaters]

That first riff, Silvera, is what turned me on to them the first time I saw them live. The way they sync the stage effects to the riff live is awesome. Also, Code Orange opened for them at that show (The Factory in Deep Ellum, TX). Incredible.

[@jeremy7383]

Similarly, Kirk from Crowbar uses a technique where he adds that inverted power chord note below the power chord making it big and full sounding!

[@michaelgallegos8811]

Great video thanks man🤘🎸🫡

[@bretspangler8717]

I love the pinch harmonics on songs like Magma, being consistent while practicing is a challenge for me, but a lot of fun. Ocean Planet was a perfect example. Great video and look into one of my fave bands.

[@richarddeeble09]

I love how they combine morbid angel influenced riffing (lots of chromatic inverted power chord passadwa) with more 90s sounding groove. Ocean Planet's opening riff

[@Patrick-857]

Inverted power chords are underrated. They make a distorted guitar sound way lower tuned than it is, without that pesky low end. Really nasty grinding sound.

[@richarddeeble09]

@@Patrick-857 my favorite use of them is by the band Coalesce. Incredibly chaotic, angular sounding riffs. Way sloppier playing than most bands in the mathcore genre but it suits the songs so well.

[@JustinMcNabbIreland]

Silvera is some song, that first riff just kicks your ass. When i first heard it, i listened to that song about 10 time on repeat.

[@bernardocatrilef2846]

A band that works in a similar way is AMENRA, when I play their songs I am impressed by how "simple" they are, but their style is so unique and their own which makes them great, live they are also a beast.

[@billyhughes9776]

I had a blind spot for Gojira for a long, long time, but that all changed in '21. I heard Amazonia on da satellite radio and was like "WHAT THE F IS THIS?!?". Instant fan and I've made the journey back in time to listen to their prior work. You're spot on about the simple yet, impeccably executed riffs which help to re-enforce the heaviness. And like you said without Mario behind the kit it would not be the same. He is another level of technical prowess, power and sophisticated grooves. Top tier drummer regardless of the genre.

[@harveybrien8690]

Gojira never fail to put on a huge show. Have seen them in festival and concert settings and their sound was massive and they were so fkn incredibly tight both times. I will be seeing them every time they come to Australia

[@intotheprog]

Awesome video as always! I can't believe that you even larsed "L'Enfant Sauvage" hahahahahaha

[@GylleneGott]

I've been listening to Gojira for about a year now and seeing them at the Olympics was amazing, it's nice to see metal get some mainstream exposure. As for my favourite riff I'd have to say that goes to Stranded

[@NoirTech83]

Gojira is so gosh darn heavy! You bet your boots I’m going to see them live again.

[@n34z3r]

Awesome video and analogies of food joints and guitar riffs.

[@BenEller]

Haha thanks dude

[@jeffjolliereticulatedpytho5962]

That's for sharing I will go check them out.

[@dh1380]

You coincidentally timed this video with my most recent Gojira phase. Nice. Backboneeeeeeeee 🤙

[@BenEller]

Oh nice!

[@dh1380]

​@@BenEllerniceeeeee

[@bofuscrapshaw]

My 10 year old daughter and I rock out to gojira all the time