Gojira have spent their career building a wall between metal and everything else. On Magma, they tear it down. This is the French band’s most accessible record, a tight, catchy crossover album that blends melodic immediacy with emotional intimacy while keeping the technical precision and death-metal vocals that define their sound. It is a bold move, and it mostly pays off.
Opening With The Shooting Star
The album starts with “The Shooting Star,” a five-and-a-half-minute opener that sets the tone. It is patient, building from a slow, atmospheric intro into a crushing chorus. The song earns its runtime through restraint, letting the melody breathe before unleashing the band’s signature dual-guitar attack. It is the track most critics singled out, and it is easy to hear why — it is the sound of Gojira learning to be less aggressive without losing their teeth.
Silvera And The Cell
“Silvera” follows, a shorter, more immediate burst of energy. It is the catchiest thing on the record, built around a simple, repetitive riff that gets stuck in your head. It is not subtle, but it does not need to be. The song is pure adrenaline, a reminder that Gojira can still play the game of hooks without compromising their identity.
“The Cell” slows things down again, a three-minute meditation that leans on clean singing and a mid-tempo groove. It is a quieter moment, but it holds together thanks to the band’s restraint. It does not overstay its welcome, and it serves as a bridge into the heavier material ahead.
Stranded And Yellow Stone
“Stranded” is the album’s other standout. It is a six-minute epic that builds from a sparse acoustic start into a full-on assault. The song’s structure rewards repeat listens — the build is deliberate, and the payoff lands with real force. It is the track that best captures the tension between accessibility and brutality that defines Magma.
“Yellow Stone” is a breather, a minute-and-a-half instrumental interlude that feels like a palate cleanser. It is not essential, but it works as a transition into the album’s centerpiece.
Magma And The Back Half
“Magma” is the heart of the record. At six-and-a-half minutes, it is the longest track here, and it earns every second. The song is a slow-burning behemoth, with a main riff that could anchor a lesser band’s entire career. The vocals are pushed to their limits, and the band’s technical precision is on full display. It is the track that critics singled out for a reason — it is the moment where Gojira’s ambition is most fully realized.
“Pray” follows, a slower, more atmospheric piece that leans heavily on clean singing. It is a departure from the band’s usual approach, and it does not quite land. It is pleasant, but it lacks the urgency that defines the rest of the record.
“Only Pain” picks the pace back up, a mid-tempo rocker that finds a balance between aggression and melody. It is solid, if unremarkable, and it functions as a bridge into the album’s final stretch.
Low Lands And Liberation
“Low Lands” is a six-minute closer that stretches out the band’s sound. It is a slow, brooding piece that builds slowly towards a climactic finale. It is ambitious, and it mostly works — the payoff at the end is satisfying, even if the middle drags slightly.
“Liberation” closes the album on a high note. At three-and-a-half minutes, it is a concise, triumphant finish that ties the record’s themes together. It is a strong closer, though it does not quite match the heights reached earlier on the record.
The Verdict
Magma is a confident, accomplished record. It is the sound of a band that has mastered their craft and decided to share it with a wider audience. The weaker tracks — “Pray” and “Low Lands” — do not sink the album, but they keep it from being a perfect statement. The singles — “The Shooting Star,” “Silvera,” “Stranded” and “Magma” — are all top-tier Gojira, and they justify the record’s existence on their own.
| Track | Length |
|---|---|
| The Shooting Star | 5:42 |
| Silvera | 3:32 |
| The Cell | 3:17 |
| Stranded | 4:29 |
| Yellow Stone | 1:19 |
| Magma | 6:42 |
| Pray | 5:13 |
| Only Pain | 3:59 |
| Low Lands | 6:03 |
| Liberation | 3:35 |
- The Shooting Star5:42
- Silvera3:32
- The Cell3:17
- Stranded4:29
- Yellow Stone1:19
- Magma6:42
- Pray5:13
- Only Pain3:59
- Low Lands6:03
- Liberation3:35
